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RNC 2024 Day 2 updates: US doesn't need 'Weekend at Bernie's' presidency: DeSantis

The theme of Tuesday's session is "Make America Safe Again."

Last Updated: July 16, 2024, 7:58 PM EDT

The second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee is in full swing Tuesday evening with appearances from some of former President Donald Trump's former rivals: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy -- all calling for Republican Party unity.

Trump, with a bandage on his ear, made an appearance again Tuesday evening -- just days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

9 hours and 23 minutes ago

Justice addresses RNC with trusty Babydog

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice took the stage with his dog, Babydog, who trotted out and took a cushioned seat to the governor's right.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice speaks alongside his bulldog "Babydog" during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., July 16, 2024.
Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images

Justice, who's running as a Republican for the Senate seat that Democrat Joe Manchin will vacate, said, "We'd become totally unhinged if Donald Trump is not elected."

"He genuinely cares. He cares about all of us," he said of Trump. "He loves this nation beyond good sense."

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice took the stage with his dog, “Babydog,” who trotted out and took a cushioned seat to the governor’s right.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice took the stage with his dog, “Babydog,” who trotted out and took a cushioned seat to the governor’s right.

Justice also said Donald Trump Jr. is a "treasured friend" and that Eric Trump once replaced his tire.

He also said Babydog has predicted that Republicans will win back the White House and Senate and keep control of the House.

9 hours and 41 minutes ago

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful on witnessing rally shooting

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful Dave McCormick, who witnessed the assassination attempt on Trump, addressed the "terrifying" moment at the start of his remarks.

Businessman and politician Dave McCormick speaks during Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wis., July 16, 2024.
Mike Segar/Reuters

"I want to first acknowledge what transpired a few days ago in my home state where I witnessed firsthand from a front-row seat in Butler President Trump's remarkable strength and resolve in a terrifying and unpredictable moment," he said. "The president rose brilliantly to the challenge."

He acknowledged the victims of the incident before saying, "We all thank God President Trump is OK."

On the election, he posited it as a choice between "strength and weakness," between "America's greatness or its sad, disgraceful decline."

Dave McCormick, who witnessed the assassination attempt on Trump, addressed the "terrifying" moment at the start of his remarks at the Republican National Convention.
Dave McCormick, who witnessed the assassination attempt on Trump, addressed the "terrifying" moment at the start of his remarks at the Republican National Convention.

9 hours and 51 minutes ago

Bandaged ears at the RNC

On the second night of the convention, some attendees are seen wearing white bandages on their ear -- in an apparent nod to the one Trump was seen prominently sporting during his appearance Monday night.

An attendee points to her "bandaged" ear on the second day of the Republican National Convention, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

9 hours and 55 minutes ago

RNC delegates say crime a top issue

RNC delegates told ABC News at the convention center in Milwaukee that crime is a driving issue in 2024.

"I think [crime] is out of control, and I think that we need to close the border down," said Dina Abiassi, a Texas delegate.

Others pointed to the role of local officials and police departments in limiting crime.

ABC News spoke to delegates outside the Republican National Convention about the second day's theme, "Make America Safe Once Again."
ABC News spoke to delegates outside the Republican National Convention about the second day's theme, "Make America Safe Once Again."

"It's not a monolithic system," said Ed Tarpley, one of Louisiana's delegates.

"Now, I know it's easy to talk about... [that] we need to fight crime... but essentially, that takes place at the local level, not at the federal level," he said.

"It means we need to support our police at the local level... In other words, we need to enhance the ability of the criminal justice system to operate in each individual community in America," Tarpley added.

Amber Krabach, an alternate delegate, told ABC News that police accountability and jurisdictional independence from the federal government have to be balanced against each other in federal policymaking.

"You want to make sure that those municipalities have the ability to set their crime and policing policies the way that they want to, but you also want to make sure that they're held accountable so that the people aren't taken advantage of, they aren't exploited, and they have the protection that they should have,” she said.

"So I like to hear some specifics on how they're going to address that."

-ABC News' Brittany Shepherd