MILWAUKEE − Donald Trumpis expected to announce his 2024 running mate on Monday, a decision that comes after anassassination attemptjust two days ago on the presumptive Republican 2024 nominee and months of speculation about who the former president would tap for the GOP ticket.
Sources said the schedule calls for a vice presidential nomination shortly after 3:30 p.m., local time; Trump may make an announcement before then. Monday is the first day of the GOP's convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when Republicans will begin laying out their conservative pitch to voters across the country. But a Republican nominating convention that was expected to focus on divisive issues like immigration and stolen elections will likely shift to a different vibe when it begins today in the shadows of the chaotic assassination attempt this weekend.
Former President Donald Trump got a political gift as his convention began − a Florida federal judge dismissed the criminal case against him that was related to his handling of classified documents. That means one of the four criminal cases against Trump may no longer be operative.
Trump arrived in Milwaukee Sunday night and said he is changing the focus of his big convention speech. The assassination attempt against him provided a "chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together,'' he said in a Washington Examiner interview.
''The speech... was going to be a humdinger,'' Trump said. "Honestly, it's going to be a whole different speech now."
Follow along for live updates.
Rubio says he's not going to be VP
Sen. MarcoRubio, R-Fla.,hasbeentoldhe will not be Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate, sourcestoldReuters on Monday.
Read the full story here.
How to watch the RNC
How to watch the RNC
The RNC is not open to the public, but you can stream its events on YouTube, X, Facebook Live, Rumble, Amazon Prime, Twitch and Direct TV.
USA TODAY will also broadcast the convention beginning at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Viewers can watch the live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/WUV7qDi82uk?si=cPJqDliOCEGDftif
-Elizabeth Beyer
−Elizabeth Beyer
When does the RNC start?
TheRNC is slated to officially beginat 12:35 p.m. Central. The first convention session that will run until 4:45 p.m. A second official session will follow at 5:45 p.m. and will last until 10 p.m.
-Elizabeth Beyer
Trump seeks dismissal of all his cases, may not get it
Flush with a big legal victory - dismissal of his criminal case for retaining classified documents after leaving office - Donald Trump is also seeking dismissal of two other pending cases, in part because of the assassination attempt.
"As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The government is likely to appeal a federal judge's dismissal of the case in which Trump was accused of mishandling classified documents.
There are no plans to dismiss pending cases in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia that charge Trump with a conspiracy to steal the 2020 election.
Trump has already been convicted in the New York hush money case, and is awaiting sentencing.
In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that all of the cases against him are politically motivated. He said: "Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!"
-David Jackson
Trump likely to announce running mate today
We will likely get a Trump running mate today.
Sources said the schedule calls for a vice presidential nomination shortly after 3:30 p.m., local time; Trump may make an announcement before then.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Trump told him he would announce his selection today.
Stay tuned.
-David Jackson
What will security at the RNC look like?
The U.S. Secret Service has “reviewed and strengthened” security measures for the RNC in light of Saturday’s assassination attempt, its director Kimberly Cheatle said on Monday.
Cheatle said the agency “continuously adapt” its operations during the RNC “to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee.”
Since the incident on Saturday, she said the Secret Service has also implemented changes to Trump’s detail to ensure his protection through the end of the campaign.
−Rebecca Morin and Karissa Waddick
Trump classified documents case is dismissed - for now
Republicans open their convention Monday after some extraordinary legal news: A dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump, a decision that will likely be appealed.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional.
The government will almost certainly appeal the decision - though Trump could have the entire case dismissed if he regains the presidency.
-David Jackson
Trump expected to announce VP pick on Monday
Donald Trump has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, and he could do so as soon as Monday.
The former president teased his plans to name his VP last week in an interview saying that he’d “love to do it during the convention” or “just slightly before the convention, like Monday.”
Trump’s VP short list includes GOP Sens. J.D. Vance from Ohio, Marco Rubio from Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
-Karissa Waddick
When does Donald Trump speak at the Republican National Convention?
The presidential nominee traditionally speaks on the last night of the convention, and the vice presidential nominee speaks on the second-to-last night.
Trump may make an appearance and even speak on opening night, on Monday.- Holly Rosenkrantz
Trump says he will tone down acceptance speech after shooting
Having survived an assassination attempt, Trump and his aides are telling people he will go for a softer tone in his nomination acceptance speech on Thursday night.
"Had this not happened, we had a speech that was pretty well set that was extremely tough," Trump told the Washington Examiner. Now, we have a speech that is more unifying.”
Before Saturday's shooting, Trump said, “I basically had a speech that was an unbelievable rip-roarer. It was brutal — really good, really tough."
But he threw out that version, Trump told the Examiner: "I think it would be very bad if I got up and started going wild about how horrible everybody is and how corrupt and crooked, even if it’s true."
- David Jackson
Who is speaking at the Republican National convention?
A list of speakers were released on Saturday afternoon that in illustrated the way Donald Trump has completely remade the GOP as the Trump Make America Great Again MAGA party.
On the list of speakers: Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., Amber Rose, the University Of North Carolina's frat brothers who held up an American flag during a Gaza protest, UFC's Dana White were all on the list.Old guard GOP politicos like Mitt Romney, George W. Bush. John Thune, were not.Of course, new speakers may be added as the convention is reshaped in light of the weekend assassination attempt. For example, Nikki Haley, on the outs with team Trump after the brutal GOP primary, is now speaking.
-- David Jackson and Holly Rosenkrantz
When is the 2024 RNC? How to watch
The RNC is scheduled to run from July 15-18.
Trump is expected to be officially nominated by the party for president at the convention and announce his vice president. He is currently scheduled to address delegates on Thursday evening, the last day of the convention.
The four-day Republican convention begins just days after shots were fired in Trump's direction at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing a rally attendee and wounding two others. The gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service agents moments later.
-- Gabe Hauri
