RNC 2024 Day 2: Trump feted by former rivals Haley, DeSantis in show of GOP unity

Trump, with a bandage on his ear, made an appearance again Tuesday evening

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Last updated: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 10:00AM GMT
RNC 2024 Day 2: Trump feted by former rivals Haley, DeSantis
Former President Trump's political rivals came together in a show of unity Tuesday.

MILWAUKEE -- The second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee ended Tuesday with appearances from some of former President Donald Trump's former rivals: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy -- all calling for Republican Party unity.

They were joined by some of Trump's longest allies including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Ben Carson in bashing the Democrats over what they claimed were harmful and failed policies.

The program focused on law and order with a theme of making the country "safe again."

Trump, with a bandage on his ear, made an appearance again Tuesday evening -- just days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Several speakers said God spared Trump in the shooting, saving him for a divine plan for the presidency.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
ABCNews logo
Jul 17, 2024, 3:05 AM GMT

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio speaks of man killed at Trump rally; 'Corey, Corey' chant breaks out

During Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's remarks, the crowd chanted in honor of Corey Comperatore, the man killed during the assassination attempt on Trump during Saturday's rally.

"He was described as the best dad a girl could ever ask for," Rubio said. "He was a man of God who loved Jesus fiercely. He looked after members of his church. Corey was one of the millions of everyday Americans who make our country great."

Rubio continued, "He wasn't rich. He wasn't famous. And the only reason why we know his name and story now is because last Saturday, he shielded his wife and daughter from an assassin's bullet and lost his life the way he lived it, a hero."

The crowd then broke out into a chant of "Corey, Corey, Corey!"

ABCNews logo
Jul 17, 2024, 3:00 AM GMT

Fact check: Drug overdose deaths

As the COVID pandemic raged, an ugly trend continued during the Biden administration, with overdose deaths climbing to 106,699 in 2021 and peaking in 2022 at 111,027 before falling slightly in 2023 to 107,543, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

ABCNews logo
Jul 17, 2024, 2:57 AM GMT

'Not even an assassin's bullet could stop him': Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Arkansas governor and Trump's former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the crowd that she had not been prouder to stand with the former president.

"Not even an assassin's bullet could stop him. God almighty intervened because America is one nation, under God and he is certainly not finished with President Trump," she said.

Ahead of her speech, aides to the governor told ABC News that this was going to be an emotional speech by the first-time governor and long-time defender of Trump.

Sanders criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their policies on the economy and crime.

She claimed that the left "did not care about empowering women," and repeated a line said by others that they "can't even tell you what a woman is."

She again touted how Trump was resilient even after the assassination attempt over the weekend.

"We can't get him back in the White House fast enough," she said, prompting the crowd to cheer.

-ABC News' John Santucci

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Jul 17, 2024, 2:40 AM GMT

Man wearing ski mask, carrying tactical backpack arrested near RNC after gun found: police

Milwaukee police arrested a 21-year-old man Monday for carrying a concealed weapon slightly less than a mile from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

United States Capitol Police initially observed the suspect looking suspicious, wearing a ski mask and a large tactical backpack in the street, police said.

Capitol Police stopped the man, and found the gun, police said.

The man does not have a concealed-carry permit in Wisconsin or any other state, police said.

He was arrested about 1 p.m., and charges are pending.