RNC 2024 Day 2 updates: Trump rivals take center stage along with divine intervention
The theme of Tuesday's session is "Make America Safe Again."
The second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee ended Tuesday 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.
They were joined by some of Trump's longest allies including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Ben Carson in bashing the Democrats over what they claimed were harmful and failed policies.
The program focused on law and order with a theme of making the country "safe again."
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. Several speakers touched on that God spared Trump in the shooting, saving him for a divine plan for the presidency.
Latest headlines:
Vance arrives at convention
J.D. Vance arrived at the convention, walking out to the song "America First" by Merle Haggard -- just as he did when he made his first appearance on Monday.
He could be seen greeting Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Eric Trump in VIP box and shaking Tiffany Trump's hand.
Vivek Ramaswamy, former Trump rival, receives warm welcome
Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump's former GOP primary rival, received a warm welcome, with people rising to their feet for a long ovation.
He launched into a fiery speech that included leading the crowd in a call-and-response of "vote Trump" that grew louder with each prompt.
"If you want to seal the border, vote Trump," he said. "If you want to restore law and order in this country, vote Trump. If you want to reignite the economy in this country, vote Trump. If you want to revive national pride in this country, vote Trump. If you want to make America great again, vote Trump."
Ramaswamy said the "most important reason" to vote for Trump is that he "will actually unite this country. Not through empty words but through action."
Ramaswamy, who was notably a millennial candidate, also had a message for young voters.
"You will be the generation that saves this country," he said. "You want to be a rebel? You want to be a hippie? You want to stick it to the man? Show up on your college campus and try calling yourself a conservative. Say you want to get married, have kids -- teach them to believe in God and pledge allegiance to their country, because you know what? Fear has been infectious in this country, but courage can be contagious, too."
Speaker Johnson pushes for unity, dismisses 'radical, woke progressive left'
House Speaker Mike Johnson took the stage and immediately addressed the assassination attempt on Trump.
The speaker vowed that the House would thoroughly investigate the incident.
"The American people deserve to know the truth. We will ensure accountability, I promise you that," he said.
While he pushed for Americans to unite, he also chastised the "radical, woke progressive left."
Johnson vowed that Republicans would take the House and Senate to support Trump's ideals.
'Build that wall' chant breaks out during Scalise's speech
During Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise's speech, the crowd broke out into a chant of "build that wall" after the House majority leader referenced the border wall.
Scalise said that under Trump, they will "repass H.R. 2" -- the GOP immigration bill that would restart border wall construction and more.
"We will lock down the border and yes, we will finish building the wall," Scalise said.