RNC Day 3: JD Vance accepts nomination for vice president as Trump watches on

Former president's 17-year-old granddaughter speaks

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Last updated: Thursday, July 18, 2024 9:23AM GMT
RNC DAY 3 RECAP: Trump watches running mate JD Vance
VP pick JD Vance speaks at RNC. Here's what he said and what he didn't talk about.

MILWAUKEE -- Day 3 of the Republican National Convention featured the prime-time debut of J.D. Vance, introducing himself both to Republicans and Americans nationwide.

Former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the convention hall to watch his running mate make his national debut.

His 17-year-old granddaughter spoke, as well, humanizing her grandfather.

Wednesday's theme at the RNC was "Make America Strong Once Again."

As the RNC's evening session was about to begin, the Biden campaign announced that the president had contracted COVID-19 and would be flying to Delaware to quarantine.

ByNICHOLAS RICCARDI AP logo
Jul 18, 2024, 2:43 AM GMT

Trump Jr. calls for unity, attacks enemies

Donald Trump Jr. spoke movingly about his father's bravery on Saturday after a would-be assassin opened fire, saying he showed "for all the world" that "the next American president has the heart of a lion." But he toggled back and forth between talking about his father as a symbol of national unity and slamming his enemies.

"When he stood up with blood on his face and the flag at his back, the world saw a spirit that could never be broken," Trump Jr said. "And that is the true spirit of America. America knows what it's like to be down. We know what it's like to be confused and afraid."

He quickly segued to slamming the media's "lies."

"They lied about Russia collusion, they lied about Hunter's laptop. They lied about Joe Biden's fitness for office, they lied about the border being secure," Trump Jr said. Eventually, he said, "all hell has broken loose in America."

Trump Jr. concluded by referencing his father again on Saturday. "He may have moved to the ground but he stood back up," he said. "He raised his fist in the air and what did he say?" The crowd echoed back "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The speech shows the challenge facing the convention - to give voice to the fear and frustration of their conservative base while also trying to promote Donald Trump as a symbol of hope for all voters.

ABCNews logo
Jul 18, 2024, 2:35 AM GMT

Kai Trump, former president's oldest grandchild, speaks before father, Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr. walked up to the podium at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, but turned the microphone over to his 17-year-old daughter, Kai.

Trump is the eldest of the former president's 10 grandchildren.

Donald Trump Jr. walked up to the podium at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, but turned the microphone over to his 17-year-old daughter, Kai.

She called him "just a normal grandpa."

"He gives us candy and soda when our parents aren't looking," she said.

"He calls me during the middle of the school day to ask how my golf game is going and tells me all about his. But then I have to remind him that I'm in school and I will have to call him back later," she said. "When we play golf together, if I'm not on his team, he will try to get inside of my head. And he is always surprised that I don't let him get to me. But I have to remind him, I'm a Trump, too."

Kai addressed Trump's legal troubles, saying, "Even when he is going through all of these court cases, he always asks me how I'm doing."

She also addressed Trump's assassination attempt.

"On Saturday I was shocked when I heard that he has been shot," she said. "It was heartbreaking that someone would do that to another person.

"A lot of people have put my grandpa through hell, and he's still standing," she said.

Someone in the crowd yelled, "Kai 2040."

Over the weekend, she posted a photo of the former president pumping his fist after being shot at his Pennsylvania campaign rally, writing: "We love you Grandpa. Never stop fighting!"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ABCNews logo
Jul 18, 2024, 2:15 AM GMT

Biden has remained supportive of Israel despite protests within his own party

As the issues from the stage turn to the Israeli-Hamas war, signs saying "We are Jews for Trump" are emerging from the crowd on the floor.

An Israeli flag is being waved near a woman holding a sign that says, "Free hostages, Support Israel and Fight Antisemitism."

The Biden administration has steadfastly supported Israel despite major protests from within the Democratic party's own ranks. Biden visited Israel shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and hugged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden has rejected demands to halt all weapons shipments to Israel, although it did suspend the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs over fears they might be used in heavily populated areas in Gaza.

At the same time, US officials have been working since October to try and arrange a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would see the release of hostages and at least a temporary end to hostilities.

Top Biden aides, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have met repeatedly with the families of American and other hostages still held by Hamas and pledged to work for their release.

The crowd chanted "Bring them home" as the parents of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli hostage in Gaza who was kidnapped on Oct. 7, walked out onto the convention stage.

"He turned 22 on Oct. 14, 2023, and instead of celebrating with us and with his friends, he spent his birthday as a hostage of Hamas terrorists," his mother, Orna Neutra, said. "Imagine, over nine months not knowing whether your son is alive, waking up every morning praying that he, too, is still waking up every morning, that he is strong and is surviving."

Orna and her husband, Ronen Neutra, wore shirts emblazoned with their son's face on it.

"During the brutal October attack on Israel, over 1,200 people, of them, 45 were American citizens. Where's the outrage? Where is it?" Ronen Neutra asked the crowd.

"Right here," some in the crowd yelled.

"This is not merely an attack on Israel. This was and remains an attack on Americans," Ronen Neutra said.

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.

"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."

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, also appeared at the convention.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ByLalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kelsey Walsh ABCNews logo
Jul 18, 2024, 1:50 AM GMT

'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!"