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Republicans attack Biden, abortion rights and nepotism on second night of RNC – live Melania Trump offers condolences to victims of coronavirus in RNC speech – live
(32 minutes later)
Florida’s former attorney general criticised Biden and his son Hunter The first lady was the first to address the tragedy of the pandemic
During her speech, first lady Melania Trump said she admired her husband’s authentic approach to the job of president.
“Whether you like it or not, you always know what he’s thinking,” the first lady said of her husband.
Even the president’s critics would probably agree with that assessment.
“Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country,” Melania Trump said. “We are not proud of parts of our history.”
She has however, in the past defended her husband’s racist birtherism rampage against Barack Obama. In a 2011 interview with Joy Behar, Melanie Trump said that it wasn’t just her husband who wanted to see Obama’s birth certificate, “It’s American people who voted for him and who didn’t vote for him. They want to see that.”
First lady Melania Trump has concluded her speech at the White House, wrapping up the second night of the Republican convention.
The blog will have more reactions and analysis coming up, so stay tuned.
Melania Trump said she admired her husband for never giving up on his policy agenda and for supporting her.
“Donald is a husband who supports me in all that I do,” Trump said. “We will be honored to serve this incredible country for four more years.”
Nearing the end of her speech, the first lady noted she had not spent much of her time criticizing Democrats.
“I don’t want to use this precious time attacking the other side, because, as we saw last week, that kind of talk only serves to divide the country further,” Trump said.
Melania Trump said she became a US citizen “after 10 years of paperwork and patience... with hard work and determination.”
Her experience isn’t unique – many immigrants (including this reporter) – have to wait years to obtain a green card and then citizenship. The arduous process has only gotten more so under the Trump administration, which, in addition to criminalizing and detaining migrants, imposing a “public charge” rule to deter immigrants from using benefits like food stamps and public healthcare, restricting travel from many Muslim-majority countries, and limiting the number of refugees admitted to a historical low, has overseen increases in backlogs for immigrants who’ve made it past the maze of deterrents and are seeking naturalization.
The time it takes for those who want citizenship to gain it is now nearly double what it was two years ago, per the New York Times.
– Maanvi Singh
Melania Trump touched on the national reckoning over racism in her speech at the Republican convention.
“I urge people to come together in a civil manner,” Trump said. “I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice. And never make assumptions based on the color of a person’s skin.”
As Trump spoke, protests continued in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African American man who was repeatedly shot in the back by officers.
Melania Trump expressed admiration for her husband, who she noted was not a “traditional” politician.
“He demands action, and he gets results,” the first lady said of the president.
According to Politifact, Trump has broken about half of the promises he has made since becoming president.
Melania Trump said she was “honored” to have served as the first lady of the United States for the past three and a half years.
“It is my greatest honor to serve you,” Trump said in her convention speech.
The first lady’s speech so far has been very personal, from offering condolences to families affected by coronavirus to recounting her experience becoming a US citizen.
Melania Trump appears to be the first speaker tonight to offer sympathies to Americans suffering through the coronavirus pandemic – a reality that her husband, his administration officials and supporters have denied
“I want to acknowledge the fact that since March, our lives have changed drastically,” Melania Trump said. “My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one and my prayers with those who are suffering.”
Though more than 178,000 Americans have died of Covid-19 so far, the RNC has worked to distract from the devastatation. Larry Kudlow, Trump’s top economic adviser, tonight spoke about the ongoing pandemic in the past tense.
– Maanvi Singh
First lady Melania Trump reflected on her childhood in Slovenia and thanked her parents for all they did to help their family.
“It is because of you that I am standing here today,” Trump said to her parents.
The first lady then recounted her path to becoming an American citizen after arriving in the US at the age of 26. “It is still one of the proudest moments of my life,” Trump said.
First lady Melania Trump offered her condolences to Americans who have lost a loved one to coronavirus. More than 178,000 Americans have now died from the virus.First lady Melania Trump offered her condolences to Americans who have lost a loved one to coronavirus. More than 178,000 Americans have now died from the virus.
Trump pledged that her husband would not stop working until an effective treatment or vaccine was developed.Trump pledged that her husband would not stop working until an effective treatment or vaccine was developed.
Following an introductory video, first lady Melania Trump appeared at the podium in the White House Rose Garden to deliver her speech.Following an introductory video, first lady Melania Trump appeared at the podium in the White House Rose Garden to deliver her speech.
The first lady’s entrance was greeted with applause from the audience gathered in the Rose Garden.The first lady’s entrance was greeted with applause from the audience gathered in the Rose Garden.
Trump began by saying she and her husband were “humbled” and “grateful” for the support of voters who brought them victory in 2016.Trump began by saying she and her husband were “humbled” and “grateful” for the support of voters who brought them victory in 2016.
Trump has now mixed the powers of his office with the spectacle of the convention on two occasions. First he gave a pardon to Jon Ponder, who became a prisoners’ rights advocate after being imprisoned for robbing a bank. Then he naturalized five immigrants in an official ceremony led by Chad Wolf, his acting head of homeland security.Trump has now mixed the powers of his office with the spectacle of the convention on two occasions. First he gave a pardon to Jon Ponder, who became a prisoners’ rights advocate after being imprisoned for robbing a bank. Then he naturalized five immigrants in an official ceremony led by Chad Wolf, his acting head of homeland security.
Trump may be exempt from the Hatch Act, which prohibits “engaging in political activities while on duty, in a Government room or building”, but Wolf isn’t, and this hasn’t gone unnoticed.Trump may be exempt from the Hatch Act, which prohibits “engaging in political activities while on duty, in a Government room or building”, but Wolf isn’t, and this hasn’t gone unnoticed.
First lady Melania Trump will soon start delivering her convention speech from the White House Rose Garden.First lady Melania Trump will soon start delivering her convention speech from the White House Rose Garden.
The audience assembled at the White House applauded as second lady Karen Pence and Vice President Mike Pence arrived to watch the speech, followed by the president.The audience assembled at the White House applauded as second lady Karen Pence and Vice President Mike Pence arrived to watch the speech, followed by the president.
Speaking from Jerusalem, while he is on a taxpayer-funded diplomatic trip, Mike Pompeo is breaking a longstanding norm for officials to avoid partisanship while representing America abroad.Speaking from Jerusalem, while he is on a taxpayer-funded diplomatic trip, Mike Pompeo is breaking a longstanding norm for officials to avoid partisanship while representing America abroad.
Eliot Engel, who chairs of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, noted the Pompeo’s appearance violates the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual, a memo from Pompoe’s own office, stating that “senate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event.”Eliot Engel, who chairs of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, noted the Pompeo’s appearance violates the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual, a memo from Pompoe’s own office, stating that “senate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event.”
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo addressed the Republican convention from Jerusalem.Secretary of state Mike Pompeo addressed the Republican convention from Jerusalem.
Pompeo applauded Trump for making Americans’ “freedoms more secure.” “It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it’s worked,” Pompeo said.Pompeo applauded Trump for making Americans’ “freedoms more secure.” “It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it’s worked,” Pompeo said.
The cabinet secretary also applauded Trump for holding China accountable for coronavirus, even though the president repeatedly said at the onset of the outbreak that Beijing had the virus under control.The cabinet secretary also applauded Trump for holding China accountable for coronavirus, even though the president repeatedly said at the onset of the outbreak that Beijing had the virus under control.
Among those who appeared at the White House naturalization ceremony presided by Trump were immigrants from Sudan and Lebanon, countries included in Trump’s restricted travel list – which he initially referred to as a “Muslim ban”.Among those who appeared at the White House naturalization ceremony presided by Trump were immigrants from Sudan and Lebanon, countries included in Trump’s restricted travel list – which he initially referred to as a “Muslim ban”.
The Trump administration this year added Sudan to his restricted travel list, which includes mostly countries with large Muslim populations. Lebanon was on the original list, which included Venezuela and North Korea along with Muslim-majority nations Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Lebanon.The Trump administration this year added Sudan to his restricted travel list, which includes mostly countries with large Muslim populations. Lebanon was on the original list, which included Venezuela and North Korea along with Muslim-majority nations Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Lebanon.
Trump also imfamously described El Salvador, Haiti and certain African nations as “shithole” countries.Trump also imfamously described El Salvador, Haiti and certain African nations as “shithole” countries.
– Maanvi Singh.– Maanvi Singh.
Eric Trump also repeated his president’s false claim that Joe Biden has pledged to defund the police.Eric Trump also repeated his president’s false claim that Joe Biden has pledged to defund the police.
In reality, Biden has said he does not support the movement to defund the police, which has attracted more attention since the police killing of George Floyd in May.In reality, Biden has said he does not support the movement to defund the police, which has attracted more attention since the police killing of George Floyd in May.
Eric Trump, the president’s son, echoed previous speakers’ claims that only Trump can protect the country from falling into Democrats’ dangerous hands.
Trump quoted former Republican President Ronald Reagan, who said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction … It must be fought for and protected.”
Trump said, “This is the fight that we are in right now – and it is a fight that only my father can win.”
The president’s son went on to attack Joe Biden as a “career politician” who has been “a total pushover for Communist China”, a message that was emphasized by Donald Trump Jr yesterday as well.
In making a case against Planned Parenthood, Abby Johnson – a former employee of the women’s health clinic who became an anti-abortion activist – raised the point that Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood’s founder, suppoorted eugenics.
It’s true that Sanger, who was long lauded as a feminist icon, has a dark legacy – which Planned Parenthood has recently acknowledged. Last month, the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York moved to esased Sanger’s name from its Manhattan health clinic.
The national organization has defended Sanger, citing her work with Black civil rights leaders, but has also condemned some of her beliefs, including her support for sterilization for those with disabilities.
“Planned Parenthood, like many other organizations that have existed for a century or more, is reckoning with our history,” Melanie Roussell Newman, a spokeswoman, said recently in a statement.
– Maanvi Singh
Trump appeared in a prerecorded video of a naturalization ceremony at the White House, continuing tonight’s theme of putting his presidential power on display during the convention.
Acting secretary of homeland security Chad Wolf delivered the oath of citizenship to the five people participating in the ceremony.
The president announced earlier today he was nominating Wolf as the permanent secretary of homeland security.
Echoing speakers from last night, Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez warned that Democrats were trying to “normalize socialism to dismantle our Constitution.”
In reality, Democrats are not trying to dismantle the Constitution, and Democratic nominee Joe Biden does not identify as a socialist.
Nuñez’s speech warning of “the socialist takeover of our nation” continued the dark, ominous theme that Republicans established during the first night of the convention, despite promising to deliver an optimistic message to voters.
Here’s some more counterprogramming from the DNC tonight:
Yesterday, the Democrats projected a list of lies from the president onto the Newseum in DC.
– MS
Vice President Mike Pence just made his first convention appearance of the night, in a prerecorded video taped at Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home in Pence’s home state of Indiana.
In the video, Pence delivered a tribute to Lincoln and spoke to six Americans who said their lives had been positively impacted by the Trump administration.
The Republican attorney and lobbyist Pam Bondi didn’t hold back while attacking the Biden family, charging Joe and Hunter with nepotism.
But as with many parts of the RNC so far – such as the Monday segment that accused Democrats of downplaying the pandemic – there was a certain degree of irony in her remarks. The following speaker was none other than Tiffany Trump, and Eric and Melania’s speeches are yet to come tonight.
Before Bondi spoke, a video promoting women in the White House also featured former Republican governor Mike Huckabee’s daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Mitt Romney’s niece Ronna Romney McDaniels.
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds applauded Trump for helping her state after the recent devastating derecho.
“Iowans did what you expect Iowans to do. They helped each other. They took care of each other. And they still are,” Reynolds said in her convention speech. “But someone else also had our back: Our president.”
Reynolds thanked Trump for quickly signing a disaster declaration for the state. The president also visited Iowa for a storm damage update last week, before traveling on to Arizona for a campaign event, which was part of his counterprogramming during the Democratic National Convention.
Trump won Iowa by 9 points in 2016, but recent polls have shown a much closer race between the president and Joe Biden in the Hawkeye State.
“Why should there be one standard for the elite political class and another set of rules for the rest of us?” Bondi asked rhetorically.
In 2013, Trump made a $25,000 gift from his charity to support Bondi’s reelection as Florida attorney general. Right before, her office decided not to join a lawsuit lodged by New York against Trump University – offering the elite, politically well-connected businessman reprieve.
Trump later paid a fine for making the illegal campaign donation from his charity.
– Maanvi Singh
The president’s daughter, Tiffany Trump, addressed the Republican convention, saying her father would protect American ideals.
“Like so many students across the world, I graduated from law school during the pandemic,” Trump said.
“Our generation is unified in facing the future in uncertain times – and many of us are considering what kind of country we want to live in.”
That comment was noteworthy, considering Joe Biden currently holds a more than 20-point lead over Trump among voters between 18 and 29.
“You see, Make America Great Again is not a slogan for my father, it is what drives him to keep his promise of doing what is right for American citizens,” Trump said. “A vote for my father, Donald J Trump, is a vote to uphold our American ideals.”