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RNC 2020: Melania Trump makes plea for racial harmony RNC 2020: Melania Trump makes plea for racial harmony
(32 minutes later)
US First Lady Melania Trump has made a heartfelt plea for racial unity in a live speech from the White House. US First Lady Melania Trump has made a heartfelt plea for racial unity in a live speech from the White House to the Republican party's convention.
"Stop the violence and looting," she also said as protests continue over the police shooting of a black man in Wisconsin over the weekend. "Stop the violence and looting," she said as protests continue over a police shooting in Wisconsin.
Mrs Trump urged Americans to stop making assumptions based on race and to think critically about US history.Mrs Trump urged Americans to stop making assumptions based on race and to think critically about US history.
The party conference's second night also heard from Mr Trump's children, Eric and Tiffany. President Donald Trump currently trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls for November's election.
President Donald Trump will address the convention's final night on Thursday. Mr Trump, a Republican, will address the convention's final night on Thursday.
The normally limelight-shunning Mrs Trump took centre stage at the Republican convention as she made the case for her husband's underdog re-election bid.
He currently trails his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls ahead of November's election.
A total of 17 million people watched the Republican convention's first night on Monday, according to Nielsen.
Some 19.7 million TV viewers tuned in to the first night of the Democratic National Convention last week.
What did Melania Trump say?What did Melania Trump say?
The US first lady delivered Tuesday evening's keynote address before a small audience at the White House. The normally limelight-shunning Mrs Trump took centre stage at the Republican convention as she made the case for her husband's underdog re-election bid.
Her decision to speak from the seat of presidential power has angered Democrats, who say the chosen venue is an inappropriate use of government resources. The US first lady delivered Tuesday evening's keynote address before a small audience, including her husband, in the Rose Garden of the White House.
"Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country," she said, as Mr Trump and officials watched from the audience. "It is a harsh reality that we are not proud of parts of our history. I encourage you to focus on the future while still learning from the past." "Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country," she said.
In a message to racial justice protesters, she added: "I urge people to come together in a civil manner so we can work and live up to our standard American ideals. "It is a harsh reality that we are not proud of parts of our history. I encourage you to focus on the future while still learning from the past."
She added: "I urge people to come together in a civil manner so we can work and live up to our standard American ideals.
"I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice, and never make assumptions based on the colour of a person's skin.""I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice, and never make assumptions based on the colour of a person's skin."
Tuesday's convention schedule began with a prayer for Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old black man who was shot multiple times in the back by police in Wisconsin on Sunday. The prayer on Tuesday, which was also offered up for police officers, came as unrest following the shooting continues in the Midwestern state. Tuesday's convention schedule began with a prayer for Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old black man who was shot multiple times in the back by police in Wisconsin on Sunday.
During Tuesday's convention, Mr Trump tweeted a call for the Wisconsin governor to call in the National Guard, which he has already done. Mr Trump tweeted a call for the Midwestern state's governor to call in the National Guard as unrest continues following the shooting.
In her speech, Mrs Trump also praised her husband as a someone who "makes no secrets about how he feels about things". Mrs Trump also expressed compassion for Americans worried about the coronavirus outbreak.
"I know many people are anxious," she said. "Some feel helpless. I want you to know you're not alone."
What did she say about the president?
In her speech, Mrs Trump praised her husband as a someone who "makes no secrets about how he feels about things".
"Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve from our president. Whether you like it or not you always know what he's thinking.""Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve from our president. Whether you like it or not you always know what he's thinking."
Over the weekend, Mrs Trump unveiled renovations to the White House Rose Garden, which included the relocation of about a dozen crabapple trees that were planted by former First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She said she and her husband were inspired by American working families, whom she praised as "the backbone of this country".
On social media, some wrongly claimed historic rose bushes and trees had been removed, with a former New York Times reporter angrily denouncing the Slovenian born first lady as a "foreigner". "No matter the amount of negative or false media headlines or attacks from the other side, Donald Trump has not and will not lose focus on you," she added.
"He loves this country and he knows how to get things done."
"As you have learned over the last five years he is not a traditional politician."
Her decision to speak from the seat of presidential power has angered Democrats, who say the chosen venue is an inappropriate use of government resources.
Over the weekend, Mrs Trump unveiled renovations to the Rose Garden, which included the relocation of about a dozen crabapple trees that were planted by former First Lady Jackie Kennedy.
On social media, some wrongly claimed historic rose bushes and trees had been removed, angrily attacking the Slovenian born first lady as a "foreigner".
The Trump administration says the three-week project was paid for by private donors and have not disclosed the total cost.The Trump administration says the three-week project was paid for by private donors and have not disclosed the total cost.
Red meat for the base
If the first night of the Republican National Convention was about addressing the president's perceived weaknesses among a broad swathe of American voters - on the coronavirus pandemic, racial issues and overall empathy - Tuesday was focused on motivating his base.
Anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson and evangelical leader Billy Graham's granddaughter, Cissie Graham Lynch, made their pitch to Christian conservatives.
Presidential children Tiffany and Eric Trump launched broadside attacks on the media.
Meanwhile, the president flexed his executive powers from the White House in two extraordinary norm-stretching bits of political theatre - in issuing a pardon and taking part in a naturalisation ceremony.
The White House also served as the backdrop for First Lady Melania Trump, who wrapped up the evening from the newly renovated Rose Garden. She was one of the few to directly express sympathy to those who have suffered from Covid-19. It was a stark contrast with White House economist Larry Kudlow, who talked about the pandemic in the past tense earlier in the night.
Unless something changes in the coming months, the coronavirus will be at the top of voters' minds when they cast their ballots. And while red meat for the base is useful, public perception of the president's handling of the virus - and its economic fallout - will factor heavily in deciding his political fate.
What did Trump children say?What did Trump children say?
Eric Trump railed against "radical Democrats" - a theme of the convention so far. The party conference's second night also heard from the president's children, Eric and Tiffany Trump.
Eric railed against "radical Democrats" - a theme of the convention so far.
"They want to disrespect our National Anthem by taking a knee," he said, "while our armed forces lay down their lives every day to protect our freedom.""They want to disrespect our National Anthem by taking a knee," he said, "while our armed forces lay down their lives every day to protect our freedom."
He added: "The Democrats want to defund, destroy, and disrespect our law enforcement." He accused Mr Biden of planning to defund law enforcement, though the Democratic nominee has unveiled no such proposal.
Tiffany Trump, Mr Trump's daughter with his second wife Marla Maples, accused the media of manipulating Americans. Tiffany, Mr Trump's daughter with his second wife Marla Maples, accused the media and tech companies of keeping Americans "mentally enslaved".
"This misinformation system keeps people mentally enslaved to the ideas they deem correct," she said. "This has fostered unnecessary fear and divisiveness amongst us." "This has fostered unnecessary fear and divisiveness amongst us," she said.
Who else spoke on Tuesday?Who else spoke on Tuesday?
Tuesday's programme is designed around the theme of "Land of Opportunity". Tuesday's programme was designed around the theme of "Land of Opportunity".
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a pre-recorded speech from Israel, upsetting critics who call it unethical. Normally, the nation's top diplomat does not attend political conventions.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a pre-recorded speech from Israel, upsetting critics who call it unethical. Normally, the nation's top diplomat does not attend political conventions.
"President Trump has put his America First vision into action. It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked," said Mr Pompeo, a former Republican senator."President Trump has put his America First vision into action. It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked," said Mr Pompeo, a former Republican senator.
He also credited Mr Trump with cooling tensions with North Korea, eradicating the Islamic State terror group and holding "China accountable for covering up the China virus". He credited Mr Trump with defusing tensions with North Korea, eradicating the Islamic State terror group and holding "China accountable for covering up the China virus".
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul praised Mr Trump for being an opponent of "endless wars" and claimed Democrats were likely to start wars if they won the White House.Kentucky Senator Rand Paul praised Mr Trump for being an opponent of "endless wars" and claimed Democrats were likely to start wars if they won the White House.
"To those of you who want to stand up and fight the socialists poisoning our schools and burning our cities, join me in supporting President Trump," Mr Paul continued.
Speakers also included a former Planned Parenthood employee who became an anti-abortion activist, and a Kentucky schoolboy whose tense interaction last year with a Native American man went viral.Speakers also included a former Planned Parenthood employee who became an anti-abortion activist, and a Kentucky schoolboy whose tense interaction last year with a Native American man went viral.
Moments before a woman whose police officer son was killed by an illegal immigrant was due to take the stage, organisers announced she had been pulled from the line-up.Moments before a woman whose police officer son was killed by an illegal immigrant was due to take the stage, organisers announced she had been pulled from the line-up.
The decision to withdraw Mary Ann Mendoza came hours after she apologised for retweeting an anti-Semitic online screed earlier on Tuesday.The decision to withdraw Mary Ann Mendoza came hours after she apologised for retweeting an anti-Semitic online screed earlier on Tuesday.
Where's President Trump? Where was President Trump?
Though he is not scheduled to deliver his keynote address to the convention until its final night, Mr Trump played a major role in Tuesday's schedule, just as he did on the opening day.Though he is not scheduled to deliver his keynote address to the convention until its final night, Mr Trump played a major role in Tuesday's schedule, just as he did on the opening day.
Hours before the event began, the president pardoned a bank robber, Jon Ponder, a black man who founded a charity that helps convicts reintegrate into society. The conference featured footage of the president earlier on Tuesday pardoning a bank robber, Jon Ponder, a black man who founded a charity that helps convicts reintegrate into society.
"My hope for America," Mr Ponder said in a pre-recorded video, "is that all people regardless of race, colour, class or background will take advantage of the fact that we live in a nation of second chances."
The opening minutes of the convention featured Mr Trump at the White House flanked by Mr Ponder and the FBI agent who arrested him, only to strike up an unlikely friendship with the reformed felon.
The film showed Mr Trump signing Mr Ponder's pardon.
In another surprise moment of the night, Mr Trump appeared live from the White House to preside over a naturalisation ceremony for new US immigrants.In another surprise moment of the night, Mr Trump appeared live from the White House to preside over a naturalisation ceremony for new US immigrants.
Critics said the segment was hypocritical - Mr Trump has taken steps during his presidency to restrict legal immigration, as well as cracking down on illegal immigration. Critics said the segment was hypocritical, as Mr Trump has taken steps during his presidency to restrict legal immigration, as well as crack down on illegal immigration.
How have Democrats reacted? How did Democrats react?
Democrats on Tuesday criticised Republican attempts during Monday night's convention to argue that the president has done a good job handling the coronavirus outbreak.Democrats on Tuesday criticised Republican attempts during Monday night's convention to argue that the president has done a good job handling the coronavirus outbreak.
The Democrats said Mr Trump was to blame for Covid-19 killing more than 177,000 Americans - more than any other country in the world.The Democrats said Mr Trump was to blame for Covid-19 killing more than 177,000 Americans - more than any other country in the world.
Former US Vice-President Al Gore, a Democrat, said Mr Trump was trying to "put his knee on the neck of democracy" by criticising mail-in ballots and questioning the election's integrity.Former US Vice-President Al Gore, a Democrat, said Mr Trump was trying to "put his knee on the neck of democracy" by criticising mail-in ballots and questioning the election's integrity.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Mr Trump in 2016, said that if Mr Biden is trailing in the vote tally on election night, he should not concede defeat because uncounted postal ballots may decide the contest.Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Mr Trump in 2016, said that if Mr Biden is trailing in the vote tally on election night, he should not concede defeat because uncounted postal ballots may decide the contest.