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, 10:07 PM EDT

Attendees sing along to 'God Bless the USA' as Trump enters RNC

The cheers for former President Donald Trump as he arrived were the loudest of the night.

Convention attendees are singing along to the song as he makes his way through the floor.

Trump pumped his fist -- in what appears to be a call-back to the "fight, fight, fight" fist pump after the failed assassination attempt -- before shaking hands with his running mate, J.D. Vance.

He could be seen mouthing "thank you" and waving to the crowd.

Trump had a more quiet, subdued demeanor during his appearance.

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, Sen. JD Vance appear on the first day of the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Jul 15, 2024, 10:03 PM EDT

Trump arrives with bandage on ear

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives on the first day of the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump has arrived at the convention with a bandage on his ear. The crowd cheered when he was shown on the jumbotron during a musical interlude. This is his first public appearance since the attempted assassination on Saturday at his rally.

Jul 15, 2024, 10:00 PM EDT

Trump urges 'massive' voting turnout in video message

Former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to get out and vote in a video message shown during the convention.

"Many Republicans like to vote on Election Day, and we must swamp the radical Democrats with massive turnout on Tuesday, Nov. 5," he said. "The way you win is to swamp them."

The pre-taped video has played at Trump's rallies in the past.

Jul 15, 2024, 9:55 PM EDT

'I love this guy': Charlie Kirk gets a warm welcome

Many in the arena stood up to cheer on Charlie Kirk -- the CEO of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics at schools and universities -- as he walked onto the stage.

"I love this guy," one woman said.

Kirk opened up with a joke about his outreach work to young voters, telling the audience he's gone to college campuses so they don't have to -- which received a hearty laugh from attendees.

-ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler

CEO of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks on stage on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images