Pinned
The Biden campaign responded to Sen. JD Vance's acceptance of the GOP nomination for vice presidential candidate, alleging that working-class families and the middle class would suffer from policies administered by a Trump–Vance administration.
Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden campaign, cast the 39-year-old senator from Ohio as unqualified and “willing to do anything Donald Trump demands.”
Earlier in the day, President Joe Biden told BET News’ Ed Gordon that former President Donad Trump choice of Mr. Vance as his running mate “tells me that he's decided that MAGA Republican politics is going to be the future of the Republican Party.”
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), former President Donald J. Trump’s running mate, formally accepted his vice presidential nomination on July 17.
“Never in my wildest imagination could I have believed I would be standing here tonight,” he said, recalling his origins in Middletown, Ohio, in a part of America he said was “cast aside” by the political elite.
Usha Chilukuri Vance took the stage in Milwaukee after Donald Trump, Jr., introducing herself to Republican voters mere days after former President Trump picked her husband as running mate.
Their response was positive: enthusiastic applause, cheers, and laughter at her jokes.
She described her husband as “the most interesting man I know.”
The oldest grandchild of former President Donald Trump, Kai Trump, whose father is Donald Trump Jr., talked about her close bond with her grandfather such as their golf game and him giving her candy when her now-divorced parents are not looking.
She remarked that her grandfather checked in on her even during his legal battles, one of which— the classified documents case—was dismissed earlier this week.
“Even when he was going through all these court cases, he always asked me how I'm doing,” she said. “He always encourages me to push myself to be the most successful person I can be.”
The convention crowd expressed lots of appreciation for 98-year-old retired Sgt. William Pekrul, who served in World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
"With President Trump back as Commander in Chief, I would go back and re-enlist today,” he said. “I would storm whatever beach my country needs me to."
He recalled returning to America after the war.
The parents of Omer Neutra, one of the eight American hostages being held by Hamas, gave an emotional address at the convention.
Mr. Neutra, 22, was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, when the terrorist group launched the largest massacre of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust.
“Imagine over nine months, not knowing whether your son is alive, waking up every morning playing that he too is still waking up every morning that he is strong and then surviving,” said Oma Neutra, Mr. Neutra’s mother.
Shabbos Kestenbaum, a progressive Democrat who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the 2020 election, spoke about anti-Semitism on his campus, Harvard University, since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
He recalled planting 1,200 American and Israeli flags—only for them to be vandalized within 24 hours—and being harassed for his Jewish identity in addition to getting online threats.
“Students and professors have openly called for new Hamas-style attacks against the United States,” said Mr. Kestenbaum.
MILWAUKEE—Emotions overflowed as the Republican National Convention honored families of 13 fallen military personnel who died during the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Grieving relatives paid tribute to those who died and expressed gratitude to former President Donald Trump for caring about them.
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) appeared to be on the verge of tears—pausing and biting his lip—as he thanked the former president for spending six hours with the families of the Afghanistan 13 at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
MILWAUKEE—Former President Donald Trump waved and repeatedly pumped his fist in the air as attendees at the Republican National Convention cheered loudly for his arrival. He sat next to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
The former president arrived at the convention just before 8 p.m. local time. He shook hands with a number of people in the crowd before taking his seat in a section reserved for him and his special guests. Red drapes in front of those seats bear the words, “Make America Great Once Again” in white letters.
After he entered, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s fiancee, delivered a short speech. She began by stating, “I know that God has put an armor of protection over Donald Trump.”
MILWAUKEE—Trent Conway, the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, praised how former President Donald Trump responded to the 2023 toxic train derailment in his town.
On Feb. 3, 2023, “in a heartbeat, everything changed,” Mr. Conway said, when a train derailed, followed by a fire, “spewing flames and toxic chemicals into our town.”
Mr. Conway said he didn’t hear from the White House “for the longest time.” When federal officials did show up, their actions consisted mostly of “meetings and press events,” he said.
An elderly pair of Arizona ranchers, Jim and Susan Chilton, gave striking testimony about the ways immigration policies have affected their lives.
Mr. Chilton said their ranch occupies five and a half miles along the U.S.–Mexico border, and their trail cameras have captured images of 3,500 drug smugglers and others dressed in camouflage “marching through our range.”
“These are not asylum seekers,” he said, as a video played. “It looks like and it feels like an invasion, because it is.”
“Yes indeed—this morning I did indeed walk out of federal prison,” Peter Navarro told the RNC crowd after the cheering finally died down.
Mr. Navarro was released from a federal facility in Miami earlier in the day after serving four months on criminal contempt of Congress charges. He refused to comply with a subpoena from the House committee created to investigate the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
“Guess what? They did not break me,” he told the crowd.
MILWAUKEE—Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says a vote for former President Donald Trump is a vote for “strength and peace.”
Mr. Gingrich characterized President Joe Biden’s foreign policies as “ working toward appeasement,” which the former speaker said will not work in “a dangerous world.”
In contrast, President Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, an agreement that attempted to cool tensions and foster peace in the Middle East, Mr. Gingrich said.
President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on July 17 before a planned speech at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Las Vegas.
The president canceled all events and headed to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
“I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes,” President Biden said on social media platform X.
The Biden campaign responded to the Trump campaign after the latter declined a CBS News invitation for the vice presidential nominees to debate.
“This debate has been discussed for two months now. If JD Vance is unwilling to defend the Trump–Vance record on the debate stage, he should just say so,” said Brian Fallon, communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris on the Biden campaign.
The Trump campaign said that it is not ready to accept the invitation, claiming it is uncertain whether President Biden will drop out and if Ms. Harris will take his place on the ticket.
When Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) delivers a speech as the vice presidential nominee tonight at the Republican National Convention, excited fans from his home state will get a close look.
After organizers moved Ohio’s group of 79 delegates toward the front of the room, Ohio Attorney General David Yost said it was a telltale sign that Mr. Vance was getting the VP nod.
Cenk Uygur, host of “The Young Turks” and a former Democrat presidential hopeful for several months this cycle, told The Epoch Times he thinks at least some Republicans are moving towards what he sees as genuine populism, including Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), former president Donald Trump’s new running mate.
Mr. Uygur said he doesn't view former President Trump as a real populist, pointing to his corporate tax cuts.
But, he said, both Mr. Vance and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) give him pause.
A local police officer fired shots at the gunman who opened fire at former President Donald Trump on Saturday, a local law enforcement official disclosed Wednesday, also saying that the Secret Service was told by local police officials that they lacked the manpower to secure a building where the suspect was perched.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has confirmed that an agency counter sniper killed Mr. Crooks, after firing shots at the former president, striking him in the right ear.
The lineup for the July 17 Republican convention features speakers who will talk about the need for American strength, with particular attention on the southern border and international security.
Here’s a list of notable speakers, provided by a source familiar with the convention schedule, in chronological order.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.)
A reporter for The Epoch Times passed through security just behind Russell Brand.
The English actor, comedian, and commentator was chatting with U.S. Secret Service Agents and admiring a police dog.
Former President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump confirmed that his stepmother, former First Lady Melania Trump, as well as his sister Ivanka Trump, will appear at the Republican National Convention (RNC) this week.
“Ivanka’s been an incredible supporter of my father. I think you know that; she’s been in the White House for a ... four-year period of time and loves him dearly,” said the younger Trump, whose is married to Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
Peter Navarro has been released from prison and is heading to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
The Trump administration alumnus served four months at a federal facility in Miami after a conviction for criminal contempt of Congress. He was charged after defying a subpoena from the U.S. House committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
A source familiar with the convention schedule lists the former director of the Office of Trade & Manufacturing among the July 17 speakers. Mr. Navarro will directly follow former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Not far from the RNC’s security perimeter, the Biden–Harris campaign held a morning press conference.
In line with past campaign messaging, they targeted Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a conservative blueprint similar to those produced for decades. Former President Trump has distanced himself from the project.
The Biden campaign also criticized the former president's newly anointed running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), citing his past statements on abortion and other issues.
While some GOP voters and leaders had favored a female, black, or Hispanic VP to project an image of diversity, others say Mr. Vance fits the bill in another way.
Mr. Vance “already does ‘check a box’ that people kind of overlook ... socioeconomic diversity,” Marc Clauson, professor of history and law at Ohio’s Cedarville University, told The Epoch Times on July 16, a day after the former president announced his running mate.
The director of the Secret Service said the agency is responsible for the security plan at the Pennsylvania rally where a shooter fired upon former President Donald Trump.
Her comments were made amid questions surrounding the agency’s performance in securing the rally site on Saturday as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a rooftop about 400 feet away from the former president, striking him in the ear as well as killing one and injuring two others. Secret Service snipers shot and killed Mr. Crooks soon after he fired on the rally.