The Republican National Convention is set to begin on Monday with increased security measures following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump two days earlier.
The Republican National Convention is set to begin on Monday with increased security measures in place following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Trump survived the assassination attempt at a rally in western Pennsylvania, where one spectator was killed and two more were critically injured. The former president suffered a graze wound to his ear.
RNC Set to Proceed with Increased Security After Trump's Assassination Attempt
The U.S. Secret Service and other officials have announced that there are no plans to expand the security perimeter and that there are no known threats to the convention.
Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday" that "this is going to be a facility where we're going to be able to have 50,000 delegates and alternates and guests and members of the media who are going to be here and who are going to be safe."
RNC Set to Proceed with Increased Security After Trump's Assassination Attempt
Trump initially said that he would delay his trip to the convention in the wake of the shooting, but later decided against allowing a "potential assassin" to alter his plans.
The former president arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's largest city, on Sunday.
RNC Set to Proceed with Increased Security After Trump's Assassination Attempt
At the four-day confab, Trump will formally become the Republican Party's presidential nominee. All eyes are on the former president as he is extremely likely to announce his running mate.
The first order of business will be officially nominating Trump during a roll call of the states during Monday afternoon's session.
RNC Set to Proceed with Increased Security After Trump's Assassination Attempt
Trump is scheduled to accept the nomination as he delivers his address to the convention on Thursday night.
The gathering, which is expected to attract roughly 50,000 attendees, is scheduled to maintain its original programming despite Saturday's shooting. Speakers have been asked not to alter their speeches.
Republicans are aiming to use the convention as a venue to reunite the party and energize delegates and activists ahead of the final stretch of the campaign in Trump's 2024 election rematch with President Biden.
As part of that push for unity, Trump's final rival in this year's GOP presidential nomination race will now speak at the convention. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador in the Trump administration, will address the convention on Tuesday.
Haley, who was engaged in a bitter two-candidate battle with Trump from late January through early March, was not originally invited to the convention.
Also on tap on Monday as the convention gets under way is the expected passage of a new slimmed-down Republican Party platform that won quick and overwhelming initial approval last week.
The platform softens longstanding Republican Party language in support of a federal ban on abortion, a move that has been praised by some social conservative leaders but criticized by others. Its expected passage is the latest sign of Trump's expanding ideological grip over the GOP.
