Former president Donald Trump is officially the Republican party’s presidential nominee for the third consecutive election cycle, an outcome that was effectively decided months ago after Trump dominated his primary challengers in the early-state contests.
Trump received enough delegates to officially become the GOP nominee when son Eric Trump allocated Florida’s delegates for Trump, to a rousing ovation from the crowd in Milwaukee, Wis. on Monday.
Eric Trump made the announcement flanked by brother Don Jr. and sister Tiffany, and wife Lara Trump, a co-chair of the Republican party. Once the cheering died down, Kool & the Gang’s famous 1980 hit Celebration played on the loud speakers, and attendees could be seen dancing in the crowd.
Trump became the GOP’s presumptive nominee months ago when he dominated rival candidate, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, on Super Tuesday, prompting Haley to suspend her campaign. Haley freed her delegates ahead of the convention to select Trump as the party’s nominee to ensure Republican unity.
Each state voted to give its delegates to Trump Monday afternoon, often accompanied by rousing speeches and continued cheers from the crowd.
Hundreds of speakers including GOP politicians, conservative activists, celebrities, and Trump-family members are set to deliver speeches at the convention. Haley and other primary rivals, such as Florida governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, are slated to speak at the convention, a show of party unity around Trump’s candidacy.
Earlier this afternoon, Trump announced Ohio Senator JD Vance will be his 2024 running mate, a culmination of Vance’s journey from strong Trump critic to staunch loyalist over the better part of a decade. Vance officially received the party’s vice presidential nomination on the floor of the convention two hours after Trump’s announcement.
Trump traveled to Milwaukee on Sunday to attend the GOP convention following the assassination attempt against him the day before, an event that further solidified Trump’s consolidation of the party over the past nine years.
In the wake of the assassination attempt, Trump told the Washington Examiner he will be giving “a whole different speech now” to emphasize unity and bring the country together instead of attacking President Joe Biden’s agenda.
One victim, Corey Comperatore was killed during the shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa. on Saturday. Two other were wounded and the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by law enforcement.
The GOP’s platform this time around reflects Trump’s priorities on issues ranging from immigration to abortion, another example of Trump’s complete takeover of the party. Controversially, the platform watered down its language on abortion restrictions, a dispute that became moot after Trump was nearly killed.