Celebrities Turn Out for JD Vance’s Historic RNC Speech: ‘United to Win’

RNC 3 Day is a wrap!

The third day of the Republican National Convention ended with JD Vance officially accepting the party’s nomination to run for vice president.

Celebrities turned out to hear the Ohio senator deliver a rousing speech that brought the crowd to their feet. He shared personal stories about growing up and meeting his wife. He also talked about Trump’s strength and resolve.

Other highlights from Wednesday night included:

Hours after being released from prison, former Trump White House official Peter Navarro received a standing ovation for more than a minute as he took the stage.

Gold Star families brought the raucous RNC crowd to tears as they talked about their loved ones killed in the line of duty protecting the county.

Donald Trump Jr. spoke about his father saying he has “the heart of a lion.” But it was his daughter who stole the hearts of the RNC as she talked about her grandfather.

That’s a wrap for Newsweek’s live blog for today. Check back for tomorrow for the final day of the RNC as Donald Trump takes the stage to officially accept his parties nomination to run for president.

JD Vance Celebrates First Speech As VP Candite

JD Vance Celebrates Mom’s Sobriety

“I’m proud to say that tonight, my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober. I love you, mom,” JD Vance said of his mother, Bev, who he says struggled with addiction.

“You know, mom, I was thinking: It’ll be 10 years officially in January of 2025, and if President Trump’s okay with it, let’s have the celebration in the White House!”

Trump smiled at the idea.

WATCH: JD Vance Accepts GOP Vice Presidential Nomination

WATCH: Kai Madison Trump Makes Surprise Speech

JD Vance Explains Trump’s ‘Simple’ Vision

More From The RNC Floor

Newsweek Reporter Describes RNC Crowd During Vance Speech

JD Vance’s ‘Mamaw’ Kept Him Away From Drugs

Republican Vice Presidental candidate JD Vance credited his “mamaw” for keeping him away from drugs while growing up in Middleton, Ohio, amid “closing factories and the growing eviction in towns like mine.”

“She loved the Lord, ladies and gentlemen,” Vance said of his grandmother. “She was a woman of very deep Christian faith, but she also loved the F word. I’m not kidding. She could make a sailor blush.”

“But as she once told me when she found out that I was spending too much time with a local kid who was known for dealing drugs: If I ever hung out with that kid again, she would run him over with her car. That’s true, and she said, ‘JD, no one will ever find out about it.'”

JD Vance Officially Accepts Trump VP Nom

“I stand here humble and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to say I officially accept your nomination to be Vice President of the United States of America,” Vance said Wednesday in his first speech since Donald Trump named him his running mate.

JD Vance Gushes Over Trump

“He is tough but he cares about people. He can stand defiant against an assassin one moment and call for national healing the next. He is a beloved father and grandfather and of course, a once-in-a-generation business leader. He’s the man who was feared by America’s adversaries.”

Ohioan JD Vance Shuts Down Crowd ‘OH-IO’ Chant

“We’re gonna chill with the Ohio love. We gotta win Michigan, too,” JD Vance joked onstage Wednesday, referring to his home state’s rival with the team up north.

JD Vance’s Wife Usha Speaks At RNC

Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of JD Vance, shared that the pair were friends first when they met at Yale.

“He was, then, and now, the most interesting person I knew: a working-class guy who had overcome childhood traumas that I could barely fathom — to end up at Yale Law School. A tough Marine who had served in Iraq, but whose idea of a good time was playing with puppies and watching the movie Babe.”

Who Is Kai Madison Trump?

Kai, 17, is the oldest granddaughter of the former president. She is the daughter of Donald’s oldest son, Donald Jr., and Vanessa Trump, who is now divorced from the president’s son. She has frequently posted on social media about her golfing but has largely stayed out of politics until now.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Andrew Stanton

Don Jr.: ‘JD Vance Will Make One Hell of a VP’

“Look at me and my friend, JD Vance — a kid from Appalachia and a kid from Trump Tower in Manhattan,” Don Jr. said of his father’s running mate.

“We grew up worlds apart, yet now we’re both fighting side by side to save the country we love. And by the way, JD Vance is going to make one hell of a vice president.”

Don Jr. On His Dad’s Choice To Run Again

“Remember, my father didn’t have to run for reelection this year. He doesn’t need the money, the fame, the power. Frankly, he doesn’t need the witchhunt, the phony investigations, or the political prosecutions, either, but he knew he had to run if there was any chance at saving America.”

Donald Trump Jr. Addresses Dad’s Assassination Attempt

“I’ve always been proud of him, but I’ve never been prouder of my father than I was in that moment. That’s when the world found out that there is tough and then there’s Trump tough,” Don Jr. said Wednesday.

“And the good news is America is Trump tough.”

Kai Madison Trump Makes Surprise Speech

Kai Madison Trump is the daughter of Donald J. Trump Jr. and the granddaughter of the former president.

Trump’s Granddaughter Slams Media Portrayal of Him

“The media makes my grandpa seem like a different person, but I know him for who he is. He’s very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country, and he will fight every single day to make America great again,” Kai Madison Trump, Donald’s granddaughter, said Wednesday.

Trump Granddaughter Calls Him ‘A Normal Grandpa’

“I’m speaking today to share the sign of my grandpa that people don’t often see,” Kai Madison Trump, Donald’s oldest grandchild, said in a surprise speech.

“To me, he’s just a normal grandpa. He gives us candy and soda when our parents aren’t looking.”

Donald Trump Jr. Gives Mic To Daughter

“Before I begin my remarks, I’m going to do something a little uncharacteristic: A Trump is going to give up the microphone,” Donald J. Trump Jr. said Wednesday.

“Doesn’t happen often. You may never see it again, but I got a call Monday morning from a young lady who said, ‘Dad, I want to speak at the RNC. I want to speak at the RNC because I want America to know what my grandpa is actually like.'”

“So for the first time ever on a stage, first time ever giving a speech, I want to bring out my eldest daughter and the eldest granddaughter of the United States your favorite president, Kai Madison Trump.”

Amber Rose Attends RNC Day 3

Celebrity Amber Rose attended the third day of the RNC on Wednesday, dressed in an American flag-inspired motorcycle jacket.

On Monday, Rose, a former Trump critic, made a speech in which she revealed she realized Trump and his supporters were her “people” because they “love” all people “whether you’re Black, white, gay or straight.”

WATCH: Peter Navarro Slams Nancy Pelosi During His RNC Moment: ‘Did Not Break Me’

WATCH: Peter Navarro Says He Served Prison Time ‘So You Don’t Have To’

UNC Frat Brothers Defend Flag Once Again

“When a mob tried to take down the American flag on our campus, we knew we couldn’t let that happen. We stood guard, we held it up, and we did not let it fall,” a frat boy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said Wednesday at the RNC.

Trump Appears Emotional During Gold Star Family Speeches

WATCH: RNC Remembers 13 Heroes Who Died In Afghanistan Withdrawal

Army Mom Doesn’t Trust Biden With Her Son’s Life

“We had another son serving in the army, and we do not trust Joe Biden with his life. We have faith that Donald Trump to lead our military,” Alicia Lopez, the mother of Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez who died in Afghanistan in 2021, said onstage Wednesday.

Newsweek Reporter Describes Somber RNC Scene

Newsweek’s Alex J. Rouhandeh is on the ground at the RNC in Milwaukee. Follow him on X for more updates.

Gold Star Family Member Expected Trump To Be ‘Arrogant’

“I had expected to meet an arrogant politician. Instead, I met a man who had empathy for us,” Christy Shamblin said about meeting Trump after her daughter-in-law, Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee was killed during the Biden administration’s evacuation from Afghanistan in August 2021.

“He was compassionate, and he spent time with us because he knew it would make us feel better. Thank you, President Trump,” Shamblin added.

Gold Star Families Make Emotional Appearance On RNC Stage

“To this day, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have never mentioned these fallen soldiers’ names. President Trump will never forget them,” the Gold Star Family video concluded as the familes walked onto the RNC stage.

RNC Video Honors Gold Star Families

A video shown at the RNC on Wednesday featured family members from several Gold Star Families.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please give your solemn attention to the following video presentation honoring our nation’s gold star families,” the event’s announcer said.

The Gold Star family is one that has experienced the loss of a loved one – an immediate family member – who died as the result of active-duty military service.

Meghan McCain Pokes Fun at 2024 Election Craziness

WATCH: Trump Supporters Sport Ear Bandages At RNC

Kimberly Guilfoyle Slams Deteriorating Biden

Former San Francisco prosecutor Kimberly Guilfoyle said Wednesday, “President Trump handed Biden a booming economy and a strong nation. All Joe had to do was leave it alone and take a nap. But Joe just couldn’t help himself. Joe Biden cannot lead America. He cannot even lead himself off a stage.”

Fresh Kicks At RNC Day 3

Van Jones: ‘A Virus Just Stopped Biden’

CNN’s Van Jones said Wednesday, “A bullet couldn’t stop Trump. A virus just stopped Biden … The Democrats are coming apart. The Republicans are coming together.”

Donald Trump Arrives at RNC Day 3

Former President Donald Trump has arrived at the RNC in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

He entered the arena to James Brown’s It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.

Florida Rep Calls For Less Global Involvement

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said America’s strength “ensures our safety and secure.”

“We don’t preserve safety and peace by policing the world or involving ourselves in every foreign conflict,” Luna said. “We preserve peace by commanding the world’s respect, a respect that is earned through unparalleled military strength and decisive leadership”

Military Video

The RNC is showing a video from service members that are sharing how Trump can make the country “as strong as it was.”

Policies Come With Personality

“We don’t get those policies without that personality,” Kellyanne Conway said at the RNC on Wednesday.

Conway served as former President Donald Trump’s senior counselor. She spoke of policies on energy, education and immigration.

“You get that through strength and toughness,” Conway said. “Weakness emboldens our adversaries. It enables failure and empowers evil.”

Women, Moms in the White House

Kellyanne Conway shared an experience at a meeting in the White House where “five working moms of 19 young children could have the highest rank of the company and work alongside the president.”

“In the Trump White House, we lived it,” Conway said, about the meeting which involved her, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Mercedes Schlapp, Brooke Rollins and Ivanka Trump.

Energy ‘Dictator’ Joe Biden

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who had previously run against former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, takes the stage to discuss energy reliability.

“For more years of Joe will usher in an era of like brown outs and black outs. Imagine no energy for your refrigerator or air conditioning,” Burgum said. “Biden is acting like a dictator.”

East Palestine, Ohio Mayor Concerned With Train Response

Trent Conaway, the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, shared his city’s experience after a Norfolk Southern train derailed while carrying hazardous materials.

He called Biden’s response as “consisting almost completely with meetings.”

“For the longest time, the White House was silent,” Conaway said.

Conaway said former President Donald Trump toured the derailment site, brought fresh drinking water, listened to residents and shared a meal at McDonalds.

Sarah Phillips Calls Oil, Gas Development “Responsible”

Petroleum engineer Sarah Phillips said the country’s standard of living would not exist without fossil fuels.

“President Biden declared war on the oil and gas industry since Day 1,” Phillips said. “I have witnessed the safe and environmentally responsible way America develops oil and gas resources.”

“Thank God President Trump is alive.”

Petroleum engineer Sarah Phillips was the first speaker on stage at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“As you can imagine it was a terrifying experience, but nothing, nothing was going to stop be from being here to support President Trump,” Phillips said. “Thank God President Trump is alive.”

Abbott Will Continue To Bus Immigrants

Abbott said the border is not secure and he is taking charge of “restoring order at the border.”

“I took the border to them,” Abbott said. “I began bussing illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C.”

Abbott has been sending immigrants since 2022 to cities like D.C., New York City and Chicago.

He said the buses will “continue to roll until we finally secure our border.”

Border Situation Is ‘Catastrophic’

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said President Joe Biden “deserted” his duty to secure the border, calling the results “catastrophic.”

“The President’s most sacred duty is to secure our country. Donald Trump fulfilled that duty by eliminating illegal immigration,” Abbott said.

WATCH: Ronny Jackson Proud To Serve President Who ‘Literally’ Took Bullet For Country

Arizona Ranchers Share Video of ‘Invasion’

Arizona ranchers Jim and Sue Chilton, who have been married for 60 years, said five and a half miles of their ranch is the U.S. Mexican border, a “known route for drug smuggling and human trafficking.”

The two showed footage from their ranch that showed over 3,500 “drug packers and others dressed in camouflage marching north through our ranch” since President Joe Biden took office.

“These are not asylum seekers,” Jim said. “It looks like and it feels like an invasion because it is.”

Matt Gaetz Mocks Biden With Menendez Corruption Scandal

Rep. Matt Gaetz mocked the Biden administration with a joke about Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption scandal. “Under Biden-Harris, inflation has gotten so bad you can no longer bribe Democrat senators with cash alone. You have to use gold bars just so the bribes hold value.”

Peter Navarro Slams Nancy Pelosi During His RNC Moment: ‘Did Not Break Me’

Peter Navarro, who previously served as former President Donald Trump’s adviser, took the stage at the Republican National Convention the day he was released from prison.

Navarro spoke in Milwaukee on the third day of the RNC too loud cheers from the crowd. He discussed the need for control or else people like “me and Steve Bannon are in prison” and they “control the rest of us.”

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Monica Sager.

Biden’s Administration’s Border Control Policies Are ‘A Choice’

Tom Homan, who served under the Trump Administration as the acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Trump was the only president able to secure the border. He expressed concerns with Biden’s administration.

“This isn’t mismanagement. This isn’t incompetence,” Homan said. “This is by design. It is a choice.”

‘Nothing Compassionate’ About Biden Policies

Rep. De La Cruz expressed concern for what the Biden administration calls “compassionate” policies.

“Wages can’t keep up with inflation,” De La Cruz said. “They give benefits to illegal immigrants and cut Medicare advantages for our seniors.”

Rep. Monica De La Cruz Takes The Stage

Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz said she is living proof that the American dream “can become reality.”

“Only in America can a little girl from south Texas go from watching her Abuelo pick watermelons to serving in the people’s house.”

Peter Navarro’s Fiancée Joins Him On RNC Stage

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro brought his fiancée Bonnie onstage Wednesday at the RNC after sharing what she told him before he entered federal prison.

“I’m going to leave you now with the last three words my beautiful fiancée said when I left that morning for prison. They weren’t ‘I love you,’ that was a given. She simply said, ‘We got this.'”

“This is my beautiful girl,” Navarro said as Bonnie walked onto the stage. “She did the time with me. That’s what these freaking Democrats don’t understand. They do this to our family. She’s my girl. I love you,” he said, giving her a kiss.

Peter Navarro Served Prison Time ‘So You Don’t Have To’

“I went to prison so you won’t have to. I am your wake-up call,” the ex-Trump adviser said Wednesday.

Peter Navarro: ‘Go Pound Sand’

“If Congress slaps the subpoena on a senior White House Advisor like me, the advisor’s duty is to politely tell them, ‘Go pound sand,'” former Trump adviser Peter Navarro said Wednesday on the RNC stage hours after getting out of federal prison.

Peter Navarro Speaks At RNC Hours After Getting Out of Prison

Ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro was welcomed to the RNC stage Wednesday with a massive standing ovation just hours after he left federal prison.

“Fight, fight, fight,” the crowd cheered.

“If they can come for me and they can come for President Trump, then they can come for you, too,” Navarro said.

Former Speaker of the House Says Presidential Choice ‘Is Clear’

“The message for this November is clear. You can vote for weakness and war with Biden, or you can vote for strength and peace with President Trump,” Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives said Wednesday.

Former Speaker of the House Suggests Differences Between Trump and Biden

“The contrast between President Trump’s realistic policy of resolute strength in a dangerous world and President Biden’s policies of appeasement, weakness and self-delusion, may be the biggest difference between the Make America Great Again movement and the Make America Weak ideology,” Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives,” said Wednesday.

Matt Gatez Says Life Was Better Under Trump

“We saw people in the witness protection program more often than we saw unscripted Biden,” Florida Rep. Matt Gatez said Wednesday.

“Under Biden-Harris, America has fallen sicker, lonelier, and poorer. Under Trump, we prospered. We were richer. Inflation was low, and there were two genders,” he said to the crowd’s applause.

“Under Biden Harris, inflation has been so bad you can no longer bribe Democrat senators with cash alone. You have to use gold bars just on the bribe’s own value.”

Matt Gatez Takes The RNC Stage

“Donald Trump is unstoppable. Elect him president again and America will be unstoppable, too,” Florida Rep. Matt Gatez opened his speech Wednesday.

Former White House Physician Addresses Biden’s Health

“Let’s not kid ourselves. Father Time has not been kind to Joe Biden,” Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, who was Donald Trump’s White House physician, said Wednesday.

“China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea — they do not respect Biden’s 10 am to 4 pm schedule, and we would not be in this situation were it not for Joe Biden’s staff and his family. They should have compassion for him and prioritize his health in our country’s security, but they have put their own interest above America’s interests.”

Ronny Jackson Slams Biden, Harris

Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, who was Donald Trump’s White House physician, criticized President Joe Biden and his family for staying in the race despite his seemingly declining health.

“Perhaps the greatest blame lies with his own vice president, Kamala Harris. She has not been honest with us. She has lied to us. She has put party above country, and she is as unfit in character as Joe Biden is in body and mind.”

Brother of Murdered Mom Rachel Morin Delivers RNC Speech Bashing Biden

Michael Morin, the brother of Rachel Morin, the woman who was allegedly killed by undocumented migrant, gave a powerful and emotional speech Tuesday at the RNC as part of the night’s “Make America Safe Again” theme.

At the RNC on Tuesday, Michael Moran, 40, blamed the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies and blamed them for his sister’s murder in an emotional speech.

“Open borders are often portrayed as compassionate and virtuous,” he said. “But there is nothing compassionate about allowing violent criminals into our country and robbing children of their mother. My sister’s death was preventable.”

Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old Maryland resident, was allegedly raped and murdered by Victor Martinez Hernandez, 23, while out for a run in August of 2023. After a 10-month search, officials finally found and arrested Hernandez at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 14. He is facing charges of first-degree rape and first-degree murder and will be extradited to Maryland for prosecution.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Erin Keller

WATCH: Joe Biden Suddenly Cancels Speech After Testing Positive for COVID

WATCH: Person Holds Sign Outside RNC Calling Thomas Matthew Crooks A ‘Hero’

Nancy Mace Members Humble Beginnings

“At the age of 17, I learned that dropping out of high school might not have been the best idea, so I took my first job at a fine dining establishment some of you may know as the Waffle House,” South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace said Wednesday.

“Denny’s was a little too highbrow,” she joked. “While Waffle House was an important part of my journey, it would not be my destination. I soon went from making waffles to making history.”

“25 years ago, this high school dropout became the first woman to graduate from The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina.”

Watch The RNC LIVE

Watch the RNC’s livestream.

Biden Tells Reporters He’s Feeling ‘Good’

President Joe Biden suddenly canceled an appearance at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Biden tells reporters he’s feeling “good” as he leaves Las Vegas after his Covid diagnosis.

Biden was set to speak at the UnidosUS Annual Conference on Wednesday, drawing more than 1,500 Latino advocates in leaders in Nevada, a crucial swing state in the 2024 presidential race. The speech comes as Biden has been trying to rally his supporters around him as Democrats in Congress call for him to resign from the campaign.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Andrew Stanton.

JD Vance ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Actor Reacts to Trump VP Pick Netflix Surge

Gyula Owen Asztalos portrayed a young JD Vance in the 2020 movie Hillbilly Elegy directed by Ron Howard and based on the book of the same name. Vance wrote the book describing his life growing up amid poverty and abuse in Middletown, Ohio.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Shannon Power

Fact-Check: Debunking 4 Immigration Claims Made by Republicans at the RNC

Speakers on the second day of the RNC made several bold claims on immigration. Among the most eye-catching was the suggestion that 11.5 million people have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally during Biden’s watch.

Newsweek has fact-checked this and four other claims made about immigration to the U.S.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Billal Rahman

President Biden tests positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas

President Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a speaker at the UnidosUS annual conference broadcast on the White House’s YouTube channel.

Biden was slated to speak at the event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Unidos US President and CEO Janet Murguía told the guests that the president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.

The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and was scheduled to have an interview with Univision.

— The Associated Press

Mark Ruffalo’s JD Vance Comment Takes Off Online

Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has shared a social media post in which he has detailed Ohio Senator J.D. Vance’s turnaround from a fervent critic of Donald Trump to vice presidential running mate.

On Monday, Trump announced Vance as his pick for vice president on his Truth Social platform as the Republican National Convention was set to kick off in Milwaukee. Vance has previously been critical of Trump.

In a message to a former college roommate in February 2016, Vance wrote: “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical a****** like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler. How’s that for discouraging?”

In October 2016, during Trump’s first presidential campaign, Vance said in an interview with talk show host Charlie Rose that he was a “Never Trump guy. I never liked him.”

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Ryan Smith

Tonight: Vance will get his political introduction

Introducing himself to the nation, Vance is ready to use his Wednesday night address to share the story of his hardscrabble upbringing and make the case that it’s the GOP ticket that best understands the challenges facing many Americans.

The 39-year-old Ohio senator is a relative political unknown. In his first prime-time speech since becoming Trump’s nominee for vice president, he will recount growing up poor in Kentucky and Ohio, his mother addicted to drugs and his father absent, and how he later went on to the highest levels of U.S. politics.

It’s a story meant to connect with voters in middle America and show how Vance’s upbringing shaped his positions on issues such as immigration, inflation and drugs, according to a person familiar with the speech who was not authorized to speak publicly about it.

–The Associated Press

WATCH: Nikki Haley Stirs ‘Some Drama’ On Day 2 of RNC

Mary Trump’s Warning to Women About JD Vance

Former President Donald Trump’s estranged niece Mary Trump has warned that Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance will help usher in “the end of women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy” if the GOP wins back the White House.

The former president announced Vance, a U.S. senator for Ohio, as his running mate on Monday. In a Truth Social post made less than 48 hours after he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, Trump wrote that Vance was “best suited to assume the position” of vice president.

On Tuesday, Mary Trump called Vance a “misogynist” in her newsletter The Good in US, while also sharing some of her thoughts on X, formerly Twitter. She warned that Vance “hates women as much as” her uncle does, citing the senator’s previous calls to “end abortion” without exception.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Aila Slisco

JD Vance VP Pick Questioned by Home State Newspaper

A newspaper in Ohio slammed Senator JD Vance after he was selected as Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee.

Vance was selected as Trump’s vice president pick on Monday, ahead of the former president’s confirmation as the Republican Party’s official nominee for the 2024 election.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Vance has “championed the hardworking men and women of our country.” He added that Vance would be focused on the people he “fought so brilliantly for,” such as voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota.

But not everyone thinks Vance will have appeal outside of his home state of Ohio or beyond voters that already support Trump.

Writing in an op-ed in The Columbus Dispatch, columnist Jordan Barkin wrote that Vance only “appeals to the MAGA demographic that was going to vote for Trump anyway,” owing to his views on abortion and his economic policies.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Martha McHardy

Ted Cruz Could Be Facing a Tougher Reelection Battle Than Expected

Ted Cruz’s reelection for his Texas Senate seat may not be as easy a race as once thought as another poll is showing the Republican with a slim lead over his Democratic challenger.

A University of Houston/Texas Southern University (TSU) survey of 2,257 adults showed Cruz leading Democratic Texas Representative Colin Allred by 3 points—47 percent to 44 percent.

The results reveal Allred has managed to chip away at the previous 9 point lead Cruz held over his Democratic rival in the same poll late last year.

The poll is the latest one to show Cruz, who is heavily favored in the race as the incumbent with Cook Political Report rating the seat at likely Republican, enjoying a narrow lead over Allred.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Ewan Palmer

JD Vance won’t commit to VP debate until Democrats formally choose their nominee

Newly minted Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s team says it’s too soon to discuss the vice presidential debate because Democrats don’t formally have their nominees and President Biden could still drop out of the race.

After Vice Harris accepted a third debate date offered by CBS News and encouraged Vance to accept, Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said, “We don’t know who the Democrat nominee for Vice President is going to be, so we can’t lock in a date before their convention. To do so would be unfair to Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, or whoever Kamala Harris picks as her running mate.”

President Biden is the presumptive Democrat nominee but is facing pressure from party leaders to step aside after his disastrous debate with Trump. Biden has insisted he’s not leaving the race.

–The Associated Press

Kamala Harris Suffers Major Polling Blow

Kamala Harris has suffered a blow in a poll that looked at how alternative Democratic candidates would do in swing states.

There have been calls for U.S. President Joe Biden to be replaced as the Democratic candidate since the world watched his poor performance in his debate with Donald Trump on June 27. Many have assumed the vice president would be the obvious choice, but a new poll shows she doesn’t fare as well as others, and she wasn’t among the four who performed best.

Analytics company BlueLabs carried out research to determine who would increase the number of people voting for the Democrats in seven battleground states – Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. It interviewed more than 15,000 voters across the states from July 5-12.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Jordan King

Pence Takes Subtle Shot at RNC: ‘Challenges Ahead’

Former Vice President Mike Pence reshared a post on X criticizing how the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) was handled in Milwaukee on Monday, with a particular focus on the issues of abortion, Ukraine and labor unions.

Tim Chapman, president of the conservative advocacy group Advancing American Freedom, which was founded by Pence, made the post on Tuesday. The former vice president’s decision to repost it could be interpreted as a subtle dig at the current Republican Party leadership.

On Monday, Donald Trump announced that Ohio Senator JD Vance would be his 2024 running mate. Vance was a prominent critic of U.S. military aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. During a 2022 podcast appearance, he said: “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.”

In his X post, which Pence reshared, Chapman said the first day of the RNC had “revealed the challenges ahead for conservatives.”

Chapman went on to list his objections commenting: “The Teamsters Union President who has opposed tax cuts, regulatory relief for American workers and attacked Right to Work spoke from the main stage – yes, we want to be the pro-worker party. No, not by adopting the policies of the left.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s James Bickerton

Milwaukee police chief defends use of outside law enforcement at RNC

The role of police from outside Milwaukee has been under scrutiny after officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed a man wielding two knives near the convention.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman told The Associated Press today, a day after the shooting, that the officers took it upon themselves to intervene in an “active imminent threat situation.” He says it should restore people’s faith that law enforcement has the community’s back, no matter where they are from.

The shooting angered area residents because the police were from elsewhere. It’s also reignited activists’ concerns about police use of deadly force.

–The Associated Press

Armed Person Stands Outside RNC With Poster Calling Thomas Crooks a ‘Hero’

An armed person stands outside of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum along with a poster of Thomas Crooks, the man that attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump over the weekend.

The Associated Press photographed a man with a gun, marking another armed incident among many others throughout the RNC’s first three days.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Monica Sager.

Trump Supporter Posters At RNC

Posters are being lined up throughout the RNC on each attendees’ chair prior to the speeches later tonight.

Some follow with the theme for the night, “Make America Strong Again.”

Others state that “Trump Will End The Ukraine War.”

Donald Trump Has Walkthrough On RNC Convention Stage

Former President Donald Trump did a walkthrough on the RNC Convention stage a day before his speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Russian State TV Lauds JD Vance as ‘Trumpier Than Trump’

Russian state television host Olga Skabeyeva lauded JD Vance as Donald Trump’s running mate, calling the 39-year-old Ohio senator “Trumpier than Trump.”

Trump announced that Vance would be his vice presidential pick on Monday via a post on Truth Social. In it, he said Vance would be “strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond.”

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Anna Skinner

WATCH: Donald Trump Jr. Gives Behind The Scenes Look At RNC

Democrats Accelerating Joe Biden Nomination Sparks Outrage

Democrats’ plans to move forward with the confirmation of President Joe Biden as the party’s nominee through a virtual roll call vote ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August have sparked outrage.

At least 20 congressional Democrats have called on Biden to quit the race after his poor debate performance in late June magnified concerns about his ability to beat former President Donald Trump in November.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Khaleda Rahman.

Former White House official Peter Navarro arrives following prison release

A black SUV dropped off Peter Navarro at a Hyatt Hotel just outside the security perimeter surrounding the Republican National Convention. He is set to speak tonight night.

Navarro, who served as a White House trade adviser under Trump, was freed from a Florida prison earlier today after serving four months for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of the Republican president’s supporters, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Navarro carried his own luggage into the hotel after his release from prison earlier in the day.

“I’m enjoying the freedom,” he told the AP.

–The Associated Press

Donald Trump’s Chances of Winning Election Are Declining

Donald Trump’s chances of winning the November 2024 presidential election are declining, according to a new aggregation of polls.

FiveThirtyEight’s poll tracker, which was originally published on July 8 and updated on July 16, shows Joe Biden with a 53 percent chance of winning the election, while Trump has a 46 percent chance.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Martha McHardy.

Selfie with Thomas Crooks

A man takes a self-made photo of a poster of Thomas Crooks, the man that attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump stands on Water Street during the third day of the 2024 RNC.

The poster calls Crooks “an American hero.”

READ MORE about Crooks from Newsweek‘s Joshua Rhett Miller

Armed Person at RNC With Poster of Thomas Crooks

An armed person stands on Water Street during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum. The person is near a poster of Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

Eric Trump at the RNC

The son of the former president Eric Trump poses on stage during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Donald Trump Jr. And His Daughter Kai Madison Trump

The son of the former president, Donald Trump Jr., and his daughter Kai Madison Trump do a podium check during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee

What Exactly JD Vance Has Said About Women

Multiple clips of JD Vance’s previous comments about women and women’s issues have resurfaced after he was announced as Donald Trump’s running mate on Monday.

Vance has accused the media of mischaracterizing his words, so Newsweek has rounded up exactly what he said.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Jordan King.

MAGA Makes Racist Attacks Against JD Vance’s Wife

Extremist figures and members of the Make America Great Again movement have criticized the wife of Ohio Senator JD Vance after former President Donald Trump named him as his running mate in the 2024 election.

Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, was raised in San Diego before meeting her husband at Yale Law School. They were married in 2014 and later blessed by a Hindu pundit in a separate ceremony, The New York Times reported.

In the wake of Trump’s vice presidential announcement on Monday, numerous conservative and far-right figures have taken to social media to launch racist attacks against Usha Vance because of her Indian heritage and the assumption that her influence on her husband’s political career means the Republican Party will be softer on immigration.

Usha is set to speak at the RNC tonight for Day 3 of the convention.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Ewan Palmer.

Who is Babydog?

Babydog, the lovable 4-year-old purebred bulldog sat in her own chair onstage Tuesday alongside his owner West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice who spoke during the night’s “Make America Safe Again” theme.

“I know that a lot of you want to meet my little buddy, so if Babydog could come on out here…,” Justice said at the beginning of his remarks as Babydog slowly waddled out with a handler.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Erin Kelller

On The Ground At The RNC: What Went Down On Day Two

Newsweek‘s Alex J. Rouhandeh broke down what happened on day two of the Republican National Convention Tuesday, where former Trump opponents like Nikki Haley made strong endorsements for the former preisdent. Day three kicks off in Milwaukee Wednesday with the theme “Make America Strong Again.”

Tombstones Outside of the RNC

Mock tombstones of people that have died due to overdose are seen during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum, Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Anne Fundner, a mother who lost her oldest son to fentanyl-laced pills, spoke during Day 2 of the convention, playing President Joe Biden for her son’s death.

“I hold Joe Biden, Mala Harris (sic) — what a joke — Gavin Newsom and every Democrat who supports open borders responsible for the death of my son,” Fundner said.

Fundner said she also blames those Democrats for the other “innocent children” who died from the effects of open borders.

“For that alone, they should be voted out of office.”

Did Donald Trump Fall Asleep at RNC Convention?

A video circulating on social media that appears to show former President Donald Trump fall asleep during a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee has gone viral.

The clip shows Trump apparently drifting off during Harmeet Dhillon’s speech.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Flynn Nicholls.

Trump’s Bandage

Several attendees at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin have been sporting fake bandages on their right ear, in solidarity with the party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

The former president has donned an ear bandage covering the wound inflicted on him by the bullet of his would-be assassin at a Pennsylvania campaign rally two days prior. The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed one rally attendee and wounded two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper at the scene.

Dr. Ronny Jackson said on The Benny Show that he dressed Trump’s “ear up this morning.”

“It was far enough away from his head that there was no concussive effects from the bullet and it just took the top of his ear off a little bit,” Jackson said.

Will Melania Trump Be At Day 3?

Former first lady Melania Trump was visibly absent during the first two days of the convention. Photos at former President Donald Trump’s sound check do not show Melania present.

Donald Trump’s son Eric said on CBS Mornings that Ivanka Trump and Melania Trump will be at the convention tonight.

Melania has been relatively quiet since leaving the White House. She was latest appearance on the campaign trail was at a fundraiser for the Log Cabin Republicans.

“They’re coming in,” Eric Trump said on CBS Mornings. “They’re coming in full force and effect, so they’ll certainly be here.”

Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Tiffany Trump have all been seen sitting behind the former president during speeches throughout the convention so far.

“There’s no family I don’t think in political history that’s remained closer than our family,” Eric Trump said.

Trump’s Sound Check

Former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands at the lectern at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee during a sound check ahead of the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention. He is at the convention days after he survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Tucker Carlson, Rupert Murdoch Encounter

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson had a close encounter with his former employer, Fox founder Rupert Murdoch, at a hotel near the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.

Jake Sherman, of Punchbowl News, posted a photo to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Key Takeaways From Day 1 Of The RNC

Conservatives kicked off day two of the Republican National Convention by rallying around former President Donald Trump’s goal to “make America safe again,” attacking President Joe Biden’s record on crime, national security and the border.

The night also notably included an address from former GOP presidential challenger Nikki Haley, who kicked off her speech by stating Trump invited her to speak at the event in the “name of unity.” She emphasized that while she may not always agree with Trump, they “agree more often than we disagree,” and she urged her supporters to back him.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Alex Rouhandeh

Key Takeaways From Day 1 Of The RNC

Republicans rallied around former President Donald Trump two days after his assassination attempt and attacked President Joe Biden’s policies and fitness for office Monday on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

READ MORE from Newsweek’s Daniel Bush

Supporter Walking Dog

A Trump supporter walks her dogs during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Forgiato Blow Is Attending Day 3 Of The Convention

Kurt Janz is attending the third day of the RNC convention. Janz is a self-proclaimed pioneer of the “Trumpist hip hop genre of MAGA rap.” He is professionally known as Forgiato Blow. He’s wearing a fully blinged-out outfit with a ring that says, “Make America Great Again” with the “MAGA” down the middle.

Greg Abbott Mic Check

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott does a microphone check on stage at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee before the start of the third day’s session of the Republican National Convention.

Tonight’s Schedule

A variety of representatives and important higher-ups will be speaking at today’s convention. Some highlights include Rep. Matt Gaetz, former speaker Newt Gingrich, Gov. Greg Abbott, Kellyanne Conway, Donald J. Trump Jr., Usha Chilukuri Vance, and JD Vance.

The schedule is as follows in Eastern Daylight Time.

7-7:30 – Rep. Brian Mast, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ronny Jackson, Rick Grenell, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Former Amb. Callista Gingrich

7:30-8 – Newt Gingrich, Peter Navarro, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, Thomas Homan, David Lara, Jim Chilton

8-8:30 – Gov. Greg Abbott, Sarah Philips, Trent Conaway, Gov. Doug Burgum, Kellyanne Conway

8:30-9 – Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, David Bellavia, Scott Neil, Kimberly Guilfoyle

9-9:30 – Rep. Michael Waltz, Christy Shamblin, Cherly Juels, Herman and Alicia Lopez Shabbos Kestenbaum

9:30-10 – Neutra Family, Sgt. William Pekrul

10-10:30 – Donald J. Trump Jr., Usha Chilukuri Vance

10:30-11 – JD Vance

Theme of the Night

Day three of the RNC is set to focus on foreign policy.

Each day, the convention has a theme playing up former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” motto. The theme for night three is “Make America Strong Once Again.”

“Under President Trump’s vision, America will once again be strong and secure,” the GOP’s press release reads.

Monday was “Make America Wealth Once Again,” and Tuesday was “Make America Safe Once Again.”

Donald Trump cereal available

A vendor sells Trump 2024 cereal during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday in Milwaukee.