For all the usual stagecraft, the that opens Monday is different from Donald Trump's previous nominating affairs.
In and , Trump was the underdog heading into fall and faced criticism from within his own party. This year, he will accept the Republican nomination with his party in lockstep behind him and Democrats in turmoil over .
There will be the usual convention tasks throughout the four days. Delegates, almost 2,400 of them, must approve a platform and formally designate the presidential ticket: and his yet-to-be-named running mate. They鈥檒l hear from both national candidates and a slew of others rallying support for Trump and taking aim at Democrats.
The GOP expects a triumphant moment.
鈥淭he political environment is not only great for Donald Trump, but it鈥檚 really great for Republicans running for Senate, governor, House seats, all the way down,鈥� said Henry Barbour, an influential Republican National Committee member who has sometimes criticized Trump in the past.
Here are some questions going into the convention.
Are there any dissenters left in the 鈥楾rump National Committee鈥�?
Trump has buried his opponents and taken over the party. Voters get fundraising mail with 鈥淭rump National Committee鈥� stamped above the RNC鈥檚 Capitol Hill address. Trump鈥檚 , will not see the convention stage. Instead, delegates will hear from, among others, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ended his presidential campaign after the Iowa caucuses and .
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 any comparison to his previous campaigns,鈥� said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump ally.
Most importantly, Trump is on offense against Biden and confident enough that his campaign promised in a convention preview that 鈥淧resident Donald J. Trump will usher in a new golden age for America.鈥�
Who will be the pick for vice president?
Ever the showman, Trump has strung out his . The most-mentioned possibilities are North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. Trump has mused that he'd love to withhold his pick until the convention begins 鈥� but he admits that idea frustrates his aides who want to preview the rollout. All three men, along with other contenders Trump has considered, are expected to address delegates at some point.
Will Trump reach for the middle or for his base?
Conventions are mostly about firing up core supporters. But they draw large television and online audiences that include the broader electorate. Trump鈥檚 campaign has outlined daily messaging aimed at both audiences, with themes that riff on Trump鈥檚 : 鈥淢ake America Great Again.鈥�
Monday鈥檚 theme is economics: 鈥淢ake America Wealthy Once Again.鈥� Trump has outlined an agenda of sweeping tariffs and ramped-up production of oil and gas, even though it already hit a record under Biden. He argues that his plans to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally will bring down inflation, which has fallen from higher levels earlier in Biden's presidency.
Tuesday, it鈥檚 immigration and crime: 鈥淢ake America Safe Once Again.鈥� Trump and Republicans believe the border debate is among their strongest issues. They have arranged speeches for the family members of slain people in which immigrants in the U.S. illegally face criminal charges, as part of Trump's broader attempts to blame crime on border policies.
Wednesday is national security day: 鈥淢ake America Strong Once Again.鈥� Delegates and the viewing audience can expect to hear arguments that Biden is a 鈥渨eak鈥� and 鈥渇ailed鈥� commander in chief and head of state. This is the day, typically, that vice presidential nominees address the convention.
Thursday will culminate with Trump himself: 鈥淢ake America Great Once Again.鈥�
Will Trump focus on Biden and the future or on election lies?
The takeaway for most observers, regardless of all the careful planning and choreography, will be what Trump himself says in his acceptance address. In 2016 in Cleveland, Trump offered a dark indictment of American life and insisted, 鈥淚 alone can fix it.鈥� The populist, nationalistic pitch enraptured his backers but did not necessarily help him expand his appeal.
Republicans across the party want Trump to take advantage of Biden鈥檚 struggles by explaining his . That means sidestepping his most . And, yes, it would mean not that the 2020 election was fraudulent or spending time complaining about the criminal prosecutions against him.
鈥淗e needs to avoid the politics of division,鈥� said Barbour.
Of course, that would also mean Trump taking a decidedly un-Trump approach.
Will the party go along with Trump's wishes on abortion?
If there is any notable dissent on the floor, it may come over the platform provision stating that should be left to state governments. That鈥檚 what Trump wants two years after the conservative U.S. Supreme Court majority he helped cement overturned the precedent establishing a federal right to abortion services.
Anti-abortion activists 鈥� and Trump鈥檚 former vice president, Mike Pence 鈥� want Republicans to call for federal restrictions on abortion. There鈥檚 no question that Trump controls the votes to ratify the proposed platform. A public fight would play into Democrats鈥� contention that the GOP wants to effectively ban abortion access nationwide 鈥� part of their wider argument that a second Trump administration would be
What role will Melania Trump and other family play?
Trump family members are expected to speak at some point. Donald Trump Jr. has been a top surrogate and forceful defender for his father in recent months. But daughter Ivanka Trump has been much quieter since leaving her role as White House adviser during Trump's term. Former first lady Melania Trump is but it was not clear as of early Friday whether she will speak. She has been notably absent from the 2024 campaign, a stark contrast to first lady for her husband.
Will the protesters outside matter?
Protest groups won鈥檛 be permitted inside the security zone established around the convention arena by the Secret Service. But they鈥檒l get as close as they can and attract at least some media attention.
Principles First, which describes itself as a nationwide grassroots movement of pro-democracy, anti-Trump conservatives, is holding a rally Wednesday. Speakers include former Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele.
The Democratic National Committee is holding events in Milwaukee as well, promising daily news conferences, counterprogramming and voter outreach in the Democratic-dominated city. Democrats intend to highlight Biden鈥檚 accomplishments on the economy and juxtapose the president鈥檚 advocacy for democracy and international alliances with Trump鈥檚 criticism of , and quips about being a
Democratic-aligned groups, including United We Dream Action, the Service Employees International Union and America鈥檚 Voice, are going even further, with bilingual mobile billboards around the RNC site urging voters to reject 鈥淭rump鈥檚 fascist agenda.鈥�
Bill Barrow, The Associated Press
