True to form, Trump himself provided the first surprise of the week, announcing Monday morning he was headed to Cleveland later in the day to introduce his wife Melania on the first night of speeches.
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After the declaration, the chair walked off stage for several minutes while the floor erupted in competing chants of “roll call vote!” and “we want Trump!”
“As we stand at this point, Trump has the delegates and that’s what we’re going for”, she said.
“If you want someone to fight for you and your country, I can assure you, he is the guy”, she said.
Earlier, the first speaker, star of the TV show Duck Dynasty Willie Robertson, said America needed “a president who would have our back”.
Compared to some of those who took the stage before her, Trump was even-keeled throughout her speech, in which she described how Trump’s hard-working attitude would benefit him in the White House.
He told the crowd of more than 2000 delegates that Trump was the candidate running for president who would best support the military and the nation’s police officers. On July 28, 2006, she experienced “the greatest privilege on planet Earth” – becoming a citizen of the United States.
Mrs. Trump, a jewelry designer, former model and the third wife to the New York City billionaire, spoke of her husband’s promise for America.
Rick Perry Speaks at the Republican National ConventionFormer Texas Governor Rick Perry was among the speakers on the first day of the Republican National Convention. Many party leaders and rising stars have steered clear of Cleveland.
Trump was told, no, it was not sensible to have Don King, the flamboyant boxing promoter, address the Republican convention. “It would not be a Trump contest without excitement and drama”. Despite persistent party divisions, his campaign is confident Republicans will come together behind their shared disdain for Hillary Clinton.
“I blame Hillary Clinton personally for the death of my son”.
“This is the best possible outcome for us”, said Ron Kaufman, a GOP leader from MA who has been in the middle of the rules fight.
The convention comes amid a wrenching period of violence and unrest, both in the United States and around the world.
Sunday’s shooting of three policemen in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – a targeted attack that may have been retaliation for a series of police killings of black Americans – hung over the gathering.
“It’s convention business”, said Garren Shipley, the Virginia communications director for the Republican National Committee. It has also been so boring and bad that even Donald Trump isn’t watching.
“Hillary Clinton can not be trusted”. A lot of them are still supporting Sen.
She generated a lot of buzz with her well-received speech and, later, a controversy over some of her remarks. Despite his divisive nature, Melania said her husband was “kind” and full of “compassion” and will be the man who leads the whole country, not just those who vote for him.
Trump has been vague about how he would put the nation on a different course, offering virtually no details of his policy prescriptions despite repeated vows to be tough.
The roll call vote on the nomination is expected Tuesday, with Trump scheduled to close the convention with an acceptance speech Thursday night.
The line-up of speakers and no-shows for the four-night convention was a visual representation of Trump’s struggles to unify Republicans.
Melania Trump would be the first foreign-born first lady since Louisa Adams. “It includes Hispanics and African-Americans and Asians and the poor and the middle class”, Ms Trump said.
This was supposed to be the week that Trump finally stopped fighting for the nomination and pivoted to the general-election campaign.
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Never Trump delegates hoped the rules wouldn’t be approved during a roll call vote, potentially allowing them to unbind their votes.
