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

Former president's 17-year-old granddaughter speaks

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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.

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Jul 17, 2024, 11:35 AM GMT

Foreign policy will take center stage

Many of the speeches Wednesday will take aim at the Biden administration's handling of global issues, including the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, according to Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee, with the theme of "Make America Strong Once Again."

"Under Joe Biden, the weakest commander-in-chief in our country's history, America has become a global laughingstock," the committee put out in an advance release.

Republicans see foreign policy as one of their strongest campaign issues, arguing that America's standing on the world stage was stronger under Trump despite the party's growing isolationist shift.

"I can tell you, countries around the world, leaders, are absolutely uncomfortable with the unpredictability of Donald Trump," Grenell, Trump's former ambassador to Germany, said during a reporters' roundtable Monday. "And when I say uncomfortable, that means they don't know exactly what he's going to do next. And that's a positive for us."

It is an argument he will likely make again Wednesday night.

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Jul 17, 2024, 11:34 AM GMT

Border and immigration are likely to be highlighted again

While the focus of Wednesday's session is expected to be beyond America's borders, Republicans are expected to also highlight how Biden's supposed "weakness" on immigration is also endangering our reputation abroad. Many speakers have already documented claims that a growing number of foreign terrorists have been able to illegally get into the U.S. from Mexico. Republicans have pointed to the arrests last month on U.S. soil of eight people from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State group.

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Jul 17, 2024, 11:33 AM GMT

The RNC hasn't released the day's full schedule

Convention organizers are not expected to announce who will speak on the event's second day until later Wednesday morning.

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Jul 17, 2024, 11:49 AM GMT

The recent attempt on Trump's life lingers over convention

Trump's survival of an attempted assassination Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania was on the minds of many inside the convention hall. One of the delegates in the crowd could be seen with a folded white piece of paper over his ear - an apparent tribute to the bandage Trump wore when he entered the hall Monday to a roaring crowd.

He was wearing it again when he arrived Tuesday night, appearing even earlier than he did the night before. Trump entered a few minutes after his newly chosen running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Many of the speakers so far have referenced the assassination attempt on Trump's life, and that's something we can expect to hear more of as speeches go on.