RNC 2024 Day 1 updates: Bandaged and emotional, Trump makes RNC appearance

Chants of "we love Trump" could be heard as he entered the RNC.

Last Updated: July 15, 2024, 11:01 PM EDT

The first day of the Republican National Convention has wrapped up in Milwaukee -- marked with an appearance by former President Donald Trump just two days he was wounded in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday evening.

Despite the shooting, the gathering of more than 50,000 attendees, including an expected 2,400 Republican delegates, is slated to maintain its original programming as a time to bring the party together -- but now newly energized by Trump's amazing survival and raised-fist show of defiance.

One of the most anticipated moments of Trump's campaign happened Monday when Trump named 39-year-old Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate.

Jul 15, 2024, 3:22 PM EDT

Roll call vote underway

The roll call vote to select Trump as the nominee is in progress, after the former president was formally nominated by Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufman and Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald.

"We want to remind all our delegates, alternates and guests that maintaining order during the roll call is extremely important," House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson opens the first day of 2024 Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

In his speech, Kaufman said that over the next four days, they will hear about Trump's "broad and inspiring vision for our country."

"This is not a program just for Republicans, but one for all Americans," he said.

In his speech, McDonald played up Trump's support for eliminating taxes on tips -- a policy that plays well in the service-industry-dependent swing state of Nevada.

"In Nevada, a state that is resilient on service industry. President Trump has proposed to eliminate taxes on tips on day one," McDonald said. "Unlike the Biden-Harris administration and the Democrats that increased taxes on tips."

As Iowa cast its votes, Iowa GOP chair Kaufman gave a shoutout to basketball star Caitlin Clark, while Sen. Mike Lee of Utah shouted out JD Vance -- Trump's just-revealed VP pick -- as he announced the state's delegates for Trump.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim

Jul 15, 2024, 3:08 PM EDT

Trump announces Vance as his running mate

Trump announced Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance will be his running mate, writing on Truth Social that the Ohio Republican is "the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States."

The decision caps off months of speculation and sees Trump elevate a 39-year-old first-term senator whose roughly year and a half tenure in the Senate has seen him emerge as a staunch ideological ally of the former president.

Jul 15, 2024, 2:54 PM EDT

GOP party platform passes

Delegates from California stand during the first day of 2024 Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

The Republicans have passed their party platform, despite dissent from the evangelical wing over softened language on abortion that better matches Trump's current posture. A fair amount of "nayes" were heard in the convention hall, but not enough for the vote to fail.

Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., told delegates that the "platform was personally approved by President Donald J. Trump."

"It's a different kind of platform," said platform co-chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., as she presented the platform for a vote.

"It is not a laundry list of special interests' wishes, but a succinct, clear agenda and a promise to the American people."

Before the overwhelming voice vote in Milwaukee, the platform had passed 84-14 by the platform committee.

-ABC News' Brittany Shepherd, Tommy Barone and Jacob Steinberg

Jul 15, 2024, 2:35 PM EDT

Burgum told he is not Trump's running mate

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has been told he is not Trump's running mate pick, three sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News.

Trump's pick is expected to be announced at some point Monday.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Rick Klein, Katherine Faulders