The Republican National Convention (RNC) culminates tonight, Thursday, July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee.
The highlight of the final night of the Republican National Convention will be former President Donald Trump’s speech.
Trump is expected to deliver remarks at 9pm to thousands of party loyalists in attendance and tens of millions of Americans on prime time television
He will formally accept the nomination, in his first public remarks since the assassination attempt Saturday.
In addition to Trump, there are a number of other notable speakers, including Dana White, Tucker Carlson, Hulk Hogan, Mike Pompeo, Eric Trump and Steve Daines, the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday night, the Mayor of Milwaukee, Cavalier Johnson assured attendees of the Republican National Convention that the event has the “highest designation of security that a community can get provided”
Speaking at a news conference, Johnson described the level of security as “like taking the security apparatus around certain institutions in Washington, DC, and planting that here in Milwaukee.”
“It is very secure. The Secret Service has done an incredible, incredible job. I thank them for their work,” he said.
Security at political events has come under intense scrutiny since the former President was shot while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Some have questioned how a shooter was able to obtain rooftop access roughly 150 meters from Trump’s position at the podium.
President Joe Biden said on Sunday, July 14, 2024, that he has directed US Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle “to review all security measures” for the RNC.
Five days after the attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally, investigators have yet to uncover the attacker’s motive and the Secret Service is facing mounting criticism over its handling of security at the rally.
Biden Focused On Getting Better
Meanwhile, following President Joe Biden’s recent Covid-19 diagnosis, the White House said on Thursday that President Joe Biden is “focused on getting better.”
National security spokesperson John Kirby made the comment to reporters during a phone briefing, saying he didn’t have any specific briefings or schedule items to speak to, “but I do know that he’s being kept updated and up to speed as he normally would.”
Kirby said in his call with reporters that it was important to “make sure that that the President’s health and his recovery from Covid takes priority.”
Additionally, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks said that Joe Biden has been doing fine, self-isolating in Delaware, and will continue to hold official meetings and campaign calls virtually.
Fulks said that the campaign is “not working through any scenarios” where Biden is not the presidential nominee.
“The Vice President is a part of the Biden-Harris ticket. Our campaign is not working through any scenarios where President Biden is not the top of the ticket. He is and will be the Democratic nominee.”
Quentin Fulks
Asked if Biden is receptive to conversations about leaving the race, Fulks replied, “The President has said it several times, he’s staying in this race.”
Asked how Democrats plan to counter Republicans’ seemingly unified front at the RNC, Fulks said, “We have to counter with unity.”
“And the sooner we get past talking about this and talking about what’s at stake, and what we’ve heard for the first three nights of this convention, and what we’re going to hear tonight from Donald Trump, the better off we’ll be.”
Quentin Fulks
Fulks called Vance, the GOP vice presidential nominee a “spineless backbencher desperate for Trump’s approval” and his speech “boring.”