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Edited by: Fern Sidman
The Republican National Convention (RNC) on Tuesday saw a significant focus on immigration, a cornerstone of former President Donald Trump’s political platform since his initial campaign in 2015. This strategic emphasis highlighted the GOP’s commitment to addressing border security and immigration policies, resonating strongly with its base.
A poignant segment of the evening featured families affected by violent crimes, a deliberate move by the GOP to link crime rates with border policies. Among those speaking was the family of Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman who was tragically killed and raped by a fugitive from El Salvador, according to an Associated Press report. Morin’s story has been a recurrent theme in Trump’s campaign speeches, symbolizing the human cost of what he describes as a failed immigration system.
Immigration has been a hallmark of Trump’s political identity. Throughout his presidency and beyond, he has consistently criticized the influx of criminal migrants entering the United States illegally via the Mexican border, the AP reported. Although the flow of illegal migrants has recently slowed, partly due to the suspension of border asylum by U.S. authorities, Trump continues to highlight the issue, framing it as a national security concern.
At campaign rallies, Trump often cites instances of violent crimes committed by migrants, using these examples to underscore the many dangers associated with illegal immigration. Furthermore, he connects migration with the trafficking of dangerous drugs, particularly fentanyl, exacerbating the opioid crisis in America, as per the information provided in the AP report. The former president has also claimed that migrants are entering the U.S. to influence the 2024 election.
The lineup of speakers on Tuesday night was a testament to the high stakes of the convention. GOP Senate candidates and members of House leadership set the stage, followed by prominent figures such as Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Ted Cruz. Top 2024 presidential contenders Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis also addressed the convention, demonstrating their alignment with Trump’s immigration policies. The night culminated with speeches from Senator Marco Rubio, a former 2016 presidential candidate, and Lara Trump, showcasing the party’s unified front.
The convention’s atmosphere in Milwaukee was charged with a mix of joy and gratitude, particularly following Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania just days earlier. Despite the visible wound on his ear, Trump received a hero’s welcome on Monday night, his presence invigorating the assembled delegates and supporters.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Columbus, Ohio police officer fatally shot an individual in downtown Milwaukee, an incident that has drawn significant attention due to its proximity to the Republican National Convention (RNC). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the shooting occurred near North 14th and West Vliet Streets, less than a mile from the RNC security perimeter.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the death of an adult male at the scene. According to sources within Milwaukee law enforcement, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, the shooting involved Columbus police officers, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Brian Steel, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capitol City Lodge No. 9, corroborated that Columbus officers were involved but stated that none were injured during the incident.
Witnesses identified the deceased man as a well-known local figure who lived in a nearby tent encampment. Known by the nickname Jehovah, he was recognized in the neighborhood for taking care of a pit bull named Isis, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
The shooting has heightened tensions and concerns among RNC attendees and local residents alike. While the convention itself proceeded under tight security, the incident cast a spotlight on the complex dynamics and heightened alertness surrounding major political events.
The Republican National Convention’s opening night on Monday was primarily dedicated to addressing economic issues under the banner “Make America Wealthy Again.” However, it was former President Donald Trump’s dramatic entrance, his first public appearance since surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, that electrified the crowd and dominated the evening’s narrative, as was indicated in the AP report.
The atmosphere inside Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum was charged with anticipation as Trump, sporting a conspicuous white bandage over his right ear, made his way into the venue. The AP report said that the crowd erupted into enthusiastic cheers as Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.,” a staple at Trump rallies, played in the background. The emotional moment brought many in attendance, including Trump’s son, Don Jr., to tears.
Trump’s appearance was brief and poignant. He mouthed “thank you” to the adoring crowd before taking his place in a box seat alongside Senator JD Vance of Ohio, whom he had announced as his running mate earlier that day, and Representative Byron Donalds of Florida. Echoing the resilience Trump demonstrated after being shot, rally attendees chanted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Despite the emotionally charged atmosphere, the night adhered to its planned theme of economic discourse. Speakers consistently highlighted high inflation rates and criticized the economic policies of President Joe Biden.
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, running for governor, drew on his personal experiences of poverty to call attention to the impact of current economic challenges. “Many families today are having that same experience,” Robinson said, noting the steep rise in grocery prices and gas costs in North Carolina.
Robinson’s subdued tone was particularly striking, given his reputation for fiery, sometimes violent rhetoric. Just this month, he had controversially remarked, “Some folks need killing.” His more restrained approach at the convention highlighted the gravity of the economic message the GOP aimed to convey.
The backdrop of Trump’s appearance was the attempted assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania just days earlier. The 20-year-old gunman narrowly missed hitting Trump in the head, injuring his ear instead. The gunman, who was subsequently killed by law enforcement, also killed a rallygoer and injured two others.
Trump’s campaign carefully selected speakers to address the assassination attempt, ensuring it was mentioned in only a few speeches on Monday night. This approach aimed to maintain focus on the broader themes of the convention without overshadowing them with the recent violent episode.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina was one of the few to directly address the shooting in his speech. “On Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle,” Scott said. “But the American lion got back up on his feet and he roared!” His remarks were a testament to Trump’s resilience and the symbolic strength he represents to his supporters.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also touched on the incident, saying, “Unfortunately, this is also a somber moment for our nation. Two days ago, evil came for the man we admire and love so much. I thank God that his hand was on President Trump.” Greene’s comments highlighted the emotional impact of the assassination attempt on Trump’s base, portraying it as a battle between good and evil.
While the convention featured calls for unity, there was no shortage of partisan rhetoric aimed at energizing the base. Greene, for instance, coupled her remarks about the assassination attempt with a critique of transgender rights, signaling that cultural and social issues remain at the forefront of the GOP agenda.
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin delivered a particularly fiery speech, denouncing what he described as the failures of the Democratic agenda. “Today’s Democratic agenda — their policies — are a clear and present danger to America,” Johnson asserted. “They have abandoned the hard-working middle class. But with President Trump… those forgotten Americans are forgotten no more.” Johnson’s speech underscored the GOP’s ongoing strategy of positioning themselves as the champions of the middle class against what they see as the elitist policies of the Democrats.
Johnson’s speech was intended to strike a somber and unifying tone, given the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Johnson later revealed to PBS that a technical error resulted in the wrong speech being loaded into the teleprompter. According to a spokesperson for Johnson, the intended speech was supposed to acknowledge the convention’s meeting “at a somber moment in history” and emphasized the need for “unity, strength, and determination,” reflecting Trump’s calls for solidarity. The erroneously delivered speech, however, did not include these sentiments and instead featured a critical statement labeling the Democratic Party as a “clear and present danger to America.”
Technology investor David Sacks took to the stage, injecting a sharper partisan tone into the evening. He criticized Democrats for what he described as “gaslighting the country” regarding President Biden’s fitness for office. Sacks also blamed the Democratic Party for transforming San Francisco from a “beautiful city” into a “cesspool of crime.” His remarks aimed to galvanize the Republican base by highlighting perceived failures of Democratic governance.
For many Americans, the convention marked their first encounter with JD Vance, Trump’s vice-presidential pick. Vance, born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, has a compelling personal story. As was reported by the AP, he served in the Marines and deployed to Iraq before earning degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. Vance’s professional journey includes working as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.
Vance rose to prominence with his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” published during Trump’s first presidential campaign. Indicated in the AP report was that the book offered an insightful look into the lives of working-class, rural white Americans, a demographic critical to Trump’s 2016 victory. “Hillbilly Elegy” resonated with Donald Trump Jr., who befriended Vance and supported his political ambitions.
Vance was initially a “never Trump” Republican. He was outspoken in his criticism of Trump, describing him as “dangerous” and “unfit” for office. According to the AP report, Vance’s disapproval extended to Trump’s rhetoric, which he found racially divisive, going so far as to liken Trump to “America’s Hitler.” This stance was particularly significant given Vance’s personal life; his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, is Indian American, and together they have three children.
Despite his early opposition, Vance’s perspective began to shift as he observed Trump’s presidency. By 2021, Vance had reassessed Trump’s tenure, acknowledging his accomplishments and choosing to align himself with the former president, the AP reported. This pivot paved the way for Trump’s endorsement when Vance ran for the Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Rob Portman. With Trump’s backing, Vance won a competitive Republican primary and subsequently the general election.
Once in the Senate, Vance emerged as a loyal Trump ally, vigorously defending his policies and actions. This unwavering support did not go unnoticed within conservative circles.
According to a report in the Times of Israel, in recent months, Vance’s foreign policy stance was tested by the Biden administration’s move to couple aid for Israel with aid to Ukraine in a funding package. The package, which Congress advanced in April, faced significant delays, partly due to opposition from Vance and 14 other Senate Republicans who voted against the inclusion of aid to Ukraine. Vance’s resistance was rooted in a belief that U.S. interests should be distinctly evaluated in each context, rather than assuming a uniform approach to different international conflicts.
Speaking at the Quincy Institute in May, Vance elaborated on his foreign policy philosophy. He expressed support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas and admiration for Ukrainians fighting against Russia. However, he emphasized that funding an ongoing war in Ukraine does not align with American interests. “I’m supportive of Israel and their war against Hamas. I certainly admire the Ukrainians who are fighting against Russia, but I do not think that it is in America’s interest to continue to fund an effectively never-ending war in Ukraine,” Vance stated, according to the AP report.
Vance critiqued the tendency to treat Israel and Ukraine as equivalent issues, arguing for a more differentiated analysis. “It’s sort of weird that this town assumes that Israel and Ukraine are exactly the same. They’re not, of course, and I think it’s important to analyze them in separate buckets,” he added, as was noted in the TOI report. He stressed the need to justify U.S. support for Israel in terms of American interests, highlighting the cultural and religious ties that many Americans feel towards Israel.
Vance has been vocal in his support for Israeli sovereignty and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s right to self-determination. This includes backing Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul and his administration’s handling of the conflict with Hamas. “The people who say they love democracy are actively pressuring Israel to give up their democracy to judicial supremacy. Almost all of the ‘democracy’ worship in Washington is from elites who hate when the people dare to disagree with them,” Vance tweeted in March 2023, criticizing President Biden for opposing Netanyahu’s efforts to limit the power of Israel’s judiciary, the TOI report affirmed.
Senator Vance has also been a vocal critic of President Joe Biden’s approach to the Gaza conflict, particularly in terms of U.S. involvement in Israeli military strategies. The AP reported that in a May interview with CNN, Vance reiterated his belief that the United States should not dictate how Israel conducts its war against Hamas, following the group’s brutal massacre on October 7.
Vance articulated a clear stance against U.S. micromanagement of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. “I think that our attitude vis-a-vis the Israelis should be, look, we’re not good at micromanaging Middle Eastern wars, the Israelis are our allies, let them prosecute this war the way they see fit,” he stated, the TOI report said. This perspective calls attention to his belief in Israel’s sovereignty and expertise in dealing with regional conflicts.
Also on Tuesday, published reports indicated that weeks before the deadly shooting incident at the Trump campaign rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, US authorities were warned about a potential assassination plot against Trump orchestrated by Iran. Despite the gravity of the threat, the incident has cast a spotlight on the level of protection afforded to the former President, particularly in public and outdoor settings.
The failed assassination attempt at the Butler rally shed light on the vulnerabilities in the protective measures surrounding Trump. The New York Post reported that although Thomas Matthew Crooks, the individual involved in the shooting, had no known connections to the Iranian regime—an entity labeled as a rogue state by US authorities—the prior knowledge of such a threat raises questions about the alignment of security protocols with the level of risk.
In response to the warning, the Secret Service reportedly increased protective resources and capabilities for Trump’s security detail. According to the report in The Post, Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, confirmed that additional measures were implemented to bolster the former President’s protection. This included an explicit recommendation against holding outdoor rallies, given the challenges associated with controlling access in such environments.
The Trump campaign has remained reticent about acknowledging whether it was aware of the specific threat from Iran. Nonetheless, sources indicate that the campaign has taken some steps to mitigate risks. The Post report noted that earlier in the campaign season, there was a noticeable reduction in unscheduled outdoor events where attendees were not pre-screened by the Secret Service. This precaution was aimed at minimizing vulnerabilities and ensuring better control over the rally environments.
