The Republican Party formally nominated Donald Trump and JD Vance as its 2024 presidential and vice presidential nominees on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday, hours after Trump announced Vance as his running mate.
Vance, the 39-year-old junior senator from Ohio, took the floor for the first time to greet delegates with his wife, Usha. He is set to accept the vice presidential nomination and address the convention on Wednesday evening.
Trump's decision to name Vance to the ticket came down to the wire, and he made the announcement during the roll call vote that officially named Trump the party's nominee for the third consecutive election. Vance was one of four finalists for the vice presidential job, and learned he had been tapped roughly 20 minutes before Trump made his choice public, one source told CBS News.
Tens of thousands of Republicans, including more than 2,400 delegates, have descended on Milwaukee for the convention, with dozens of prominent lawmakers and officials set to address attendees over the course of the four-day event. The convention will reconvene Monday evening with speeches to close out the night.
The party gathering comes just two days after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump was struck by a bullet in the ear and one attendee died after being shot by the gunman, who was killed by Secret Service snipers.
The attack threatened to upend the proceedings in Milwaukee, but Trump quickly said he was determined to move forward and arrived in the city on Sunday evening. He is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday night.
Here's the latest from the 2024 RNC:
Trump says assassination attempt had "an impact"
Trump told ABC News' Jonathan Karl that the attempt on his life Saturday had "an impact."
Karl, according to ABC News, asked the former president if the close call with the bullet had changed him, and Trump replied, "I don't like to think about that, but, yes, I think [it] has an impact." He told Carl that he's hoping the bandage covering the ear that was grazed can be removed by the time he addresses the Republican convention Thursday.
He told other news outlets that the experience led him to rewrite his convention speech, which he said was originally a "very tough speech," and he threw it out."
Vance praised some of far-right Hungary PM Viktor Orbán's policies in May
Vance said on "Face the Nation" in May that the U.S "could learn from" some decisions made by authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, including controversial policies related to dealing with dissidents at universities.
"On the university principle, the idea that taxpayers should have some influence in how their money is spent at these universities, it's a totally reasonable thing, and I do think that he's made some smart decisions there that we could learn from in the United States," Vance said.
Vance noted at the time that he was not endorsing every thing Orbán has done. Orbán, who is revered in some hardline conservative circles, seized control of state universities, a move that critics say has extended his government's right-wing influence. Vance has praised the approach, saying his way could be the model for eliminating what he views as a left-wing bias at American universities. The May comments came as many universities in the U.S. were embroiled in protests from pro-Palestinian students.
Watch Margaret Brennan's full interview with Vance from May in the player below:
Vance was asked to be the VP only 20 minutes before Trump's announcement
Trump waited until the last minute to let Vance know he would be the VP nominee. Vance received the call from Trump asking him to be his running mate only about 20 minutes before Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Vance flew private to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday morning to meet with Trump.
The origin of the Republican Party
What happens at the Republican National Convention, being held this week at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum, will help determine whether Donald Trump – whose vision of America differs sharply from that of President Joe Biden – will return to the White House. But it was a much smaller meeting, in a much smaller town about 90 miles away, that proved every bit as consequential.
On March 20, 1854, around 50 concerned citizens gathered inside the Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin, widely believed to be the birthplace of the Republican Party. "These were people who wanted to form a new party," said Russell Blake, a history professor emeritus at nearby Ripon College. "They were a combination of merchants, farmers, lawyers. It was a town that was only four, five years old. People had only recently moved here."
Read more here and watch Mo Rocca's full report in the player below.
Biden calls Vance a "clone" of Trump
Speaking to reporters before departing for Las Vegas, President Biden said he does not see a difference between Trump and Vance, his newly minted running mate.
"He's a clone of Trump on the issues," the president said in his first comments about Vance.
An official with the Biden-Harris campaign said Vice President Kamala Harris reached out to Vance and left a message to "congratulate him on his selection, welcome him to the race and express her hope that the two can meet in the vice presidential debate proposed by CBS News."
July 23 and Aug. 13 were proposed as possible dates for the debate.
RNC formally nominates JD Vance as Trump's running mate
The Republican Party officially nominated Vance as Trump's running mate by a vote of acclamation to round out the first session of the convention. Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted called Vance "a living embodiment of the American dream," citing his military service, business experience and time in the Senate, among other things.
"He will faithfully stand by President Donald Trump's side as they win this election, and change the course of our nation," Husted said.
With a motion by Bernie Moreno, the GOP nominee for Senate in Ohio and approved by voice vote, the nomination became official.
"I formally declare President Donald J. Trump and JD Vance as the Republican nominees for president and vice president of the United States," House Speaker Mike Johnson announced.
Vance, 39, is the junior senator from Ohio and was first elected in 2022. He rose to prominence among conservatives after the release of his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," which recounted the struggles of Appalachia and Rust Belt America.
Trump said in a statement announcing his pick that during the coming campaign, Vance "will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond."
JD Vance takes the floor at RNC
Vance appeared on the convention floor about two hours after Trump announced the Ohio senator as his running mate.
A smiling Vance walked out with his wife, Usha, and shook hands and took photos with attendees.
His appearance comes before he is officially nominated as the vice presidential candidate. Vance's nomination will not get a roll call vote and will instead be approved by acclamation.
Trump officially wins GOP presidential nomination in roll call vote
The Republican Party officially nominated Trump to be its 2024 presidential nominee after the roll call vote. It's the third time since 2016 that Trump has been nominated. He will officially accept the nomination in a speech on Thursday night.
"The following candidate received the following votes: 2,387 votes for President Donald J. Trump. Let's make it official," House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said, announcing that Trump "has been selected as the Republican Party nominee for president of the United States."
Trump secures majority of delegates needed to become GOP nominee
Trump's home state of Florida pushed him over the 1,215-delegate threshold needed to officially secure the nomination. His son, Eric Trump, appeared on the floor to announce the 125-delegate allocation.
"We hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that's ever lived, and that's Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for president of the United States of America," he said.
His previous state of residence, New York, came before Florida in announcing its delegate allocation.
"Donald J. Trump will always be in New Yorker, and New York will always love President Donald J. Trump," Rep. Elise Stefanik, the chair of the House Republican conference, said in announcing its 91 delegates for Trump.
Trump selects JD Vance as running mate
Trump announced in a social media post that he has selected JD Vance, a first-term senator from Ohio, as his vice presidential running mate.
"After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," the former president wrote.
Trump praised Vance's background, including as the author of the book "Hillbilly Elegy," which he said "championed the hardworking men and women of our Country."
The former president continued: "J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond."
Roll call vote underway to nominate Trump
The convention is now holding the roll call vote to formally nominate Trump, with a party official from each state being recognized to declare how the delegation is voting. Iowa, Nevada and Oklahoma got the ball rolling, with all of their delegates going to Trump.
Trump formally nominated for president before roll call vote
Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, took to the convention stage to officially nominate Trump for president.
In a rousing speech, Kaufmann called the GOP a "party of the people" and said Trump has earned their trust and kept his word.
"It is my honor to nominate Donald J. Trump for the office of president of the United States," he said to applause and chants of "USA."
Kaufmann called on convention attendees to join him in supporting Trump and the Republican Party's platform.
"This is an endeavor that's going to make America wealthy again. This is an endeavor to make America safe again. This is an end to make America strong again. And say it with me fellow Republicans, this is an endeavor to make America great again," he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who serves as chair of the convention, then took the stage and declared, "Amen to that."
RNC delegates approve new Trump-influenced platform
The GOP adopted its 16-page, Trump-influenced platform, a document of policies it pledges to accomplish. The new platform softens language on abortion and says the issue should be determined by individual states. The platform also promises tax cuts and mass deportations of people who are in the U.S. illegally, as well as a proposal to build a missile defense shield over the U.S.
"Our platform reflects the agenda of Donald Trump," Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn said. The platform was approved by voice vote, with only a smattering of opposition.
Trump's campaign had full control over the party's platform this year, unlike previous years.
Burgum informed he won't be VP pick
Doug Burgum, the North Dakota governor, has been informed he's not going to be chosen as Trump's vice presidential running mate, according to one person briefed on the exchange.
Convention begins with party business
Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, got things underway Monday afternoon by dispensing with several housekeeping issues, including the election of a temporary chairman of the convention and the unanimous adoption of various motions laying out the rules for the proceedings.
The delegates are gathered on the floor of Fiserv Forum and have broken out into chants of "fight!" at several points, echoing Trump's comment to the crowd in Pennsylvania right after he was shot.
Trump has selected his running mate, source says
A senior GOP source with knowledge of the process told CBS News that the "pick is in" for Trump's running mate. The vice presidential pick will be announced on the convention floor just after 4:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch the RNC
A live stream of the floor proceedings can be found in the player at the top of this article. CBS News 24/7 will have coverage of the convention throughout the day and will stream each night's keynote speeches, available on your mobile or streaming device through the CBS News app.
CBS television stations will have live coverage beginning at 10 p.m. ET during each night of the convention. Find your local CBS station here.
What happens at the RNC and how does it work?
About 2,400 delegates from around the country are coming together to officially nominate Trump during a roll call vote.
States announce how many delegates they will be delivering to each candidate. State party rules affect how delegates may vote during the convention. Typically, a candidate's home state delegation will push him or her across the threshold to officially secure the nomination. In Trump's case, it would be Florida.
The vote is considered a formality because Trump clinched the nomination in March, amassing the 1,125 delegates needed to become the presumptive nominee. Trump earned 2,243 delegates by the end of the primary process, according to CBS News' estimate.
Trump is expected to officially accept the nomination for the third time since 2016 in a speech on Thursday night.
Besides the pageantry, the Republican Party will adopt a new platform that softens its language on abortion and says the issue should be determined by individual states. The platform also proposes building a missile defense shield over the U.S. and promises tax cuts and mass deportations of people who are in the U.S. illegally.
Who's speaking at the RNC?
The RNC and the Trump campaign announced a list of speakers for this week's convention on Saturday, which includes lawmakers, television personalities and artists, members of the former president's family and others. A detailed, daily schedule of the speakers has yet to be released.
Among Trump's family members, his two older sons are slated to speak, along with his son Donald Jr.'s fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle and RNC co-chair Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump. Trump's wife, Melania Trump, has not been named as a speaker, nor has his daughter Ivanka Trump, who worked in his first administration.
Though the list of speakers is primarily dominated by governors, lawmakers and officials, others like country music stars Lee Greenwood and Chris Janson, along with rapper Amber Rose are also on the list of speakers, as is Tucker Carlson.
Top contenders for Trump's vice presidential pick, like Burgum, Vance, Scott and Rubio are also slated to speak over the course of the week.
Trump's former rival for the GOP nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is also scheduled to speak. And in a surprise reversal, Nikki Haley, another Trump primary rival, has also accepted an invitation to speak at the convention, two sources familiar with the planning told CBS News.