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

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who was elected in the swing state that has chosen Democrats for the White House in each of the last four presidential cycles, backed former President Trump with a speech that hemmed closest to economic issues.

He painted an image of America pained with economic challenges, including the "silent thief of inflation unleashed by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris."

Under Trump, he said, the "outsider businessman" brought the "strongest economy, the mightiest military, energy independence and unlimited opportunity."

"That businessman was Donald J. Trump and he will do it again!" Youngkin said.

After 12 years under Democratic control, "a Republican outside businessman" captured the governorship of Virginia in 2019, he said, drawing a parallel between himself and Trump.

Youngkin's 2019 win came on the heels of Republican losses in the 2018 midterms.

"And I believe Virginia will elect another Republican outside businessman as president of the United States," Youngkin said.

He pumped his fist in declaring that a "rip-roaring economy that lifts up all Americans" would arrive with Trump.

"The spirit of hope is spreading... will sweep across this nation when we elect Donald J. Trump the 47th president of the United States," the governor said, punctuating his prime-time speech.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, a challenger-turned-supporter of Trump and an early vice-presidential hopeful, delivered a rousing speech that began by addressing the assassination attempt on Trump.

"Listen, if you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now," he said.

"The devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle. But an American lion got back up on his feet and he roared," Scott continued, in a speech that electrified the crowd. "Oh yeah, he roared!"

Scott then pivoted to talking about it being a "difficult time for our nation" and targeting the Biden administration.

"Inflation is crushing families. Illegal immigration is crushing American workers," he said. "Failing schools and victimhood culture are crushing our poorest kids. And the weakness of the commander in chief has invited world wars all around our world -- Joe Biden -- is asleep at the wheel and we're heading over a cliff."

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Sen. Tim Scott electrifies crowd in rousing speech

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott began his Republican National Convention speech by addressing the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

ABCNews.com

At one point, Scott drew emphatic applause when he said that "America is not a racist country."

"No we're not," he said, prompting one person near an ABC News Digital reporter in the crowd to shout out, "Amen."

He then went on to say, "But if you are looking for racism today, you'd find it in cities run by Democrats," pointing specifically to Chicago.

"Poor Black kids trapped in failing schools. Thousands shot every single year, including one of my former interns," he said. "But there's good news. It's conservative values that restores hope. It's Republican policies that lifts people up."

Sen. Katie Britt told the convention center that "Donald Trump is the change we need" and that President Joe Biden was "in decline."

"We see how Biden and Harris keep making things worse," the Alabama Senator said.

"Our opportunity, our prosperity, our security, our safety -- each diminished, all in decline," Britt said. "Just like the man in the Oval Office."

The 42-year-old Britt, who delivered the Republican rebuttal to Biden's 2024 State of the Union address, painted starkly different images of the United States under the last two presidents.

"With President Trump, the tough choice was which job offer to accept. Now it's which second job to take -- just to pay the bills," she said, without providing evidence.

"Four more years of Biden-Harris will impose a lifetime of financial damage on our children," she said.

Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt targeted the Biden administration in his remarks, saying President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris "have failed."

"I understand that when you're given a mission, you show up, you identify the problem, and you execute," he said. "Biden-Harris haven't showed up. They don't seem to understand that they are the problem, and they've shown no empathy or remorse."