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:
Afghanistan veteran Sam Brown grips RNC with story of his combat injury
Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown shared the story of the explosion that nearly killed him in Afghanistan. His recovery, he said, is a story of hope.
"America, I served you a soldier, and I want to serve you again. As a U.S. senator, I will strongly stand alongside Donald Trump to make America affordable, safe and strong again," Brown said. "We have a tough road ahead, but it won't be my first."
Brown urged the audience to look at his face.
"This is the cost of war," Brown said. "If Joe Biden stays in office, more service members will pay this price."
Hope, he said, has been restored through Trump.
Attendees with cowboy hats and Trump hats alike removed their caps for Brown as he finished his speech, in honor of his service, with a small chant of "USA" breaking out in the arena.
-ABC News' Allie Pecorin and Alexandra Hutzler
Rupert Murdoch arrives in Milwaukee to attend RNC: Source
Rupert Murdoch arrived in Milwaukee today to attend the RNC, a source familiar with his trip told ABC News.
This could mark the first face-to-face reunion with the former Fox boss and Donald Trump in some time.
Murdoch and Trump had a much-publicized rift in the wake of the 2020 election, and Trump has bashed Fox News as recently as last month.
-ABC News' Olivia Rubin
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.
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."
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.
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.
"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."