Everything to know about RNC 2024: When it’s on, how to watch, plus speaker schedule
MILWAUKEE — Thousands of Republicans will converge for the start of the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin Monday — just two days after former President Donald Trump was nearly killed at a Pennsylvania rally.
Undeterred by the attack that nearly cost him his life, Trump, 78, will attend the GOP’s first large-scale, in-person national convention since 2016, where he is slated to accept the Republican Party’s nomination for president and unveil his vice presidential pick.
“Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday, “but have just decided that I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”
Security concerns, which were already heightened, will loom even larger as major political leaders and celebrities deliver remarks at Fiserv Forum.
The Post has a team of reporters and photographers on the ground to bring you the news as it happens.
Here’s what else you should know about the four-day convention:
What is the Republican National Convention?
Every four years, Republicans hold a massive convention to allow their 2,400 delegates to officially nominate a party standard-bearer for president.
In that process, key party luminaries as well as sitting officials sync up to discuss strategy, policy and more. The convention is sometimes staged in a state where the party is seeking a bit of a boost.
Wisconsin is widely seen as one of the top seven battleground states in recent presidential cycles. Biden won the Badger State in 2020, but Trump claimed it in 2016.
During the roll call process, states will assemble in alphabetical order and announce how many delegates will be allocated to each candidate.
By the end of the campaign cycle, Trump clinched roughly 2,243 delegates – well over the 1,125 needed to lock down the nod. That’s why he’s been referred to as the presumptive party standard bearer.
Additionally, the GOP is expected to officially adopt its new platform, which was unveiled to the public last week in a historically slim, 16-page document.
This go-around will be markedly different from the 2020 GOP convention, which was scaled down and hosted partly in Charlotte, NC, partly in Washington, DC, and partly in various remote settings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where can you watch the RNC?
All major news networks including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NBC and NewsNation, as well as C-SPAN will broadcast the convention sessions.
The Republican Party’s official website will also offer convention live streams, which can also be found on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
Watch every night of the historic Democratic National Convention live with DIRECTV Stream by signing up for the 5-day free trial.
What time is the RNC?
There are various events happening over the course of four days.
Monday – “Make America Wealthy Once Again”
Timing: programming will commence at 1:45 p.m. through 5:45 p.m. ET. There will be an hourlong break and then the next half of the session will span from 6:45 p.m. through 10 p.m.
The day will focus on economic policy and juxtapose the outlet of the nation’s wealth under Trump vs President Biden.
Tuesday – “Make America Safe Once Again“
Timing: Programming will happen from 5-10 p.m. ET.
On day two, the Republicans will rip into the Democrats’ “soft-on-crime” and border policies while discussing Trump’s law enforcement agenda.
Wednesday – “Make America Strong Once Again”
Timing: Programming will last from 5:45-10 p.m. ET.
Day three will see Republicans grapple with international threats from adversaries such as Iran and China, while again dinging Biden’s performance on that front.
Thursday – “Make America Great Once Again“
Timing: Programing will span 5:45-10 p.m. ET.
The last day will feature how Trump plans to “usher in a new golden age for America” and seek to restore “hope and optimism for the future of our country,” according to the RNC.
The public calendar for the convention can be found here.
Will they ramp up security at the RNC?
In light of the terrifying assassination attempt against Trump on Saturday, there had been calls for the Secret Service to further beef up security. But officials suggested to reporters that isn’t the plan.
“We are confident in the plans that we have and are moving forward with those plans,” Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Service’s RNC convention coordinator, told reporters.
Who will speak at the RNC?
On Saturday, the Trump campaign and RNC blasted out its convention headliners. Since, then, The Post has confirmed that former US ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will also deliver a speech. She was not on that list.
From Trump’s family, the speakers will include his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, daughter-in-law and RNC chairwoman Lara Trump and Kimberly Guilfoyle
RNC officials who will give remarks include Chairman Michael Whatley, Committee on Arrangements Chairwoman Anne Hathaway and Host Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.
Celebrities, entertainers, and other key officials will include:
- Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition
- Tucker Carlson, Television Host
- Savannah Chrisley, TV Personality and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate
- Franklin Graham, Renowned Faith Leader
- Lee Greenwood, Country Music Star
- Alina Habba, Trump Campaign Senior Advisor
- Diane Hendricks, Owner of ABC Supply
- Tom Homan, Former Acting ICE Director
- Chris Janson, Country Music Star
- Perry Johnson, Businessman
- Charlie Kirk, CEO of TPUSA
- Sean O’Brien, President of TEAMSTERS
- Vivek Ramaswamy, Businessman
- Amber Rose, Rapper & Influencer
- David Sacks, CEO of Yammer
- Bob Unanue, CEO of Goya Foods
- Dana White, CEO of UFC
- Steven and Zach Witkoff, Businessman
Republican politicians set to give headliners include:
- Alabama Sen. Katie Britt
- Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton
- Florida Sen. Rick Scott
- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio
- Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt
- National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines
- Ohio Sen. JD Vance
- South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott
- Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn
- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
- Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson
- Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake
- Indiana Senate hopeful Jim Banks
- Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers
- Montana Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy
- Nevada Senate hopeful Sam Brown
- Ohio Senate hopeful Bernie Moreno
- Pennsylvania Senate hopeful Dave McCormick
- Virginia Senate hopeful Hung Cao
- Wisconsin Senate hopeful Eric Hovde
- West Virginia Senate hopeful Jim Justice
- House Speaker Mike Johnson
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
- House Majority Whip Tom Emmer
- National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson
- House GOP Conference ChairElise Stefanik
- Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz
- Florida Rep. Michael Waltz
- Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
- Florida Rep. Byron Donalds
- Florida Rep. Brian Mast
- Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
- Michigan Rep. John James
- New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew
- South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace
- Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson
- Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz
- Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt
- Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
- North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum
- South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird
- North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson
- Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson
- East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway
- Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson
- Former Counselor to the president, Kellyanne Conway
- Former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell
- Former Director of Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro
- Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
- Former ambassador of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon
- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
- Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin
Who WON’T be attending?
With Haley and DeSantis now attending, there aren’t a whole lot of surprises in the no-show camp.
Perhaps most prominently omitted from the list of headliners is former Vice President Mike Pence, who served in Trump’s first administration and was on the GOP ticket again with him in 2020 has announced he will not endorse his former running mate for president in 2024.
One notable confirmed no-show is former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, whose Senate bid has been surprisingly competitive in the deep blue state and expanded the 2024 map for the GOP.
His team told The Post that he won’t attend.
Other Republicans who have clashed with Trump in the past such as Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are also expected to skip.
