MILWAUKEE– Republicans welcome JD Vance as donald trump running mate on the same night dedicated to attacking the president Joe Biden leadership on the world stage.
Vance, the 39-year-old Ohio senator, told the story of his life as a son of Appalachia to reaffirm Trump’s connections with Americans who feel socially, economically and politically alienated.
The mix of national security talk, relentless attacks on Biden, and the revelation of a potential heir to the “MAGA” movement summed up what Trump’s “America First” agenda means for the Republican Party and the U.S. role as a superpower. global.
Here are some takeaways from Day 3 of the RNC:
Vance used his national introduction to blend his working-class Appalachian roots with Trump’s economic populism and nationalism. The young senator is a natural fit for the former and potentially future president. His appointment effectively crowns Vance as the heir apparent to the Trump movement.
Vance criticized Wall Street and “multinational corporations.” He hailed Trump as a man who “will defend American businesses” and “union and non-union” workers. He talked about raising wages, fighting China in the global marketplace and making other nations foot the military bill for international security and stability.
The senator criticized Biden for his support of international trade agreements and foreign wars during his days as a US senator. “Every step of the way … jobs have been sent overseas and our children have been sent to war,” said Vance, who has opposed U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Each of the historic U.S. policy decisions mentioned by Vance had broad Republican support. The Iraq War was fought by the last Republican president before Trump: George W. Bush. But this is no longer the Bushes’ party. It’s not even Ronald Reagan’s.
“We have a big tent in this party,” including “on national security and economic policy,” Vance said, pointing to the obvious gap in his approach and what Republican caucuses would have applauded a generation ago or just a decade ago.
The extent to which Vance expands Trump’s political reach remains to be seen. He frequently mentioned the key states of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The 2024 electoral map, however, may not be the most important takeaway from Vance’s national debut.
Rather, it’s how his sweeping argument — delivered more pointedly than Trump’s — reflects how much the former reality TV star and top real estate brand has reshaped the Republican Party and American politics.
The RNC’s programming on the first two nights avoided any mention of January 6, 2021, attack in Congress by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Navarro ended that streak.
Former Trump White House adviser Navarro woke up Wednesday in a Miami federal prison. Hours later, he took the stage in Milwaukee to a prolonged applause after completing a four-month sentence for refusing to testify before Congress about Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
“You guys just want to know if you can see my MAGA tattoo I got there,” he said jokingly before launching into a series of attacks on Democrats.
He referred to the “Department of Injustice.” Some delegates shouted: “Let them go! Let them go!” in a reference to hundreds of people convicted for their role in the January 6 attack.
It was a surreal moment for a party that has long presented itself as a staunch defender of law and order. It also served as a fresh reminder of the legal troubles facing Trump, who was convicted of a felony in May, as well as numerous aides, advisers and allies who have been indicted or jailed for breaking the law on his behalf.
“If they can come after me, if they can come after Donald Trump — be careful, they will come after you,” he said.
Navarro’s dark outlook contrasted sharply with the unifying theme that the Trump campaign sought to exude during the four-day meeting.
There have been many allegations that Biden is “weak,” that he promotes “appeasement,” and cannot contain Russia or China — this despite many Republicans, including Vance, opposing aid to Ukraine and the Democrats’ left flank being outraged. with his support for Israel.
But the most powerful indictment of Biden’s foreign policy came from members of the Gold Star family of some of the 13 servicemen and women killed in a suicide bombing in August 2021. Their deaths were part of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
Trump committed to leaving Afghanistan before leaving office and did not leave a detailed plan in place. But the actual withdrawal took place under Biden’s watch, and its disorderly execution became one of the the biggest mistakes of your government.
“Joe Biden refused to acknowledge his sacrifice,” said Christy Shamblin, mother of Sgt. Nicole Gee told the crowd. “Donald Trump knew all our children’s names. He knew all their stories.
Through tears, the Marine Corps corporal’s mother. Hunter Lopez told delegates, “We have another son in the Army. We don’t trust Joe Biden with his life.”
Biden went to Dover Air Force Base to see the dignified transfer of the remains, but was memorably seen looking at his watch. Trump later hosted some families at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Biden further inflamed families in the June presidential debate when he lied when he claimed that no military personnel had been killed during his presidency. Seeing them share their stories and name their children out loud was more effective than the typical criticism from partisan politicians.
Trump demonized immigrants, mocked the LGBTQ community and was found responsible by a jury for sexually abusing a woman in the 1990s – which he still denies.
But this week at the RNC, he sought to smooth those rough edges. And he turned to women for help.
His daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Tuesday offered a humanizing portrait of the “Donald Trump I know” — portraying him as a loving grandfather, family man and supportive father-in-law who encouraged her to take a job at Fox News. commentator. Model and rapper Amber Rose said the former president doesn’t care “if you’re black, white, gay or straight.”
On Wednesday it was Conway who insisted that “in” Donald Trump’s Republican Party “everyone is welcome.” And the delegates heard from one of his granddaughters, Kai Trump, who spoke enthusiastically about her grandfather.
If successful, the effort could boost his standing with suburban, black and Hispanic women — key groups that could flip states Biden narrowly won in 2020.
Callista Gingrich, Trump’s former ambassador to the Vatican, called the Biden administration — led by a practicing Catholic president — as having an “anti-faith agenda” and trying to “impose its far-left ideology on believers.”
Tom Homan, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Trump administration, issued an open threat to would-be migrants and anyone in the country illegally.
“You better start packing now,” Homan said. “Because you’re going home.”
There were references to “woke ideologies” and allusions to transgender rights and “men in women’s sports.”
All told, it was yet another blatant round in the culture wars — with one notable exception: There was little mention of abortion.
Certainly, the rhetoric cheers up Trump supporters. And, at least when it comes to immigration, there are policy differences between Biden and Trump that Republicans think help them.
But hardline positions on cultural issues have hurt Republicans in several recent elections. On abortion, Trump warned that it could happen again; he insisted that the Republican Party platform not include a call for a national ban on abortion access.
Whenever a Republican emphasizes cultural conservatism, it means they are not talking about inflation and the economy. Part of Wednesday’s message gave reeling Democrats more leverage for their argument that Trump, Vance and Republicans are too extreme.
US Representative Ronny Jackson, Trump’s former White House doctor, said a lot about Biden’s health and vitality. He said the 81-year-old’s family and close aides should have convinced him he was not up to the job. But Jackson said nothing about Trump’s health, either in general or after the assassination attempt.
Biden’s health and visible aging have been a focus of the campaign even before his interruption of the debate last month. He became the oldest president in history once he took office in 2021. But Donald Trump is 78 years old, several months older than Biden was when he accepted the Democratic nomination in 2020. And Trump, if he wins in November, could become the oldest president in history. 81-year-old president, just like the man Republicans now insist is too old for the Oval Office.
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Slodysko reported from Washington.
