Former President Donald Trump has officially been nominated as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate, after a majority of delegates endorsed him during the national convention held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday. During the convention, which took place two days after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, approximately 2,400 delegates representing various states and territories of the country bloc-voted for the former president.
When Eric Trump, the former president’s son, announced Florida’s delegation votes for his father, they reached the necessary number to formalize the nomination, prompting cheers accompanied by Kool & the Gang’s ‘Celebration’ and Pat Boone. Republicans are expected to nominate their vice presidential candidate in the next few minutes, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, whose name was revealed by Trump today on the Truth social network.
The Republican National Convention kicked off on Monday in Milwaukee with Trump’s nomination mathematically secured: he needed votes from 1,215 delegates to secure it, and during the primary process, he secured 2,268 votes. Additionally, his primary opponent Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, released her 97 delegates so they could vote for the former president.
The party’s unity around Trump has strengthened even more since the Republican survived an assassination attempt last Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania, where he was injured in the ear by a 20-year-old’s gunshot attempting to end his life. Trump has reaffirmed his leadership of the party for the third consecutive time and, buoyed by polls placing him ahead of his rival, Joe Biden, in both national and key state voting, he is poised to become president following the November 5 elections. Joining him on the ticket as vice presidential candidate is Senator J.D. Vance, as announced by Trump earlier this afternoon on his Truth Social platform.
The convention, which began today at Fiserv Forum and will run until Thursday, features heightened security measures following the assassination attempt on the mogul. Thousands have gathered in Milwaukee, predominantly Trump supporters eager to show their backing after the recent attack. Trump is set to deliver a highly anticipated speech on Thursday accepting the nomination.
