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.

ByMeredith Deliso, Tal Axelrod, Chris Boccia, and Alexandra Hutzler
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.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Jul 15, 2024, 5:46 PM EDT

Trump on Vance: 'Once he got to know me, he was all in'

Trump spoke to ABC News about his running mate in a call shortly before J.D. Vance was formally solidified as the vice presidential nominee.

"I get along with him great," Trump said.

The former president acknowledged that Vance has said some negative things about him, but said of Vance, "Once he got to know me, he was all in."

Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance arrives for Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, in Milwaukee, July 15, 2024.
Mike Segar/Reuters

Trump cited Vance's academic background, saying: "He's a very smart guy. Yale Law School -- real good intellect. His wife went to Yale, too."

Asked how he plans to use Vance in the campaign, Trump said he's "going to leave him in Pennsylvania," then added he will send him to Wisconsin and "a lot of other places where people are hurting."

-ABC News' Jonathan Karl

Jul 15, 2024, 5:39 PM EDT

Vice President Harris leaves voicemail message to congratulate Vance

Vice President Kamala Harris reached out to Sen. J.D. Vance and "left a message to congratulate him on his selection," a Biden-Harris campaign official said.

Harris also expressed her "hope that the two can meet in the vice presidential debate proposed by CBS News," the official said.

The official did not mention the Fox News debate, which is the only debate the Trump campaign has accepted.

-ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie

Jul 15, 2024, 5:17 PM EDT

1st session of the day concludes

The first session of the day has concluded. The proceedings will re-start at approximately 6:45 p.m. ET, according to RNC Chair Michael Whatley.

-ABC News' Jacob Steinberg

Jul 15, 2024, 5:16 PM EDT

Moment for victims of Trump rally shooting

Connecticut RNC committeewoman Leora Levy, delivering the benediction, began with a call to prayer for the victims in the attempted assassination at Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

"We pray for Corey Comperatore and family. May his memory always be a blessing," Levy said. "We pray for the two patriotic Americans who were wounded and for their speedy, complete recovery."

-ABC News' Tommy Barone