RNC 2024 Day 3 updates: JD Vance touts working class roots in debut as VP nominee

The theme at the RNC on Wednesday is "Make America Strong Once Again."

ByMeredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, Chris Boccia, Alexandra Hutzler, and Tal Axelrod
Last Updated: July 17, 2024, 11:38 PM EDT

Day three of the Republican National Convention centered around vice presidential candidate JD Vance as he introduced himself to Republicans as Trump's running mate.

The day was held under the theme of "Make America Strong Once Again."

Former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the convention hall to watch his running mate make his national debut. Other notable speakers included Trump's son and granddaughter and several Gold Star families who expressed their support for the former president.

Despite calls for unity, several speakers spent time bashing President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats on several issues including immigration, crime and Israel.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Jul 17, 2024, 9:58 PM EDT

Jewish Harvard student speaks out against campus protests

Shabbos Kestenbaum, an Orthodox Jewish Harvard student who is suing the school over its handling of the anti-Israel protests, slammed the far-left, contending they have "not only abandoned the Jewish people, but the American people."

Kestenbaum talked about the harassment he has experienced on campus and the lack of accountability from school leaders.

Harvard University student Shabbos Kestenbaum speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

"I found myself immersed in a culture that is anti-western, that is anti-American and that is anti-Semitic," he claimed.

Kestenbaum pushed people to vote for Trump arguing his policies would "expel foreign students who violate our laws, harass our Jewish class mates and desecrate our freedom."

Shabbos Kestenbaum, an Orthodox Jewish Harvard student who is suing the school over its handling of the anti-Israel protests, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
4:52

Jewish Harvard student speaks out against campus protests

Shabbos Kestenbaum, an Orthodox Jewish Harvard student who is suing the school over its handling of the anti-Israel protests, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
ABCNews.com

Jul 17, 2024, 9:53 PM EDT

Spotlight on UNC students who protected American flag during campus protest

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill fraternity brothers, who helped protect the American flag after it was briefly replaced with a Palestinian flag during protests on the campus in April, appeared at the convention.

They carried out American flags while country artist Brian Kelley and the Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ Choir performed the song "American Spirit." One of the fraternity brothers addressed the crowd, saying they were all "proud to honor our flag again."

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill fraternity brothers holding US national flags greet attendees during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Jul 17, 2024, 9:48 PM EDT

Trump encourages voting by mail for the third straight night

This is the third consecutive night the RNC has played a prerecorded video by Trump encouraging Republicans to use every voting method at their disposal -- including voting by mail, which he has previously attacked -- to vote in November.

-538's Nathaniel Rakich

Jul 17, 2024, 9:43 PM EDT

'I got lucky,' Trump tells supporters of shooting in PBS-obtained clip

In a video of Trump's appearance during the screening of the movie "Trump's Rescue Mission: Saving America" on Wednesday that was obtained by PBS News, the former president touched on the effects of his assassination attempt.

"I got lucky, God was with me," he said in the clip.

"That was an amazing, horrible thing," Trump said. "Amazing thing, and in many ways it changes your attitude, your viewpoint towards life. And honestly I think you appreciate God even more."

Trump said it "wasn't like it was a complete miss."

"It was pretty terrible that that can happen," he said.

At the beginning of the clip, Trump said, "this has been our best campaign and then I got shot. ... How does that happen?" as the crowd cheered, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kelsey Walsh