Republican National Convention launches Monday amid some grumbling over abortion stance
WASHINGTON — Thousands of Republicans will gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin beginning Monday for the party’s presidential nominating convention — an opportunity for the GOP to showcase its candidates up and down the ballot and unify behind Donald Trump.
The RNC released its trimmed-down party platform the week prior to the convention, after foregoing one entirely in 2020.
And while many Republicans in Congress said during interviews they either support it, or hadn’t read it, some were critical it adopts Trump’s position that abortion access be left up to states — one of the top issues in the presidential race.
The platform wraps in traditional party goals as well as others tied to Trump. But it also competes with attention drawn to the Heritage Foundation’s massive far-right Project 2025 policy agenda, which Trump has repeatedly disavowed.
Democrats and President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign have targeted the Project 2025 document spearheaded by former Trump administration officials — which says the president should work with Congress on abortion policy — as an example of an extreme GOP agenda.
The Heritage Foundation is scheduled to host an all-day “policy fest” on Monday at the RNC Convention, headlined by conservative media personality Tucker Carlson and former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, among others.
The RNC convention could also be the showcase for Trump announcing his running mate, after months of speculation about who would get the nod. As of Friday, Trump had not revealed his pick, though speculation centered around Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
There was also little information available ahead of the convention as to the lineup and schedule of speakers in official sessions throughout the week, which culminates with the nomination of Trump on Thursday and his speech.
South Carolina Republicans who will be in Milwaukee include Gov. Henry McMaster, whose support for Trump has never wavered since 2016.
“I think it’s going to be exciting. … I know that there are a lot of Americans looking for a change and we believe that President Trump is going to be that change,” McMaster told reporters Thursday at the Statehouse. “These conventions are always very interesting. On the Republican side, this time, I think we’ll all be going in the same direction.”
Unhappiness over abortion stance
Some GOP members of Congress said in interviews they would have liked to have seen a national abortion ban in the platform.
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he preferred the GOP’s last official platform, which called for a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks.
“I’m pro-life and I like the way it was previously,” Cassidy said.
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst said while she hadn’t read the full platform, she had read the section about abortion, as well as a few others.
“I am pro-life and I am always going to be adamantly pro-life,” Ernst said. “And I think what we’re going to have to do is work very hard to educate the American people on the value of life. So would I like to see more robust (language) in the platform? Certainly. But that’s not the way it’s going to be. So we’re just going to have to continue fighting for life.”
Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said the platform places a “new emphasis on the states” to regulate abortion access, largely as a result of Trump pressing for that structure in an attempt to appeal to independent voters, though Lankford said it won’t bind Republicans in Congress.
“Obviously, this is a platform that’s wrapped around him, it’s a new model for presidential platforms to be wrapped around the candidate,” Lankford said.
Trump has shifted the GOP platform away from pressing for a nationwide law, in part, because he doesn’t believe the votes are there at the moment, Lankford said. But that doesn’t mean Republican lawmakers will stop talking about their beliefs or working to build support for a nationwide law.
“It’s a common ground statement,” Lankford said of the platform. “But for those of us that believe in the value of every single child — and we should do whatever we can to be able to protect the lives of children — we will continue to be able to speak out on those things.”
Mike Pence, former Indiana governor and vice president during Trump’s first term in office, released a statement saying the “RNC platform is a profound disappointment to the millions of pro-life Republicans that have always looked to the Republican Party to stand for life.”
“Unfortunately, this platform is part of a broader retreat in our party, trying to remain vague for political expedience,” he wrote.
Pence called on delegates attending the RNC convention to “restore language to our party’s platform recognizing the sanctity of human life and affirming that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.”
Shorter, vaguer
The 16-page platform is much shorter than years past and is at times vague about the goals the Republican Party hopes to accomplish if voters give them unified control of the federal government during the next two years.
The official document was put together behind closed doors.
It says that after nearly 50 years, “because of us,” the ability to regulate abortion has “been given to the States and to a vote of the People.”
“We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments),” the new RNC platform states.
The 2016 Republican Party platform, by contrast, was 66 pages long and mentioned abortion more than 30 times, calling for Congress to pass legislation that banned abortion after 20-weeks gestation.
That previous platform also said that the RNC respected “the states’ authority and flexibility to exclude abortion providers from federal programs such as Medicaid and other healthcare and family planning programs so long as they continue to perform or refer for elective abortions or sell the body parts of aborted children.”
‘Nothing going to happen up here in the Senate’
Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said that it’s extremely unlikely either political party gets the 60 votes needed to advance abortion legislation through the legislative filibuster in the Senate, making the states the more practical place to enact laws.
“There’s not 48 votes on this issue one way or the other up here, let alone 60,” Marshall said. “There’s nothing going to happen up here in the Senate in the near future, if forever.”
Marshall said that Republicans “won” in getting the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and that the issue is now left up to voters.
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said a full GOP platform shorter than in previous years is a good development, since people might actually read it.
“Nobody’s gonna read the Sears catalog, like previous ones,” Grassley said. “And I think if we can get people to read the Republican platform, it’ll be a great thing for the campaign. I think it’d be a great thing for government generally.”
Grassley said he couldn’t make a judgment about the new abortion language, since he didn’t remember the language from the 2016 platform.
Voters expect all of GOP on same page
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt said she hadn’t read through the platform, but that she was encouraged some anti-abortion groups expressed support for the new language.
“I’m proud to be pro-life and proud to support the party and President Trump,” Britt said.
Voters, she said, expect to hear from a unified Republican Party during convention week as well as from one that focuses on policy.
“I think people want a secure border, they want stable prices, they want a more secure world,” Britt said. “And I think we need to talk about those things — talk about not only where we are, but our vision for moving forward.”
Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, didn’t directly answer a question about whether he supports removing a nationwide abortion ban from the party’s platform.
“Look, I think they did good work on the platform,” Daines said. “We’re a party that believes in life, we’re a pro-life party. I think they did a good job.”
West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said that voters want to hear Republicans unified at the convention.
“I think they want to hear a unifying message for the future,” Capito said. “I think they want to hear how things will be different and better, especially on the economy and border and international. And I just think, you know, a united front is probably the most important.”
Arkansas Sen. John Boozman said the GOP should emphasize how it differs from Democrats during the RNC Convention.
“I think that they need to hear a message of unity and the contrast between what Republicans can accomplish on inflation and border,” Boozman said.
National treasures, women’s sports
The RNC’s new platform includes familiar GOP policy goals as well as some that came along after Trump became the party’s nominee eight years ago.
For example, it calls for Republicans to “promote beauty in Public Architecture and preserve our Natural Treasures. We will build cherished symbols of our Nation, and restore genuine Conservation efforts.”
It also calls on GOP lawmakers to “support the restoration of Classic Liberal Arts Education,” though it doesn’t detail that particular issue.
The rest of the platform is pretty standard for the types of initiatives and policy goals that Republicans have traditionally pursued.
For example, it calls on Republicans to slash “wasteful Government spending,” “restore every Border Policy of the Trump administration,” make provisions from the 2017 tax law permanent and “will keep men out of women’s sports.”
Trump running mate
The RNC convention could also include Trump announcing who will campaign with him at the top of the ticket.
His last running mate, Pence, began distancing himself from Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which included calls from the mob to kill Pence, and the construction of a scaffold for public hangings on the National Mall.
Pence was in the Capitol building that day and was removed from danger by his security detail as the pro-Trump mob beat police officers, broke into the building and disrupted Congress’ certification of Biden as the country’s next president.
Trump, without revealing his vice presidential selection, wrote Thursday on social media that he is “looking very much forward to being in Milwaukee next week.”
“The great people of Wisconsin will reward us for choosing their State for the Republican National Convention. From there we go on to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! See you next week,” he posted on Truth Social, his online platform where he regularly publishes comments and statements.
The vice presidential candidate typically gives a speech on Wednesday night, so Trump is expected to make his announcement before then.
Project 2025
Conservative operatives striving to elect Trump to the White House have been circulating the 922-page Project 2025 plan for nearly 15 months.
Spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, in conjunction with more than 100 organizations, the policy agenda titled “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise” presents a roadmap should Trump win in November.
The “goal is to assemble an army of aligned, vetted, trained, and prepared conservatives to go to work on Day One to deconstruct the Administrative State,” according to the organization’s description of the mandate.
The lengthy mandate sets forth core promises to “restore the family” and overhaul government agencies.
The document states that “(i)n particular, the next conservative President should work with Congress to enact the most robust protections for the unborn that Congress will support while deploying existing federal powers to protect innocent life and vigorously complying with statutory bans on the federal funding of abortion.”
The mandate is just one pillar under the multi-pronged “Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project” that also includes a presidential administration training academy and a 180-day “playbook” aimed “to bring quick relief to Americans suffering from the Left’s devastating policies.” The project is led by two former Trump administration officials.
The Biden-Harris campaign and Democrats have repeatedly criticized Project 2025 in comments and campaign emails.
“If implemented, Project 2025 would be the latest attempt in Donald Trump’s full on assault on reproductive freedom,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at a rally in North Carolina on Thursday.
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said during a press conference Thursday that the plan is “dangerous, it’s dastardly and it’s diabolical.”
“Project 2025, the Trump and extreme MAGA Republican agenda, will criminalize abortion care and impose a nationwide ban on reproductive freedom,” Jeffries said.
Trump and his campaign deny any connection to the project.
“I know nothing about Project 2025. I have not seen it, have no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican Platform, had nothing to do with it,” Trump wrote Thursday on his social media platform Truth Social.
“The Radical Left Democrats are having a field day, however, trying to hook me into whatever policies are stated or said. It is pure disinformation on their part,” he continued. “By now, after all of these years, everyone knows where I stand on EVERYTHING!”
Trump has delivered keynote speeches at Heritage Foundation events multiple times. An analysis by CNN showed 140 former Trump administration staffers were involved in the project. Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation president, told the New York Times in April 2023 that Trump had been briefed on the project.
SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.
Jennifer covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include congressional policy, politics and legal challenges with a focus on health care, unemployment, housing and aid to families.
Ashley Murray covers the nation’s capital as a senior reporter for States Newsroom. Her coverage areas include domestic policy and appropriations.
SC Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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- July 13, 2024 - |
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Trump Campaign & RNC Announce Republican Convention Headliners |
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MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Today the Donald J. Trump Campaign and the Republican National Convention’s Committee on Arrangements announced a list of headliners and keynote speakers who will be addressing the Republican National Convention. Speakers include:
Family:
Entertainers, Celebrities, & Industry Leaders:
RNC Leadership
GOP Officials & Candidates:
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- July 12, 2024 - |
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Trump Campaign & RNC Announce Everyday American Convention Speakers |
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President Donald J. Trump’s Convention Will Provide a Platform and Voice for Workers, Veterans and Families MILWAUKEE, Wis. – As final preparations are underway for the 2024 Republican National Convention, the Donald J. Trump Campaign and the Republican National Convention’s Committee on Arrangements are releasing a list of the everyday Americans who will be speakers during next week’s Convention. Convention planners are putting together an unprecedented lineup of iconic entertainers, faith leaders, GOP officials, and members of the First Family, and the stars of the Convention also include everyday Americans, who have faced immense hardship and are worse off under the Biden-Harris administration. President Donald J. Trump’s has a vision to Make America Great Again and policies to lift up all Americans. The Republican National Convention will provide a platform and voice for the workers, veterans, and families left behind in Joe Biden’s America. A full list of the everyday Americans who will be featured in the 2024 GOP Convention’s programming with backgrounds are below in alphabetical order: Annette Albright – Former School Teacher & Corrections Officer A former corrections officer, Annette is a schoolteacher in North Carolina who wants to make a difference in her students’ lives as a positive mentor. Annette was a lifelong Democrat and even ran for local office as a Democrat. After seeing a decline in her community and realizing how Democrats have failed Black Americans, she will proudly be voting for President Donald J. Trump for the first time this year. Robert “Bobby” Bartels, Jr. – Business Manager, Steamfitters Local 638A Bobby is the business manager of Steamfitters Local 638A, a union with an almost century-and-a-half history in the Greater New York City Area. Four generations of Bobby’s family – including his maternal grandfather, great uncle, father, brother, cousins, and son – have been members of Steamfitters Local 638A. A lifelong Democrat, Bobby has become a powerful voice representing union workers who are now supporting President Trump. David Bellavia – Decorated War Hero David is a former U.S. Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah – the first and only currently living recipient of this honor for service during the Iraq War. David also received the Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. In 2005, David was inducted into the New York Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He has subsequently gotten involved in politics in western New York State. Madeline Brame – Criminal Justice Reform Advocate Madeline Brame is a national victims rights advocate and is involved with several not-for-profit groups that assist victims of violent crimes with financial and moral support and counseling to navigate a justice system geared to protect violent felons. She is an outspoken critic of “bail reform” and lesser sentences for repeat offenders. Her son, Sergeant Hason Correa, was murdered by career criminals. While the first district attorney prosecuting her son’s killers was confident in securing convictions and lengthy sentences, the soft-on-crime Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg took over the case and attempted to negotiate generous plea bargains with all four of Hason’s killers, declining to seek murder charges against two of the four assailants. That injustice spurred Madeline to act and stand up for other victims. Jim Chilton – Rancher Jim is a fifth-generation rancher from Arivaca, Arizona. His family has been in the cattle business for nearly 140 years. His ranch extends to the US-Mexico border and is located in a top corridor of drug smuggling and human trafficking. Jim’s concerns and issues with the border are shared by other ranchers in the Tucson Sector, regardless of whether their ranches also touch the border. Linda Fornos – Mother & Life Insurance Industry Worker A legal immigrant from Nicaragua residing in the Las Vegas area, Linda is a single mother of three children. She has sorely felt the impact of inflation under the Biden-Harris administration, especially as she works to rebuild her life after she lost nearly everything when her home burnt down in 2022. Linda will be voting for President Trump for the first time after repeatedly being let down by the Democrats she had previously supported. Diane Evans – Property Manager & Trump Force 47 Captain Diane is a 30-year resident of Florida but was born and raised in New Jersey. She owns a property management company that specializes in seasonal rentals. Diane never had any desire to get into politics until President Trump got elected in 2016. Although her husband admonished her that it was impossible for President Trump to win, Diane got involved with volunteering for the campaign in 2019 and got “the bug” to stay involved with getting President Trump elected. She is committed to work day and night to make sure that President Trump is re-elected this November. Vanessa Faura – Mother and Activist Vanessa is a legal Peruvian immigrant and mom. She has spent much of her career working with other mothers and communities she has seen harmed by Joe Biden’s America unable to pay for groceries, canceling family vacations, and struggling to pay for college. Anne Fundner – Mother In 2022, when Anne was living in California with her husband and three children, she experienced the unexpected and devastating loss of her 15-year-old son who was poisoned by fentanyl-laced pills. Shortly after her son’s death, Anne and her family moved to the East Coast to be closer to family and find a community to support them; California authorities would not pursue prosecution for her son’s overdose. Benjamin Josephs – Small Businessowner Ben and his wife live in Macomb County, Michigan with their six children. The Biden economy has taken a toll on his family’s small business, reducing his disposable income. He’s already had to cut back on vacations and outings for his family. Ben has also taken on the burden of caring for his ailing father, and business partner, who, in this economic climate, has been left without much. Benjamin’s American Dream of living in their own home has been shattered as he and his family are now having to move in with his parents. Shabbos Kestenbaum – Jewish American & Alumnus, Harvard University Shabbos is a proud American Jew and recent graduate of Harvard University. Shabbos has watched Joe Biden’s America threaten the lives of everyday Jewish Americans. Shabbos and his classmates are currently engaged in a lawsuit with their alma mater, Harvard, to fight for Jewish students at the university. Shortly after October 7, Shabbos shared that he, along with a few classmates, made a deliberate decision to reach out to Harvard and try to work with the administration to combat antisemitism on campus and create safe spaces for Jewish students. The response they received was that Harvard was unable or unwilling to show Jewish students that they belong at the school. Shabbos is a lifelong Democrat who will be voting for President Trump for the first time this year. Erin Koper – Community Activist Erin thought she’d be living the American Dream when she and her husband moved into their new home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Instead, Erin is living the American Nightmare with her community overrun by homelessness, drugs, and crime; she often wakes up in the morning to find used needles on the sidewalk in her neighborhood and fears going outside when it’s dark. Instead of giving up hope and accepting the decline of her neighborhood, Erin is an active member of her community and leads cleanup days. David Lara – Businessowner & Community Activist David is the owner of Desert Water, a water purification business serving Yuma County, Arizona. As a community leader and activist, David takes the future of Arizona seriously; David serves on the Yuma Union High School District #70 school board, among other volunteer roles. David is a firsthand witness to the negative impacts of illegal immigration overrunning and overburdening his community. Mark Laws – Grandfather & Retiree Mark is the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren. Retired life has not been easy for Mark; over the last four years inflation has made living off Social Security difficult; draining his savings. Mark hopes to one day take his grandchildren on a family trip to Disney but cannot afford to under the Biden-Harris administration’s abysmal economy. Michael Morin – Rachel Morin’s Sibling Michael lost his sister, Rachel, after she was brutally murdered on a hiking trail near her home by an illegal immigrant. Rachel was a mother of five. Scott Neil – Decorated War Hero & Founder, Horse Soldier Bourbon Scott is a retired special forces veteran with significant executive, operational, and combat experience, having served as a senior advisor to several general officers, senior civilian policy makers, national members of interagency task forces, and several Congressional committee members. Following the tragic events of 9/11, Scott conducted numerous successful special forces combat missions as part of the Commander’s In-Extremis Forces; he was one of the first to lead America's direct action and counter-terrorism charges into Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. Scott has since become a voice in the veteran community as part of his drive to ensure our veterans receive the necessary support to ensure successful re-integration into civilian society. Recently, Scott started a craft distillery called American Freedom Distillery along with other special operations veterans in the Tampa Bay Area. John Nieporte – Head Golf Pro, Trump International John worked his way up from an assistant golf pro and Donald Trump’s caddie to become the head golf pro at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. John has tried to qualify for the U.S. Open “more than 20 times,” and it started with his boss, Trump, pushing him to concentrate on his game and follow his golf dreams. Sgt. William Pekrul – Decorated War Hero US Army William (Bill) Pekrul, a native of Milwaukee, entered the US Army during WWII at the age of 17. He was in the 29th Infantry and the 75th Infantry but also trained with the 5th Rangers at Ft. Benning, GA. Bill was part of the second wave of troops in the assault on Normandy on June 6th 1944. Wounds led to his having to recover in a hospital in England for 42 days, after which he was assigned to the 75th Infantry. Bill was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for his performance in WWII. Bill and his wife Rose Mary have been married for 76 years and have 11 children. Sarah Phillips – Petroleum Engineer Originally from West Virginia, Sarah is a petroleum engineer who has spent much of her career working in oil fields. Sarah works to educate others about the impacts and importance of energy for our economy and country. Sarah is particularly passionate about one of the greatest gifts our country is endowed with: natural gas. Sarah has witnessed a decline in her industry under the Biden-Harris administration, which has doubled-down on their “Green New Deal”-inspired agenda; the worst-hit by this agenda are the everyday Americans who are unable to live an affordable life due to higher energy prices. Carrie Ruiz – Golf General Manager, Trump National Doral Carrie has been at the Trump National Doral property for years. During that time, she witnessed firsthand how the Trump family and its patriarch put hundreds of millions of dollars along with their sweat and tears into the Doral property after its acquisition. Carrie noticed how the Trumps went far beyond the usual, lazy touchups like new carpeting and a paintjob that real estate developers typically make with new properties. The Trump family instead put hundreds of millions of dollars along with their sweat and tears into the property; the legendary resort was stripped down to its core and rebuilt – all while the resort’s rich history and legendary status as one of the greatest golf resorts in the world was maintained. Lorenzo Sewell – Pastor Lorenzo was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a physically and verbally abusive home. High school was an emotionally challenging experience for Lorenzo with his father going to prison and his younger brother getting killed. As a result, Lorenzo became heavily involved in drug use and dealing, ultimately becoming a gang leader. But despite this rough start in life, God had other plans for Lorenzo; on April 18, 1999, during his senior year at Fraser High School, Lorenzo had a ‘Damascus Road’ encounter with Jesus Christ that set his heart on fire. In January 2019, Lorenzo became the Lead Servant of Evangel Ministries in Detroit, a thriving urban congregation with a heart for gospel-centered service and discipleship. Lorenzo came to Evangel from Woodside Bible Church, where he was the lead pastor of the Pontiac Campus. Lorenzo also served as the director of the Dream Center of Pontiac. Randy Sutton – Founder & Chairman, Board of Wounded Blue & Retired Law Enforcement Officer Randy has spent most of his adult life serving his community. Randy spent over 30 years as a police officer, detective, and lieutenant in an active-duty law enforcement role. Randy is one of the most highly decorated police officers in the Las Vegas Police department history, with awards for valor, community service, and saving multiple lives. Randy founded Wounded Blue to support injured and disabled law enforcement officers. UNC Fraternity Members A group of students and fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill patriotically protected an American flag that had been disturbed by demonstrators during an anti-Israel protest on their campus. The students gained national attention as videos of the protest showed them standing strong to protect the American flag, even as protestors antagonized them. Sara Workman – Mother Sara is a single mother who moved from California to Arizona to provide a better life for her son. Although she still struggles to make ends meet in Joe Biden’s economy despite working a second job at the expense of precious time with her son, Sara maintains her faith in God and God’s plan for her and her family. Sara is a passionate supporter of President Trump and his vision to ensure a better future for her son. |
