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Keeping it in the family: a guide to the many Trumps speaking at the RNC
Republican national convention 2020
As Trump family members take the podium one by one at the convention, here’s who’s who – and their memorable RNC moments More
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The Guardian view on Wisconsin and the Republicans: America's divisions | Editorial
On Tuesday, America heard two calls for peace and unity. The first came from the mother of Jacob Blake, a Black man shot in the back by police multiple times in front of his children, and reportedly left paralysed. After episodes of arson and looting followed peaceful protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Julia Jackson urged: “We need healing.”The second was the gaslighting speech from Melania Trump at the Republican National Convention. The woman who offered what was described as “a plea for racial unity” is the same woman who said American people wanted to see Barack Obama’s birth certificate; wore a jacket reading “I really don’t care. Do U?” on her way to visit detained children on the Texas border; and was appearing on behalf of a man who has triumphed through bigotry. She spoke at a convention seeking to press those same buttons with what one Republican political operative described as “fear porn”. Speakers have included the St Louis lawyers who brandished their guns at Black Lives Matter protestors marching past their home.The first lady’s address was – like much of the programme on Tuesday – a cynical attempt to sanitise the brand, allowing her husband and the Republicans to exploit racism while insisting it is nothing of the kind, and for voters to back them without too much discomfort. Donald Trump’s attempts to capitalise on the Black Lives Matter movement by positioning himself as the “president of law and order” who would defend white suburbs, lifting from Richard Nixon’s playbook, have so far been notably unsuccessful. The public has proved much more sympathetic towards the protests than expected.Whether that will change before November’s election is unclear. What is certain is that the spectre of American carnage that he conjures up has real and dangerous impact. Mr Trump has not invented racial divisions, police impunity, paranoia about “anti-American” forces, or a culture of people taking the law into their own hands. But he has exploited and fostered them.Hours after the convention speech, two people were shot dead and another injured at the protests in Kenosha. A group of heavily armed white men had reportedly clashed with demonstrators earlier, and the county sheriff said a “militia” had been patrolling the streets. Footage posted on social media showed what appeared to be a white man with a semiautomatic rifle firing at what are believed to be Black Lives Matter protestors. Despite the tumult, the alleged gunman is finally seen walking away with his arms raised, a weapon still dangling from his shoulder, as police tactical vehicles drive past him – a stark contrast with the treatment of Mr Blake.Words have consequences. Mr Blake’s family were calling not simply for calm, but for the transformation that the US desperately needs. “We have been watching police kill Black people for years,” his sister Letetra Widman reminded listeners. “I don’t want your pity. I want change.”The first lady’s call was for the perpetuation of the status quo. Her husband rose to power by stoking bigotry and plans to remain in power the same way. His departure alone cannot fix America’s deep-rooted problems. But another victory in November would only multiply them. More
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Trump’s presidential powers on full display at day two of RNC – video report
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2:10
Ethical questions were raised during day two of the Republican national convention, as Donald Trump was accused of misusing trappings of his office for political purposes and using the White House as a prop.
Pardoning convicts, naturalisation ceremonies and speeches from the White House were just a few of the items on the agenda that caused concern.
Culture wars and a pitch to women: key takeaways from night two of the RNCTopics
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Melania Trump offers condolences to families of Covid-19 victims in RNC speech
Republican national convention 2020
Remarks were a jarring reminder of pandemic, after an evening of misleading speeches that tried to minimize the public health crisis
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Melania Trump addresses Covid death toll, calls for unity amid racial tensions in RNC speech – video
Melania Trump expressed sympathy to the Americans who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus pandemic, acknowledging the grim toll of a public health crisis the president has failed to contain during a keynote address on the second night of the Republican convention.
Speaking from the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday, the first lady offered her condolences to the loved ones of the more than 178,000 Americans who have now died from the virus and the millions more who have been infected, casting her husband as the nation’s best hope to move past this grave chapter, despite widespread criticism of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic.
“I want to acknowledge the fact that since March, our lives have changed dramatically,” she said, before an audience seated, without regard for social distancing, in folding chairs, her husband in the front row applauding. Almost no one in attendance wore a mask.
“I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless,” she continued. “I want you to know, you are not alone. My husband’s administration will not stop fighting until there is an effective treatment for a vaccine available to everyone. Donald will not rest until he has done all he can to take care of everyone impacted in this pandemic.”
Her remarks were a jarring reminder of the trauma and turmoil still ravaging the nation, after an evening of misleading testimonials that sought to minimize, rewrite or entirely overlook the public health crisis. At one point, the White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, referred to the ongoing pandemic using the past tense. More - in US Politics
RNC 2020: Trump hailed as a benevolent chief who deserves re-election
The best courtroom dramas involve a defence lawyer who can work miracles of persuasion and, no matter how damning the evidence, convince the jury that their client is innocent.A week after Democratic prosecutors presented their “open and shut” case against Donald Trump, the virtual Republican national convention is not only attempting to get him off the hook but argue that he deserves a medal – and four more years in the White House.Take immigration. Trump has sought to cut legal immigration, slowed down the naturalisation process and overseen a zero tolerance policy that separated thousands of parents from their children at the US-Mexico border. But on Tuesday night, his coup de théâtre was a naturalisation ceremony at the White House for five new citizens from different continents.The audacity of hope has nothing on the audacity of this guy. US marines opened wooden doors and saluted as Trump strode through to the fanfare of “Hail to the chief”. He told the new Americans, who waved small stars and stripes flags: “You are now fellow citizens of the greatest nation on the face of God’s earth.”Critics said Trump has used both the immigrants and White House as political props, making this sacred ritual all about him. The ceremony, conducted by acting Department of Homeland Security head Chad Wolf, was a flagrant abuse of the line between governing and election campaigning and typical of a president who has turned television into politics and politics into television. More
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Culture wars and a pitch to women: key takeaways from night two of the RNC
Republican national convention 2020
Melania Trump closed the night with a less ominous and divisive speech than much of the Republican convention so far More
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Melania Trump offers condolences to victims of coronavirus in RNC speech – live
The first lady was the first to address the tragedy of the pandemic
Convention’s first night hit the spot, Republicans say
Republicans unable to resist ominous RNC themes
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Trump family set to speak on second night of Republican National Convention – live
Key events
Show
11.11pm EDT23:11
Second night of the convention concludes10.44pm EDT22:44
Melania Trump addresses Republican convention10.37pm EDT22:37
Pompeo addresses convention from Jerusalem10.22pm EDT22:22
Eric Trump: ‘It is a fight that only my father can win’10.11pm EDT22:11
Trump oversees naturalization ceremony9.48pm EDT21:48
Tiffany Trump says father will uphold American ideals9.14pm EDT21:14
Kudlow downplays ongoing financial consequences of the pandemicLive feed
Show
11.17pm EDT23:17
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.11.15pm EDT23:15
“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.”11.11pm EDT23:11
Second night of the convention concludes
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.11.09pm EDT23:09
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.11.06pm EDT23:06
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 SinghUpdated
at 11.08pm EDT11.03pm EDT23:03
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.10.58pm EDT22:58
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.10.54pm EDT22:54
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.10.50pm EDT22:50
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 SinghUpdated
at 10.51pm EDT10.48pm EDT22:48
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.10.45pm EDT22:45
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.10.44pm EDT22:44
Melania Trump addresses Republican convention
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.
Trump began by saying she and her husband were “humbled” and “grateful” for the support of voters who brought them victory in 2016.10.41pm EDT22:41
Max Benwell
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.Mark Murray
(@mmurraypolitics)
Folks, this is definitely a violation of the Hatch Act — mixing official duties with politics while on federal grounds.Trump is exempt from the Hatch Act, but Wolf isn’tAugust 26, 2020
Mimi Rocah
(@Mimirocah1)
Feels like the whole using the White House as a backdrop for a political campaign has been completely normalized already. It’s never been done before for a reason. It’s a violation of the Hatch Act, it’s a misuse of government resources & an abuse of power.August 26, 2020
Matt Pearce 🦅
(@mattdpearce)
naturalization ceremonies are beautiful but sticking one from the White House into the RNC is a corrupt use of office for partisan purposes. there are no rules anymore.August 26, 2020
Phil Elliott
(@Philip_Elliott)
Hosting a naturalization ceremony and issuing a pardon from the White House during a political convention isn’t just blurring the line between official and campaign activity. It’s absolutely erasing any regard for anti-corruption laws.August 26, 2020
10.40pm EDT22:40
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.10.40pm EDT22:40
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.”
– Maanvi Singh10.37pm EDT22:37
Pompeo addresses 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.
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.10.30pm EDT22:30
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.
Trump also imfamously described El Salvador, Haiti and certain African nations as “shithole” countries.
– Maanvi Singh.10.25pm EDT22:25
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. More - in Elections
Melania Trump and Mike Pompeo to speak at night two of Republican convention
Republican national convention 2020
Republicans hope to use convention to give Donald Trump a much needed boost in approval ratings More
