This July, the Republican National Convention took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While no Newman students were able to attend for a personal recap, the convention generated plenty of publicity on its own. Here’s a look back at the first RNC ever to nominate the same candidate three times:

Trump Announced his VP Pick

Donald J. Trump announced JD Vance, a former Ohio Representative, as his running mate. Vance was once an acerbic critic of Trump, calling him “noxious”. Like many other high power Republicans, including Nikki Haley, he took this opportunity to fully embrace Donald Trump as leader of the Republican party. Vance, who draws heavily on his working class Appalachian roots as part of his political branding, would be the first-ever millennial on a presidential ticket. 

The Party Solidified their Brand

Occurring just days after the assassination attempt on President Trump, the convention opened with calls for unity in the face of political violence. As the event continued, the messaging shifted. Religious language was a prominent theme, with Donald Trump stating that he is protected by an “almighty God”, and other speeches attributing his survival to “divine intervention”. The Trump family, including Trump’s granddaughter, Kai, used their time on stage to paint him as a family man. Finally, Trump closed out the final night with the assertion that “I am the one saving democracy.”

Pets Made a Prominent Appearance

While West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s speech would have otherwise been unnoteworthy, his bulldog Babydog garnered attention. Babydog sat onstage in an armchair for the entire duration of the speech, as Donald Trump seems to be encouraging a line of messaging that emphasizes pet safety.