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, 11:39 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.

9 hours and 2 minutes ago

'Elites have no party': Teamsters president marks final Monday RNC speaker

Sean O'Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in America, spoke to Republicans Monday night, telling the GOP, "We need trade policies that put American workers first."
Sean O'Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in America, spoke to Republicans Monday night, telling the GOP, "We need trade policies that put American workers first."

In the final speech of the first night of the Republican National Convention, Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, addressed the failed assassination attempt at former President Donald Trump's rally over the weekend.

"I think we all can agree, whether people like him or they don't like him, in light of what happened to him on Saturday, he has proven to be one tough S.O.B.," O'Brien said, with Trump seen whispering "thank you."

O'Brien said Trump invited him to speak at this convention and "had the backbone to open the door to this Republican convention -- and that's unprecedented."

At the same time, he said the union is not interested in political affiliation: "We want to know one thing: What are you doing to help American workers?"

"Remember: Elites have no party. Elites have no nation. Their loyalty is to the balance sheet and the stock price at the expense of the American worker," he said.

He called for legal protections "that make it safer for workers to get a contract" and to stop corporations from "abandoning local communities to inflate their bottom line."

"I challenge each and every one of you and especially my friends on the Democratic side to embrace cooperation, to truly collaborate to achieve meaningful and productive change, to ensure we make this great nation and this world the better, faster, strongest nation in the entire world," he said.

10 hours and 7 minutes ago

'The media has lied about Donald Trump': Amber Rose

Amber Rose speaks during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Milwaukee, July 15, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Rapper Amber Rose, one of several celebrities speaking at the convention, spoke on Monday night about what made her come around to former President Donald Trump in a speech that drew applause from the former president.

"The media has lied about Donald Trump," she said, eliciting lots of "yeahs" from the crowd, according to an ABC Digital reporter.

"The first person I knew that supported Donald Trump was my father. I was shocked. My entire family is racially diverse. I believed the left-wing propaganda that Donald Trump was a racist," she said.

She said the "left told her to hate Trump," but that she did her research and started watching rallies.

"I realized Donald Trump and his supporters don't care if you're black, white, gay or straight. It's all love," she said, prompting a large applause from Trump.

Trump smiled as Rose said, "When I met the president and Melania for the first time, he was kind and generous and funny as hell -- very funny."

She touched on high gas prices and a "failing" education system.

"When you cut through the lies, you realize the truth. American families were better when Donald Trump was president," she said.

Rapper Amber Rose spoke about what made her come around to support Trump in a speech that drew applause from the former president.
Rapper Amber Rose spoke about what made her come around to support Trump in a speech that drew applause from the former president.

10 hours and 21 minutes ago

Trump appears emotional in 1st public appearance since assassination attempt

Former U.S. President Donald Trump greets Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance as he attends Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, in Milwaukee, July 15, 2024.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Former President Donald Trump appeared emotional while listening to "God Bless the USA" as the crowd chanted "U.S.A!" -- marking the former president's first public appearance since the assassination attempt at his rally on Saturday.

Chants of "we love Trump" could also be heard as he stood in the crowd.

Trump gave a standing ovation to the two speakers, billed by the RNC as "everyday Americans," who spoke following his arrival.

This is his first public appearance since the attempted assassination on Saturday at his rally.
This is his first public appearance since the attempted assassination on Saturday at his rally.

10 hours and 26 minutes ago

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