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RNC 2024 Day 3 updates: JD Vance touts working class roots in debut as VP nominee

PHOTO: Republican vice-presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance arrives to speak on third day of the Republican National Convention July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
1:57
Evan Vucci/AP
RNC Day 3 highlights: J.D. Vance delivers remarks as Trump’s VP nominee
By Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, Chris Boccia, Alexandra Hutzler, Tal Axelrod
Last Updated: July 18, 2024, 3:31 AM

Day three of the Republican National Convention centered around vice presidential candidate JD Vance as he introduced himself to Republicans as Trump's running mate.

The day was held under the theme of "Make America Strong Once Again."

Former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the convention hall to watch his running mate make his national debut. Other notable speakers included Trump's son and granddaughter and several Gold Star families who expressed their support for the former president.

Despite calls for unity, several speakers spent time bashing President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats on several issues including immigration, crime and Israel.

Latest headlines:

  • JD Vance delivers keynote address
  • People leaving as Vance continues speaking
  • Crowd cheers for Vance's mother and her sobriety
  • Crowd engaged, but a little flat as Vance speaks
  • As Vance criticizes Biden, crowd says 'Joe must go'
Here's how the news is developing:

Jul 18, 2024 3:31 AM

JD Vance delivers keynote address

PHOTO: Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance gestures as he speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 17, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance gestures as he speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 17, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Ohio Sen. JD Vance delivered his first speech as Trump's running mate, speaking at length about the former president, including the assassination attempt over the weekend.

"As we meet tonight, we cannot forget that this evening could have been so much different," he started. "Instead of a day of celebration, this could have been a day of heartache and mourning."

He urged people to watch the footage of the shooting to get a sense of Trump's character.

"When Donald Trump rose to his feet in that Pennsylvania field, all of America stood with him," he said.

Vance said the Trump he has gotten to know is tough, "but he cares about people."

"He can stand defiant against an assassin one moment and call for national healing the next," he said.

PHOTO: Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks on stage  on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

He said he is "humbled" and "overwhelmed with gratitude" to officially accept the Republican nomination for vice president and his message to the party is: "We love this country and we are united to win."

Vance got in a few jabs at Biden. He referred to the president as a career politician who, when Vance was in the fourth grade, supported NAFTA, "a bad trade deal that sent countless jobs to Mexico."

He said Biden's economy has given Americans an "inflation crisis."

PHOTO: Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks on stage  on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

He said America needs a leader who "answers to the working man" and "won't sell out to multinational corporations, but will stand up for American companies and American industries."

"President Trump represents America's last, best hope to restore what it lost and may never be found again," he said.

Trump's vision, Vance said, is "so simple yet so powerful."

"We are done catering to Wall Street. We will commit to the working man," he said. "We are done importing foreign labor. We are going to fight for American citizens and their good jobs and their good wages."

"We are done buying energy from countries that hate us. We are going to get it right here from American workers in Pennsylvania and Ohio and across the country," he continued.

If elected, he said he will be a vice president who "never forgets where he came from."

"I pledge to every American, no matter your party, I will give you everything I have, to serve you, and to make this country a place where every dream you have for yourself, your family and your country will be possible once again," he said toward the end of his speech.

VIDEO: JD Vance delivers keynote address
35:44
Ohio Sen. JD Vance delivered his first speech as Trump's running mate, speaking at length about the former president, including the assassination attempt.

Jul 18, 2024 3:17 AM

People leaving as Vance continues speaking

PHOTO: Republican vice-presidential candidate, J.D. Vance speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Leon Neal/Getty Images
Republican vice-presidential candidate, J.D. Vance speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

Vance is still speaking, but many people are leaving their seats and moving around, some exiting the arena altogether..


Jul 18, 2024 3:11 AM

Crowd cheers for Vance's mother and her sobriety

PHOTO: Beverly Vance on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Leon Neal/Getty Images
Beverly Vance on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

In his speech, JD Vance touched on being raised by his grandmother as his mother struggled with addiction.

"I'm proud to say that tonight my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober," he said, as the crowd gave his mother a standing ovation and chanted, "JD's mom."



Jul 18, 2024 3:04 AM

Crowd engaged, but a little flat as Vance speaks

PHOTO: Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance gestures as he speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 17, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance gestures as he speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 17, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

At times, the crowd joined into chants of "Joe must go" or "memaw" -- but they're not as enthusiastic as they've been other times this convention, despite the arena being a packed house tonight.

Many people remain seated as he speaks, even some the delegates on the floor.


Jul 18, 2024 2:58 AM

As Vance criticizes Biden, crowd says 'Joe must go'

As Vance went after Biden as a "career politician" and slammed his support for various trade deals over the years, the crowd joined in a "Joe must go" chant.

"I agree," Vance said.


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