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."

Last Updated: July 17, 2024, 11:51 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:
9 hours and 32 minutes ago

Usha Vance touts husband before his big speech

Usha Chilukuri Vance was the penultimate speaker of the night and talked personally about their relationship and his work in the Senate.

Chilukuri Vance, a daughter of Indian immigrants, talked about how despite their differences she and her husband approached those differences with "curiosity and enthusiasm."

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of J.D. Vance speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

"Before I knew it, he had become an integral part of my family. A person I could not imagine living without. The JD I knew then is the same JD you see today. Except for that beard," she said to a laughing crowd.

Usha Chilukuri Vance arrives to introduce her husband, Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, on third day of the Republican National Convention, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Evan Vucci/AP

"It is safe to say that neither JD nor I expected to find ourselves in this position. But it is hard to imagine a more powerful example of the American dream," Chilukuri Vance added as the crowd changed "JD."

"I am grateful to all of you for the trust you have placed in him and in our family," Chilukuri Vance said.

Usha Chilukuri Vance was the penultimate speaker of the night and talked personally about their relationship and JD Vance's work in the Senate.
Usha Chilukuri Vance was the penultimate speaker of the night and talked personally about their relationship and JD Vance's work in the Senate.

9 hours and 34 minutes ago

Crowd on their feet as JD Vance takes the stage

As Usha Vance introduced her husband, attendees rose out of their seats to give the vice presidential nominee a standing ovation as he walked out to the song “America First.”

9 hours and 35 minutes ago

This is the biggest speech of Vance's life

Vance is about to speak in primetime at the RNC, live on all three big networks as well as cable news. The stakes are high, as this is the first impression many Americans will have of him. According to a recent YouGov poll, 43 percent of Americans don't have an opinion of Vance -- probably because many of them are hearing about him for the very first time. This speech will be step one in (he hopes) building a positive reputation for himself.

-538's Nathaniel Rakich

9 hours and 39 minutes ago

Donald Trump Jr.: 'On Nov. 5, we will fight with our vote'

After introducing his daughter, Kai Trump, at the RNC, Donald Trump Jr. praised the teen for her "incredible work" then said, "Now back to business."

He began his speech addressing the assassination attempt on Trump at Saturday's rally.

"Just days ago, something that once seemed unimaginable became a terrifying reality," he said. "My father came under literal fire as an incredible patriotic rally turned into a tragedy. On a field in Butler, Pennsylvania, a brave firefighter died, others were injured, and as those bullets rained down, we came millimeters away from one of the darkest moments in our nation's history."

Donald Trump Jr., son of former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

He then went after the Biden administration.

"Remember 'Build Back Better?' Instead, we got broke, bumbling Biden," he said. "Nothing is built, nothing is back, and nothing is better. Bridges are collapsing, our credibility is crumbling and our money is worth less and less every single day."

With a photo of Trump with his fist raised at the rally following the shooting on display, Donald Trump Jr. led the crowd in a chant of "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"And we will fight. We will fight. We will fight with our voices. We will fight with our ideas and on Nov. 5, we will fight with our vote," he said, positing the election as a choice between "America first" and "America last."

After introducing his daughter, Kai Trump, at the RNC, Donald Trump Jr. praised the teen for her "incredible work" then said, "Now back to business."
After introducing his daughter, Kai Trump, at the RNC, Donald Trump Jr. praised the teen for her "incredible work" then said, "Now back to business."