Foreign. Of the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention on NBC News now. I am Kristen Welker live in Milwaukee at an historic moment in America on an truly extraordinary day in politics. This has been frenetic with a lot of developments.
You are looking at live pictures from the convention floor where the roll call is ongoing right now after just moments ago, former President Donald J. Trump officially got the number of delegates needed to become the Republican nominee. And in a post on Truth social last hour, Mr. Trump announced he has chosen Ohio Senator J.D.
vance to be his running mate. Senator Vance will soon be formally nominated to become the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee. We will bring you that live when it happens in just a few moments. This opening day at the Con Sports comes into the aftermath of Mr.
Trump narrowly surviving an assassination attempt this weekend at a campaign rally. The shocking images of a bloody Trump first raised and surrounded by his protective detail hanging over this entire conversion and now it's entire presidential race. And I believe if we go to the floor, House Speaker Mike Johnson is officially announcing that President Donald Trump and received the majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the convention, has been selected as the Republican Party nominee for president of the United States. And without it, it's official.
And you can feel the excitement, the enthusiasm in the room as we continue to watch these live pictures. I want to tell you about another development today. A stunning legal term to the former president after a Florida judge out the criminal case into former President Trump's handling of classified documents. But we do begin with the action happening right here at the convention.
This was the scene on the floor just moments ago when Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee. Take a look. Madam Secretary and everybody in this great city, on behalf of our entire family and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that's ever lived. And that's Donald J.
Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for president of the United States of America. There you have the Trump children making it official with the great state of Florida, putting Donald Trump over the top of the delegates needed to officially become his party's nominee. I want to get direct to our reporters on the convention floor, Garrett Haig at the very latest from the Trump campaign. Jacob Silver is with the delegates in the midst of the roll call vote.
And I want to go to Jacob first. Jacob and I told you I might have to interrupt you so we can get some more reaction on the floor to have to see where you are. Right, Chris, we're here in the Ohio delegation. We have no confirmation of this but generally when there's a scout like this, it means someone important is coming.
We do know of course that former President Trump has elected J.D. vance as his running maid descended from the state of Ohio. Let me give a look at what it looks like here right now. Let's turn around and show Chris what's happening behind us.
All these cameras are waiting for someone. Who it is we know not. But Michelangelo matter of fact is right over here. Let me see if I can quickly get a cover to my.
Come on, this way, guys. Excuse me. Let her go. Are we waiting for JD Vance?
Are we waiting for. Well, we'll see. How do you feel? We'll see.
That's not a no. We'll see. How are you feeling about his election, sir? Well, great.
I'm very happy about it. It's a great day for the state of Ohio, so it's good news. I know JD Before I was even governor. So you know, I'm just very, very pleased.
What do you make of us? Past criticisms, the former President Trump in the fact they're now coming together. He was a vociferous crit, as you know, a former President Trump. They're together and obviously President Trump would not have picked him unless he thought he was someone who would carry on and carry, carry out, you know, his vision for the future of the state.
No, I'm not. And we'll see. I mean we'll see. It sounds like a maybe.
It's a maybe. Something maybe. Okay, Michael Line. Thanks a lot, Kristen.
It's an exciting time. A lot of people down here and as Michael Lyne said. We'll see. Stay tuned, Jacob.
Governor Mike Deline calling this great news. The pick of J.D. vance to be Donald Trump's running mate of President is 39 years old as a first term Senator. An extraordinary decision that doubles down on MAGA principals, MAGA ideals.
And it seems like the Ohio delegation shares the governor's excitement Shakeup. Grayson, forgive me to push him this away. I'll be right back to you. All right, Jacob, we will come back to you while we wait for Jacob.
And he's right in the middle of all of the excitement. Of course. I want to turn to our guests here on set. Chuck Todd, NBC News chief political analyst and Mark Short, MBC News political analyst who knows a little something about vice presidential picks.
Mark, I'll get you in a minute. Chuck, let me start with you. You and I have been Trying to figure out who's it going to be for weeks, if not months. It is JD Dance.
It's a sign that Donald Trump is doubling down on his MAGA principles. The question is, from an electoral perspective, does this help him? I mean, does it help him win over anyhow voters? Does it help him win over modern independence?
This doesn't feel like a political pity or action or giving because it feels like another, you know, look, I think it makes a really sort of makes a dramatic shift in the direction of the party. Like if you didn't know where this party is headed, it is a much different party of project authority on trade, a little bit more isolationist, depending on how you point a view on that, but a version of certainly less international expansion when it comes to American national security. Look, I think it's no better than I said and I think it's noble that he chose a millennium. The generational thing is I think certainly get to see data that's been a very articulate person outside movement.
But this comes a risk because there's a lot of paper trail on him. He's only been a senator for two years. He sort of is a convert to all this. Right.
He's kind of been 41. Mark and I are a bit older. Like your life. You know, it's funny how your own politics can shift and evolve.
You know, he's so new. He was new to the Never trumpet move in 16, then he's new to the MAGA movement in 18. You know, here he is, you know, so I'm. We'll see.
I think this is a Democrat of all the candidates, because this is the one they hope so that tells each other. They feel like there's a lot of material to work with. And I think just like with Sarah Palin, who's the last time someone had this little electoral experience in him about a ticket. It's a race to define them nationally and it's going to fight the race well.
And as you say, that shot, the Biden campaign is already saying they are going to paint him as extreme. We should note that our White House team is reporting that the vice president, Kamala Harris has called J. Vance. She apparently left a message.
Mark Short wasn't able to reach him. You obviously are a top aide to former Vice President Mike Pence. You were a part of that process. You remember it well when he was chosen to be Trump's running mate.
Talk a little bit about this moment, the significance of it and what you make of the pickup. J. Vance, as Chuck says, It's not without risks. Well, look, I think it's a very different time in 2024 than it was in 2016 when we were here in Clevel.
Forget it. The number two, Ted Cruz number two, can in the primary refuse to endorse on the convention. And so I think that Mike Pence brought many of the conservatives and Tea Party conservatives to the party. I don't think that's the case's point.
It's a Chuck's point. I think it's less of a political click, but it's a dramatic shift in where the party's going. It's not just the isolation's foreign policy. It's not just the protectionist trade policy.
It's a guy who wants a bigger regulatory state. It's a guy who's applauded Biden's FTC commission at a time when most Republicans are most concerned that many trade deals are getting caught tied up because of the environment. And so it's a very, very populous pick. In no way judicial conservative thing.
Yeah, I mean, he was right at the center of so much of the debate over whether to send more money to Ukraine. He was absolutely opposed to it, to your point. Really underscores those Munich Security Conference. Yeah.
And advocated basically for last aid for Ukraine. It was a dramatic thing for him to do. It was really uncomfort for most people at the media conference because they're not used to an American or, you know, somebody coming representing the United States or advocating for a retreat. Yeah, you're absolutely right on that issue and so many other issues that Democrats are going to be looking at this pick and have plenty to work with.
Let me go to Garrett Hake, who is on the convention floor as well, right in the middle of all of the action. Garrett, where are you? What are the delegates telling you where you are? Look, I'm in the back of the hall right now with New Mexico at the moment.
I was talking to delegates as the pick was the coming news. And I heard a lot of welcome to it. You know, I spoke to members of the Idaho delegation, I spoke to spokes of the Michigan delegation. And I think we shouldn't be surprised if the people in this room are very excited about the Jamie Vance pick.
That's the idea. I mean, this is the pick of a confident campaign here who thinks that their strategy is working and they just need somebody who can help them execute it a little better. They're doing the Trump campaign trying to reaches, you know, battleground Rust Belt state voters. Those young men in particular disaffected from the Democratic Party.
J.D. vance, the only veteran of the four main players on this ticket can be your guy. I've heard that in Michigan, I heard that in Idaho and I heard from Laura Trump, the vice chair of the RNC and the president's daughter in law who really told me that she does see this as almost laying in hands battle Trump actually picking a successor or something he's not really wanted to do, identifying somebody who can be the next generation MAGA voice in JD Vance I think you're absolutely right. Kimberly Guilfoyle earlier during an interview with Jacob Sobroff, Garrett really focused on that point, the importance of the vice presidential pick.
Chuck she was making the case that this pick takes on new significance in the wake of that assassination attempt against former President Trump. Yet another moment in this presidential race that we could not have imagined and they quite frankly have offended the race once again. I also think it means more people. I mean this is, this is both the opportunity at risk.
Yes. And I say the opportunity. I think there are more people in America wanting to see Obama stops responding, are going to want to say I forgive the events and by the way, his age and Joe Biden's age where the vice presidential debate will be feel a little more significant. But I also don't, I also want to wrap the things back here.
There have been plenty of vice presidential dates that have been negative on candidates who have won the presidency anyway, Richard Nixon, BERYL AGNEW, George H.W. bush and James Whale. So I, I'm not and some even argue, I would argue that Joe Biden didn't pick the strongest running at the time. So you know, I, I don't this election isn't going to be decided by the running mate.
But these running mates can do those become distractions to me, they're never net, they're never net positives for campaign. They only are either neutral or they are distractions. And that's and Trump is someone Mark Short, who you get a sense he picks a running mate almost begrudgingly. He doesn't really think he needs a running mate.
In some senses. It does come against again the backdrop of this horrific assassination attempt against the former president. We cannot forget that that is sort of infusing this entire event. And one of the things I'm watching for is the tone right now.
It's obviously incredibly celebratory. They are celebrating the fact that Donald Trump has officially become their party's nominee. But I think in the speeches it will be fascinating to see he said he's rewritten his speech to be one of unity. Right.
Well, look, I think that J.D. vance, I don't think hurts Trump politically. I accept Tucks going on what he really has to it, but I think this race would be about the top two. The ticket gets very polarizing, but he's a rags riches story.
He's a man who served the Marines. He served our country. He's an incredibly articulate spokesman. I do go back to our first point, though.
It is a dramatic shift in what the Republican Party believes and stands for. And I think that that can't be underscored enough. It's a direct signal that we're headed in a far more populous direction with our policy than the traditional conservative party has stood for so many decades. You actually think he hired a spokesperson, that that's how he almost used J.D.
vance. He's incredibly articulated. He can represent the president's viewpoints. And I think in many ways that is what he saw his advantage in JD Vance as somebody go out there, be a surrogate almost like Pete Ludicrous Petit Place for so long.
Well, and we've seen J.D. vance, we see quite correctly all of the vice presidential candidates out on the circuit running the traps, doing the tough interviews. Garrett, before I let you go, because I know it's very loud where you are, talk a little bit about your understanding of how the horrific assassination attempt against former President Trump might impact might infuse this convention. As you have reported, he is overhauling his speech.
And yet we don't necessarily expect every speech to be changed. No, that's not Kristen. I think we should not adjust our standards accordingly for what Donald Trump's idea of a speech more about unity will be about. I mean, this is what he said.
He said he's basically taken out a speech that he thought was too tough and now he wants to unite the country. A few hours later, he sent a true social post about the documents case getting thrown out, in which he used a lot of the same divisive language for which he's become known, talking about hoaxes and witch hunts and Joe Biden led conspiracies. So his idea of a unifying message can often mean unify around me where I am as opposed to I'm going to put my arms around you and we're all going to move closer together. So I think we should probably moderate our expectations in that way.
And I think just even looking at the speakers tonight, for example, someone like a Glenn Youngen offers very different sense of a unifying figure than does Marjorie Taylor Greene, both of whom on the speaker's card tonight. There's sort of only so much you can move a party that has become so aggressive in sort of its natural posture back towards a kinder, gentler, big tent welcome, which is I think what obviously want your convention to present where you're trying to reach some of those voters who may not have been paying attention until later in the year. It's a really fascinating point, Garrett, and it is why we will be parsing every single word that the former president utters when he delivers his speech here on Thursday night. And Garrett, as you were speaking, we learned that former President Trump called J.D.
vance with the news that he was selecting him as his running mate 20 minutes, just 20 minutes before announcing it on social media, an indication that they did not want this news to break and I think an indication of some of the deliberations that were happening behind the scenes inside the Trump campaign about who the running mate should be for former President Trump. Let's go back out to Jacob Silver. He is on the convention floor still. Jacob, what do you got?
Kristen, the expectation, although not confirmed at the JD advance, largely the expectation is will emerge from this area here in come down the aisle towards the Ohio delegation. We don't know that for certain, but the amount of activity that we're seeing in this area right now is indicative of a high profile guest about to enter the convention floor. You can see state troopers here, other security officials, people lined up all around. And there's a lot of anticipation, a lot of anticipation to see former President Trump's pick as his vice presidential running maid.
Of course, there's a lot of questions that we all are big J.D. vance, because the people a little pen behind the curtain, they keep us very far away from where he would be, relatively speaking. Remember J.D. vance, as I was talking about?
Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio was vociferously opposed to former President Trump using rhetoric that I think could be called harsh even today at one point using language. Spoke out on social media as well, winning the Democrats. Will he address any of that tonight? We don't know for sure, but we hope to catch him.
He comes in here just a little bit. All right, Jacob Soberoff, thank you so much for your reporting from the convention floor. And with that and it's celebratory nature here on the convention floor is happening as we have been mentioning at a sovereign time as well, just two days after that assassination attempt on former President Trump. I now want to turn to Con Winter, who has the very latest on the investigation.
Tom, what can you tell us? I know you've got some new information that you've been working on. That's right, Kristen. It's a lady.
From the environment that you're experiencing and the environment the law enforcement is conducting itself right now, we're told that the FBI has been able to access the cell phone of Thomas Crux. He's the individual that they say shot at President Trump just two days ago. And in part of accessing that, they've been examining the contents of the phone. And so far, and this is prelimina, the investigation still in its early stages, but so far they found nothing on that phone that points to a motive.
Excuse me. And I think one of the things that folks are having a hard time understanding and it's understandable is what is this idea with motive? He fired a gun at the former president, United States and now Republican nominee. What is there to guess at?
This has to be politically motivated. I think it's important to remind people that over the years, a number of assassination attempts, including the one, the most recent assassination attempt on a president or former president Ronald Reagan. The shooter there had an effort to try to impress a Hollywood actress and that was what he said his motive was for doing it. So the FBI really wants to get to the bottom of that.
They want to try to rule out with absolute certainty that anybody else could have been involved in this. Right now, they don't believe so, but it's still in the early investigative stages. Couple other updates from my colleagues, Jonathan Deanston, Andrew Blankstein and myself. Apparently the shoot was able to purchase or had delivered to him a significant amount of ammunition on the day of the shooting and leading up to the shooting.
That's what law enforcement is trying to determine. When did the ammunition come in? When it was around. The multiple law enforcement officials also telling us that approximately a dozen guns were found in the home.
And they're also looking into whether or not the father of the shooter, upon hearing about the shooting involving Trump, noticed that one of his guns was missing and noticed that his son was missing and may have contacted law enforcement. So those are a couple of new investigative avenues or new developments just over the last hour or so. And again reporting with myself, my colleagues Jonathan Dean and Blankstein, we're going to continue to track this throughout the day, the investigation. The FBI out with a statement late today confirming they were able to access the phone and that they've completed their searches of both his car at the scene of the shooting, shooting as well as Tom Cris, Tom Winter, thank you.
And as you and the team have been reporting, of course, the family of the shooter has been cooperating with authorities. Tom Winter, we really appreciate those new developments. And as we continue to wait for Jacob Sobra, promises will be a big guess potentially Senator J.D. vance himself coming out.
Our senior Washington correspondent Hallie Jackson joins the table. Hallie, we're just learning that former President Trump called J.D. vance 20 minutes before he announced. Are you surprised?
No, but it makes me feel better because Halle and I were furiously working our sources trying to confirm it with him. Let me tell you where you want to be on convention day. It's backstage with, well, drinking. Okay.
No, I mean, listen, this is, this is very classic. I think Donald Trump and I think it's also why in public school settings you had his senior aids, his staffers about his vpx. Well, until he said he never wanted to get ahead, he could change his mind on a diamond. That's not just a cliche.
I guess it is a cliche for a reason. It is because often times some of the criticisms that you have with the last voice in his ears. So you had a lot of people and you all know this in the White House jockeying to try to be that last voice in his ear. So it is not surprising to me that it went up to wire.
It is also not surprising to see that the announcement came from Donald Trump himself on true Social, not a leak. Right. I mean there was widespread prediction that this was in once being reported. It wasn't going to be marker review.
That wasn't going to be dirt list. I think it been a serious contender was of course, senator man. So all of it, I think tracks with the way the former president has also been teasing out this announcement for weeks. I mean, you remember last week, I think it was six days ago, seven days ago now when he was in Florida home home state, of course, Marco Rubio going well, I don't know.
He really, really wanted to build up the drama here. And tonight we now know who the pick is. Yeah, he did build up the drama. There's no doubt about that.
Chuck, in addition to you and Mark and I were talking about his foreign policy and how he does fit into Donald Trump's isolationist vision of the world. But when it comes to an issue like abortion, he was not where Trump was initially. In fact, he was supportive of a Texas law that does not include restrictions. And that's something that in these final dates, his detractors have been trying to push out to the media to Say hey look, he's too far right when it comes to the issue of abortion.
His detractors meaning people inside the Trump campaign who are advocating against him. That was what was remarkable is that how many of the people worried about November were not were looking for reasons to persuade him against him. Those that are worried, you know I worry about 2028, they were fine with it. But it is fascinating to me that it's the most powerful arguments we were hearing against.
But that wasn't mind it but we've all learned this people they will debate through leads and you would see these debates and then you know, I mean the worst thing happened is Rupert Murdoch came out more and he knows Trump hates that perception that somehow Bob in particular had some sort of influence. So that felt like a piss of dash. And then look, I buy the idea because designing was really too wild in the big Rubio advocate. And I think that there really was and I think this constitutional issue was a real how are you going to make Marco believe a statement?
It was just an odd thing to do. So I buy that that he might have been the that was part of the reporting I had from a source from earlier conversations. It was a day of discussion could they get worked out good legalities that ultimately decision was they could try and it might work but in this instance might work. I also think that on Maro the big issue is deeply they could justify they're concerned that Democrats have reason not to certify the election if Rubio has done the taking the cause.
You said you can't be president. It was the politics and say now Democrats will vote against certified. But Mark, politically speaking to Chuck's point the people some people inside the campaign, some Trump allies were saying Rubio is the strongest pick electorally. He is an incredible fundraiser.
He helps you energize key constituents. Wasn't persuasive to drop us as Chuck knows this was not a political pick in J.D. vance. I get that.
I think Mario I said this on your show two weeks ago. I think Marco provide the most balance. He provided a lot more depth of what the options were. But I think that again where I think that this party is now going is a far more popular track.
That's what J.D. vance measured. And I mean you know only a world where he probably with Hillary Clinton voter in 2016 can now be vice president for Donald Trump. All right, well we'll pause it for just a moment.
Chuck and Hallie, you are sticking around with me. Mark, thank you so much for being here. Coming up here, just moments away from Senator J.D. vance officially receiving the VP nomination for Congressman Carlos Menz joins the on set next with his view of the ticket, his reaction in this historic race for president stuff with us.
You're watching Meet the Press now special coverage of the Republican National Convention. Get the best of NBC News with a subscription, viewer ads, deeper access and exclusive content. And now during the Xfinity Member celebration, members can get an exclusive 50 off an annual subscription. Head to xin.com membership to learn more.
Xfinity Imagine that subscription automatically reuses each year at 6,599 plus taxes and fees. Go canceled. Offer ends May 20, 2026. Price is subject to change.
Visit NBC news.com for full offer terms and details. Stay informed with the NBC News app. Breaking news just coming in moments ago. Watch, read and listen throughout your day and now unlock even more with a subscription.
It's the best of NBC News with fewer ad interruptions, including ad free articles, podcasts and full NBC News shows. Plus deeper access and exclusive content. Let's just take a step back. It's more context and clarity from the reporters you trust.
Download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more. Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I sit down with one of the biggest bands in the world, Mumford and Sons, as we get the boys together to talk about their new number one album, Prize Fighter and the evolution of that irresistible foot stomping sound. You can get our conversation for free wherever you download your podcasts.
And welcome back. You are watching NBC News Now's special coverage of the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention. From Milwaukee, you're looking live as we get ready for the official announcement of Senator J.D. bay as Donald Trump's running it.
Back with me now for more is Jacob Sobro. He's on the convention floor waiting for Senator Vance to walk out. Set the scene, Jacob. Are we any closer to seeing him?
It feels that way, Chris. And I think you know, in a previous life I was an advanced person to former Mayor Mike Bloomberg in New York City. My job was to set up moments like this. As candidates walked out of the candidate, the mayor walked out himself.
This is advanced 101. They push everyone back. They've got security detail, both state, local. It appears to be federal.
They're waiting in the corner. By all indications, this is where we believe Jamie Vance will walk out on the floor to make his first appearance as the vice presidential running mate. The former President Donald Trump, Luckless Jackson. Give you a look at all the people here who are waiting to see J.D.
vance, if and when he does walk out into this alleyway here and up towards the stage in relation to where you are. I'm on the opposite side of the convention floor, almost all the way in the corner. There's an access way here. And so I think the idea would be when J.D.
vance walks through those doors right there through the black swim, he will, if he does indeed enter through that door, walk up this red carpet down here to the left towards the Ohio delegation where you can see the assembled crowd, not just reporters, completely delegation, waiting for him, and then we'll see if he makes his way to the station. The address is a simple audience here, Kristen. It has to be only a matter of minutes at this point. It has to be a matter of minutes.
Jacob, you're right there in the middle of all the action. I know when he walks out, you'll be ready with your questions and we'll get right back to you. Jacob, thanks so much for your reporting from the floor. Joining me now right here on set in Milwaukee, it's Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Divinitz.
Congressman, thank you so much for joining me. Really appreciate it. My pleasure. So let me get your reaction to the news of the day.
The fact that Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, now officially has chosen JD Vance to be his running ma. I know you're obviously pulling for Senator Marco Rubio. We were just talking about why electorally he may have been an incredibly strong choice. What's your reaction?
Are you disappointed? No, I mean, look, I, I was pulling for Marco Rubio. I thought he would have been, you know, a really great choice, but also said we have a really deep bench and that we're going to be, we're going to be uniting. We're all united, you know, around the president and we're going to be uniting around this ticket.
Now, now we know what the ticket's going to be. We're going to go out and make sure that this ticket, President Trump and Vice President J.D. vance gets sworn in on January 2025. Of course, we were just talking about the fact that critics of J.D.
vance inside the Republican Party were concerned that he wouldn't necessarily bolster the ticket, that he basically represents the future of the Maddo movement. He's obviously got a lot of support from Donald Trump Jr. For example, some other folks inside Donald Trump's orbit. But does he help expand the electoral map?
Ohio would go for Trump, that would seem. Ricardo, he comes from the Midwest. And we know that we need to make sure that we get states. Ohio is, I think, pretty much we're gonna be okay with Wisconsin, Michigan, et cetera.
Those are states that we need, you know, for Domino, Donald Trump to win. And I think that J.D. vance gives us an opportunity in those states. He's the future of the party.
He's a young guy, he's 40 years old, veteran Marine Corps corporal, but also pretty savvy. You know, he's got, he's got a degree from Yale Law School. So he's a smart guy, an author, venture capitalist, and knows how to talk to young people. So, yeah, I think he expands the base in that way and I look forward to working with him, especially after he becomes vice president.
Let me ask you about that. Do you have any concerns that he's untested, as you say, he's young. He's only on his second year in the Senate. Is there a concern that if there is, for example, a crisis on the world stage, that he wouldn't have the foreign policy heft that a Marco Rubio, for example, would bring to the ticket?
Everybody brings the space. Every one of these vice presidential candidates win a different spring. He's going to be learning. It's an apprenticeship.
Exactly. And so, you know, I expect a four year apprenticeship. And then I believe it'll probably be if Donald Trump becomes president, which I believe he will be, he'll probably be able to nominate. He'll have four years under his belt under Donald Trump, and he'll continue that.
We need to change the direction of this country, and not just in four years. It's going to take longer. People may disagree with me on that, but I am convinced that we need to change the rest of this country. Donald Trump will start that process and J.D.
vance or somebody else will finish it, you know, for President Trump. Let me talk to you about the broader context in which we are sitting here. This comes, of course, just days after, after the assassination attempt against former President Trump. He has talked about the fact that he believes he was saved by God.
I've been talking to folks who are close to him who say he is more contemplative now. He feels like he's gotten a second lease on life. He says he's overhauling his speech. How do you think the horrific events that unfold in Pennsylvania will impact his speech?
And quite frankly, this entire convention, anytime you go through an experience like that, when you're that close to dying, I think that it has to change. It has to make you More spiritual, you know, if he hadn't turned his head at that right at the time. And so faith intervention by God. The grace of God.
By the grace of God, he is alive. And so that will. I think I know him, you know, not the politician kind of I've placed around his offline, totally different than what a lot of people pretend to be. And so when I think, look, here's what I think.
America's facing some great challenges, not only internally, but also around the world. And the only way that America is going to survive and overcome those challenges united. So I would expect that you're going to see a message of unity coming from our nominee. And I expect that there will be a change, a little bit, some change in his message, and I think it'll be one of unity.
We have to come together. America is stronger when we're together. And believe me, America needs to be strong because we are facing something down. You have been critical of former President Trump, some of his rhetoric in the past.
When you have felt it, it has not been a unifying message. Do you think, beyond this week, we will see him modify his message, his tone again? I think that this incident has. Has to have had some kind of an impact on him.
Look, what I've said is I think I agree with some things he said. I do agree a lot, but I do believe what he does. Okay? I believe in his policies, and that's what's more important to me than anything else.
On the other hand, you know, President Biden might say, I think I disagree vehemently with what he does. And so for me, it's more important what you do, not what you say. And President Trump has proven time and time again what he does is right for this country. And of course, there is a debate inside the Democratic Party about whether President Biden should stay at the top of the ticket.
Now, to some extent, that debate has been stalled in the wake of the horrific events in Pennsylvania. It's not clear, unclear how much momentum it will continue to have moving forward. But is there a concern inside the Republican Party about what might happen if he does pass the torch to a Vice President Kamala Harris or someone else inside the party? Well, he decides that he's not capable of being the nominee and probably not able to be the president.
Right. So if he passes that torch, then that's a process. But if it's somehow a revolution inside the Democrat Party, that somehow they're going to overthrow Joe Biden, is that a party who says that we're somehow a threat to democracy. Wasn't he democratically elected as your nominee?
And so, yeah, it's kind of hypocritical, I think. So Until Joe Biden decides that he no longer wants to be the candidate, the nominee, I think the Democrats need to follow the will of their voters. And he's a nominee. Now he decides he's uncapable of it.
He probably needs to pass it off Campbell Harris as the vice president and then she becomes the resulting nominee. All right, Congressman Jimenez, thank you so much. It's great to be with you. Really appreciate your perspective today.
And we will be right back after a quick break. Stay with us. Watching the press now. And welcome back.
You are watching special coverage of the Republican National Convention from Milwaukee right here on NBC News. Now we want to get back to the action. And Jacob Sober, who is on the convention floor. And Jacob, as we are having this conversation, the headline here is that former President Donald Trump has officially been nominated to be his party's nominee.
And he announced Senator J.D. vance as his running mate for the great state of Ohio. And you are there waiting for J.D. vance to walk out.
Any word on when he's coming out, Kristen? I'm sorry, we're still looking at the door. But looking at the door has never been so exciting. What you're looking at right now is the staging area from the center from the great state of Ohio, J.D.
vance, to emerge and either walk to the Ohio delegation or take the stage as the official pick as a vice presidential running mate and nominee to run with former President Donald Trump to become potentially the next president, vice president of the United States. Of course, they are very aligned on issues related to the economy. Donald Trump has spent a considerable amount of time in the Rust Belt. J.D.
vance talks a lot about the decimated manufacturing industry where he comes from Ohio. We all spent a lot of time there. And obviously that is going to be very sensitive to the economic message of this campaign. We'll get a better idea when J.D.
vance emerges from behind the black drapery over there, if indeed that's where he's coming from. And let me give you one more look as a reset here of what we expect JD Vance to do when he enters through those doors. In a matter of moments, he'll come through here, walk up in this area here through this overhang, come right by us and walk up towards the Ohio delegation. You can see the state in the distance.
Looks like a locomotion. We'll see if we can get see. We're watching advanced people do their jobs. Doesn't seem like anything in accuracy.
But we'll continue to keep an eye on this very closely and we'll get our best to pull over the center from the great state Ohio. He walks out to accept that nomination as soon as we lay eyes on him. All right. And Jacob, we will come back to you as soon as you give us the high sign that you see any action there at that door.
Thank you so much, Jacob. Well, as this Republican National Convention keeps off here, Milwaukee, Donald Trump has swore a major legal victory in Florida where a judge dismissed the classified documents case against the former president. In a 93 page decision, Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Donald Trump, ruled that the appointment of special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought the case, was unconstitutional. Now, Canon argues that Smith had not been appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate.
NBC News justice and intelligence correspondent Candeladian joins me. Also with me is Chuck Rose, former U.S. attorney, former senior FBI official and current NBC News legal analyst. Thanks so much to both of you for being here.
Ken, let me start with you. What is the Justice Department's likely next step? Are we anticipating that it will appeal this ruling? That's what we think will happen, Kristen.
It's interesting. I've been waiting for a few hours for the Justice Department to issue a statement in reaction to this, and I have not done so yet. I know the lawyers are cloister behind closed doors working on how they are going to react to this. But I also know they profoundly disagree with this ruling, which goes against 25 years of tradition of using the special counsel regulation to appoint special counsels and goes against four or five other federal judges that have heard similar arguments and ruled in the exact opposite direction, including a Trump appointed judge in Washington, D.C.
when Robert Mueller's appointment was challenged on the same ground. Because the logic of this decision would say that Robert Mueller was also improperly appointed as a special counsel because he wasn't appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate either. So this is a highly technical argument. You know, it's a 92 page decision.
Judge Cannon cites a lot of case law. It's not entirely implausible, but it's just very strange that she's the only judge in 25 years to come out this way. And it's dismissing the entire case. It's totally gone.
All the hearings are canceled, the motions are moved. And so now the Justice Department has to decide whether they appeal or they have other options, too. They could refile the case with the U.S. attorney in Miami, but we'll have to wait and see what they do.
We will. Do you anticipate it'll go to the Supreme Court, Ken? Yes, because however, the 11th Circuit rules, whether they overturn Judge can or uphold her, the losing side is likely to appeal. This is a significant issue.
It goes beyond this case because, you know, this is the way that we appoint suicide special counsels in this country after the independent council law lapsed in 1999. And without this regulation, the Justice Department would be unable to appoint special counsels unless Congress passes the law. And you know, Merrick, Garland and other train towns have found the need to do that. So it's a larger issue than just this one case.
Chuck, let me go to you. Can you put this into a broader context? Because legal analysts were saying that they were quite surprised that Judge Cannon took this step. Why is this outside of what folks were anticipating?
Sure. Kristen? Well, as Ken so ably described, this issue has been raised multiple times over the past several decades. And each and every time the special counsel regulation were found to be valid.
The appointment of a special counsel was found to be lawful, proper and constitutional. So in a broader context, Judge Catton is on a bit of a legal island by herself. That doesn't mean she's wrong, although I think she is, respectfully. And it doesn't necessarily tell you what the 11th Circuit, the court of appeals that sits over her, will do.
And it certainly doesn't tell you what the Supreme Court will do. By the way, I think Kenneth's quite right that the case will go to the Supreme Court with one caveat. That is, if the case still exists, if Mr. Trump is elected again as president, that's entirely possible, plausible, perhaps even likely, that he will dismiss the case.
And if the case is dismissed and there's nothing pending for either the 11 circuit for the Supreme Court to decide, Chuck, what might this mean for the other cases pending against former President Trump? Obviously, there's the election interference case. There's the case in Georgia that was brought in a different matter. But what might this mean for the other case that was brought by Jack Smith?
Yeah. So if it means anything for any case, it's only the one that Jack Smith brought in a different jurisdiction in the District of Columbia. But Kristen, I don't think it means anything to that case. And here's why.
Number one, it's been challenged in D.C. in various cases. And the D.C. courts, including the D.C.
court of Appeals, has found that the appointment of special counsel, these regulations are constitutional. Moreover, a federal judge sitting in Florida has absolutely no authority over a federal judge sitting anywhere else in the United States. States. She's not an appellate court, she's certainly not the Supreme Court.
She's just a trial judge, a federal trial judge, but just a trial judge in a completely different district. So I don't think it has any precedential value. Does it have any persuasive value? I think not.
Again, the D.C. federal courts have already ruled on this issue and their rulings are all contrary to what Judge Cannon just did. You are watching Senator Jay Vance walk out onto the convention floor holding his wife's hand. He has just been named as Donald Trump's running mate.
39 years old Senator from the great state of Ohio, author of Hillbilly Elegy, someone who was once one of the Donald Trump's fiercest critics, now one of his biggest supporters, biggest defenders poised to accept his party's nomination to be Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee. You can see the excitement, the, frankly, enthusiasm in the room is palpable. Let's go back to Jacob, sober off. Jacob, what was it like as he walked out?
As we watched these pictures, there is, there is excitement and there's enthusiasm. You saw walk out with his wife. And to me, honestly, the striking part of this was I've never seen J. Van in person, at least I can't recall the moment that I have.
He has a youthful look and a youthful energy to him. And I know we'll get into policy. I will get into the politics at this moment in just a little bit. But it's a different look.
It's a young, underlooked. And when you will ultimately see Vice President Kamala Harris go up against JD Vance, that is the next generation of American politics. And with this decision, former President Trump has chosen someone of our generation of millennials, someone who was born in the 1980s at the latest. Excuse me, at the latest.
And so JD Vance is now out there on the convention floor and there is. All I can see is people wander around, do selfies with him. Like I said, he's from the Rust Belt. He's from the heartland of America.
We'll be talking a lot more about that, the manufacturing issues, immigration, everything that he said about the shooting with former President Trump and the way they assigned flame. But now it's important to walk out here and be in the spotlight for the first time as poor President Trump's elections become his vice president running. Well, it is a historic moment as we watch JD Vance shake hands, hug high five. The delegates holding his wife's hand there on the convention floor as we watch this scene unfold.
I want to go to Scott Walker, former governor of Wisconsin. Governor, thanks for being here. A lot has happened today. Let's talk about what's happened today.
Donald Trump is now your party's official nominee to be president of the United States. And he announced his running mate in a true social post. Classic Trump, right? Classic Trump.
Just about 20 minutes after he called J. Vance and made him know it was official. What's your reaction to this pick? I think it's exciting.
Obviously we're here, my home area at home, Turki, Wisconsin. We could be more thrilled having Western a ticket. But more than that, even here with the music, you think about that, that book that he wrote about his family's life. I think a lot of characters don't know much about it.
He made to think this is someone whose family dealt with addiction. This is someone who lived in the death of poverty and despair and a lot of Americans feel abandoned by politicians of both parties in Washington. This pick I take the more to get up by JD Vance will appeal to them. What do you make?
Let me follow up with you on that point on the politics of this pick because he's widely seen as the future of the MAGA movement. Trump campaign official once explained the different choices Trump was mulling as JD Vance is the future senator. Marco Rubio would have potentially helped electorally quite a bit. And North Dakota Governor Janie Vance, North Dakota governor.
What's seen as a safe pick, someone who would never upstate. This is a 39 year old senator in his second year of serving in the U.S. senate. Do you think he helps politically?
Yeah, I think it for the two reasons. Midwest, Michigan, Wisconsin, key state obviously Ohio. I think it's going to be in the bag already, but even more so now. But I think more important than that, it's a generational pick.
It's saying when all the talk about age and questioning that going forward this is somebody who's that next generation. But not just some young rising star as he mentioned his book. This is someone who suffered through a lot of family, suffered through a life. I think that America lost 100,000 people overdoses last year.
When people hear that this is someone doesn't just talk about it. He has lived it. He can appeal, he can connect with those voters. That's really powerful.
The Biden campaign has already indicated, according to our team of reporters at the White House that they are going to define J.D. vance as being extreme. They will argue he has extreme abortion, for example. He made comments in the wake of the Texas law, the abortion ban being passed does not include exceptions.
He downplayed the fact that it doesn't include exceptions. That outside of where Trump is, Trump is very much the one who says that exceptions are key and they should be left up to the safe. He's espoused that position. He's now closer to Trump.
But what do you make of that? Could that be a dragon? Donald Trump is the nominee of this party. It's his agenda going forward, win or lose.
And I think that's clear. Just like Kamala Harris, Newsweek identified her four years ago, is to the left of Bernie Sanders interested, being liberal on the issue. So both of these candidates, Kamala Harris and J.D. vance, are both the nominees going forward of the respective presidential nominee.
They'll adapt the policies that Biden Trump have. Governor, let's talk about, about this moment in which we find ourselves because there's a lot of excitement right now on the convention floor, understandably. And yet it comes at a somber moment, not only for your party but for this country, frankly. In the wake of the assassination attempt against former President Trump.
How do you think that will impact the proceedings here? It's really overwhelming. It's changed everything from the moment delegates started coming yesterday as we walk into Wisconsin, obvious a sense of grace and appreciation that by God's grace, and I say that not just because he's my nominee, but I was upset years ago when someone got through the North Lawn. We don't have that of any American president or former president, but I think here it's a renu of focus.
I remember as a kid when Ronald Reagan was shot and how that made me feel, how scared America was. And then I'll start he was after that. That was part of his divine plan to move the country and the world forward. I'm hopeful that we'll hear about that in the coming days of President Trump.
It's our reporting that the former president is rewriting the speech. He said that he has said that he was, he feels as though he was saved by God. I've spoken to people who have been in touch with him who say he seems more contemplative. What do you expect we'll hear from his speech now?
Governor, I think you'll talk about unity, but, but, but not just bland comments about that. But I think about what meant he shares personally what it was like with that literally near death experience. I think it probably had an impact on SVP pick in the sense that he's like, well, it's time to set up the next generation I'm not gonna be around my generation. I can be around.
We want to set a vice president who's going to be someone who can carry the torch for at least the next four years. So I think it's very common. But also, he's not going to back away from the fighter. We saw it on that stage Saturday night.
The key is for winning in Wisconsin. Elsewhere, he's got to be a fighter for everyday American, for the people feel forgotten. And that's what he won with the 16. And I think he's capable of doing it now.
Thank you so much for being here. We're going to go back to the convention floor. They're about to officially nominate Senator J.D. vance as the vice presidential nominate to Donald J.
Trump. Hey, everyone, I'm Dylan Dryer, co host of the third hour of say and mom to three wild boys. I've learned a lot my years as a parent, mostly that I don't have it all figured out yet. And I'm not the only one.
This is my new podcast, the Parent Chat. Each week I sit down with someone new for honest conversation and real world advice about parenting. I'm over here just, like, winging it. Hey, I'm trying not to prove my own kid.
I'm gonna give you advice on how to screw yourself. Search parent chat on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.