RNC Day 3: JD Vance accepts nomination for vice president as Trump watches on

Former president's 17-year-old granddaughter speaks

kabc
Last updated: Thursday, July 18, 2024 9:23AM GMT
RNC DAY 3 RECAP: Trump watches running mate JD Vance
VP pick JD Vance speaks at RNC. Here's what he said and what he didn't talk about.

MILWAUKEE -- Day 3 of the Republican National Convention featured the prime-time debut of J.D. Vance, introducing himself both to Republicans and Americans nationwide.

Former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the convention hall to watch his running mate make his national debut.

His 17-year-old granddaughter spoke, as well, humanizing her grandfather.

Wednesday's theme at the RNC was "Make America Strong Once Again."

As the RNC's evening session was about to begin, the Biden campaign announced that the president had contracted COVID-19 and would be flying to Delaware to quarantine.

ByLalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kelsey Walsh, ABCNews
Jul 18, 2024, 1:50 AM GMT

'I got lucky,' Trump tells supporters of shooting in PBS-obtained clip

In a video of Trump's appearance during the screening of the movie "Trump's Rescue Mission: Saving America" on Wednesday that was obtained by PBS News, the former president touched on the effects of his assassination attempt.

"I got lucky, God was with me," he said in the clip.

"That was an amazing, horrible thing," Trump said. "Amazing thing, and in many ways it changes your attitude, your viewpoint towards life. And honestly I think you appreciate God even more."

Trump said it "wasn't like it was a complete miss."

"It was pretty terrible that that can happen," he said.

At the beginning of the clip, Trump said, "this has been our best campaign and then I got shot. ... How does that happen?" as the crowd cheered, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

ABCNews
Jul 18, 2024, 1:45 AM GMT

Gold Star Afghanistan families talk about Trump's support

Families of soldiers who died during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, some of whom were holding pictures of their relatives, took the stage.

Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Sgt. Nicole Leeann, said Trump spent six hours with her and other family members in Bedminster, New Jersey.

"I had expected to meet an arrogant politician. Instead, I met a man who had empathy for us. He was compassionate and he spent time with us because he knew it would make us feel better," Shamblin said.

Herman Lopez, left, Alicia Lopez, right, and other Gold Star family members on stage during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Herman Lopez, left, Alicia Lopez, right, and other Gold Star family members on stage during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Alicia Lopez, the mother of Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez, held back tears as she said the Biden administration have not "owned up to their failures." She said Biden never said her son's name.

"There has been a deafening silence from the Biden-Harris administration," Lopez said.

Her husband, Herman Lopez, read the names of the soldiers who died in the waning days of the war.

ByNathaniel Rakich, FiveThirtyEight
Jul 18, 2024, 1:32 AM GMT

Afghanistan was when it all turned south for Biden

Multiple speakers tonight have taken President Joe Biden to task for his handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Well, Americans agreed with their assessment: In an Aug. 13-16, 2021, poll from Morning Consult/Politico, only 31 percent of voters approved of Biden's handling of the situation.

Even worse for Biden, the withdrawal was the event that really seemed to catalyze the collapse in his approval rating.

On Aug. 15, 2021, the day the Taliban returned to power, Biden's net approval rating was +8 points in the 538 average. But by Sept. 3, his disapproval rating was higher than his approval rating, which has been true every day since.

Jul 18, 2024, 1:30 AM GMT

Kimberly Guilfoyle fires up crowd

Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former 2020 campaign staffer and Donald Trump Jr.'s fiancée, got the crowd fired up in her speech on the floor.

Guilfoyle claimed that under President Joe Biden, the country "is more dangerous, vulnerable and impoverished than anyone had thought possible."

Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.

"We are closer to World War III than any time in my life," Guilfoyle said.

She said Republicans would "restore an era of national pride where freedom of speech is respected and cancel culture is ended, [and] where high school girls only compete with other girls, not biological men."