The Democratic National Convention heads into its second day on Tuesday.
Former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden who served eight years as Obama’s vice president. Biden won’t be in the hall to see his former running mate speak, as he departed Chicago after delivering his own speech.
With Biden having addressed delegates, the week’s full focus now turns to Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Here is the latest:
DNC Day 2 Gaveled Out
The second day of the Democratic National Convention is complete and has been gaveled out.
The convention will resume at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Obama Talks About Unity at DNC
Former President Barack Obama made a plea for national unity during his speech, saying “the ties that bind us together are still there.”
“We still coach little league and look out for our elderly neighbors,” Obama said. “We still feed the hungry in churches, and mosques, and synagogues, and temples. We share the same pride when our Olympic athletes compete for the gold.
“Because the vast majority of us do not want to live in a country that’s bitter and divided. We want something better. We want to be better.”
Obama: ‘America Is Ready for a New Chapter’
Former President Barack Obama says Vice President Kamala Harris is ready to be president.
“America is ready for a new chapter,” he said during his keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. “America’s ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”
“And Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a chance.
“Kamala was not born in privilege: She had to work for what she’s got, and she actually cares about what other people are going through.
“Yes she can,” Obama said, a callback to a similar slogan used by his 2008 presidential campaign.
Obama: Presidential Race Will Be Close
Former President Barack Obama said that in spite of the enthusiasm generated for Democrat nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, he thinks the presidential race in November will be close.
“It will be a fight … for all the incredible energy we’ve been able to generate over the last few weeks, for all the rallies and the memes, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country,” he said.
The former president touted what he described as the strengths of Harris’s character and the pros of the Democrat platform, such as Medicare for all, lowered health costs, and expanded abortion access.
“Our job over the next 11 weeks is to convince as many people as possible to vote for that vision,” Obama said.
Obama Praises Biden’s Legacy
Former President Barack Obama praised President Joe Biden’s legacy during his speech at the Democratic National Convention, and lauded Biden’s decision to leave the race.
Obama took the stage Tuesday night to roaring applause.
“It’s been 16 years since I had the honor of accepting this party’s nomination for president, and I know that’s hard to believe, because I haven’t aged a bit,” Obama, 63, joked.
“One of my first decisions as your nominee turned out to be one of my best,” Obama said. “That was asking Joe Biden to serve by my side as vice president.
“History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger,” Obama said, praising Biden for “putting his ambition aside for the sake of the country.”
Michelle Obama: Kamala Harris Is ‘More Than Ready’
Former First Lady Michelle Obama said that Vice President Kamala Harris is “more than ready” to be president.
“Kamala went out and she worked hard in school, graduating from an HBCU, earning her law degree at a state school,” Obama said in a speech at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night.
“And then she went on to work for the people, fighting to hold lawbreakers accountable, strengthening the rule of law, fighting [for] … better wages, cheaper prescription drugs, a good education, decent health care, child care, elder care for middle class households all the way up to become vice president of the United States of America.
“My girl is more than ready for this moment,” Obama said.
Michelle Obama Says ‘Hope Is Making a Comeback’
During her speech at the Democratic National Convention, former First Lady Michelle Obama said, “something magical is in the air.”
“You know, we’re feeling it here in this arena, but it’s spreading all across this country. We love a familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep or far too long.”
Obama called it the “contagious power of hope” for the anticipation, energy, and exhilaration for being on the cusp of a brighter day.
“Hope is making a comeback,” she said to a packed crowd on day two of the convention.
“To be honest, I am realizing that until recently, I have mourned the dimming of that hope, and maybe you’ve experienced the same feelings in that deep pit in my stomach, a palpable sense of dread about the future,” she said, adding that it was her first time back in Chicago since her mother’s death.
“I wasn’t even sure if I’d be steady enough to stand before you tonight, but my heart compelled me to be here because of the sense of duty that I feel to honor her memory, and to remind us all not to squander the sacrifices our elders made to give us a better future.”
Emhoff Says Harris Will ‘Lead With Joy and Toughness’
Addressing the crowd, second gentleman Doug Emhoff mixed his personal story and detailing his background with praise for his wife.
“She’s showing you what you already know, she is ready to lead,” Emhoff said, telling the crowd that Harris will bring joy and also a steady hand to the White House.
Emhoff described being McDonald’s employee of the month and said he’s still best friends with the people he grew up with and that their group chat “is probably blowing up right now.”
Emhoff told the crowd that Thursday marked his and Harris’s 10th wedding anniversary.
He joked that that meant he’d have to hear the embarrassing voicemail again—which he left Harris asking her out on their first date—but also said he’d hear her give a speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination.
“With your help, she’ll lead with joy and toughness. With that laugh and that look,” he said.
Republican Mayor John Giles: ‘I Feel More at Home Here’
Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles, who described himself as “a lifelong Republican,” told the Democratic National Convention, “I feel more at home here than in today’s Republican Party.
“The Grand Old Party has been kidnapped by extremists and devolved into a cult,” Giles said.
In recent years, Giles has on several occasions broken from the populist wing of the Republican Party, represented by former President Donald Trump and his political allies.
In 2022, he endorsed Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) over Republican candidate Blake Masters, earning a censure from the state’s Republican Party.
More recently, he quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
Giles described the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as “my hero.”
“John McCain’s Republican Party is gone, and we don’t owe a damn thing to what’s been left behind,” he said in what he described as “an urgent message to Americans in the political middle.”
Sen. Schumer Expects Democrat Gains in Congress This November
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is confident that the Democrats will gain seats in Congress this November election, reinforcing a Harris–Walz victory.
“I am telling all of you now we’re going to hold the Senate again, and we’re going to pick up seats,” Schumer said
Schumer said he correctly predicted Democrat wins in the 2022 midterms, and that a similar victory this year would result in economic and job gains, increased abortion access, and other Democrat platform wins, especially if Harris clinches the presidency in November.
“But she can’t do it alone. She needs a Democratic majority in the Senate,” he said.
Harris Rally Interrupted by Medical Emergency
As Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped her speech in Milwaukee, she stopped to address a medical emergency in the crowd.
She called for a medic and asked the attendees to clear a path. It wasn’t clear what happened to the audience member.
“Okay, we’re going to be okay,” she said after medics reached the person affected.
“This is who we are, right, this is what we’re about, looking out for each other,” Harris said.
“You know, it’s about truly understanding what love thy neighbor means. It’s about, in the face of a perfect stranger, seeing a neighbor, [and] understanding what that love of each other means,” she added.
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, had to stop multiple rallies recently due to medical emergencies in the crowd. A similar incident occurred at a Trump rally earlier this year.
Police Declare Protest Outside DNC Unlawful
Police have officially declared ongoing protests outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as unlawful.
Earlier Tuesday evening, violent clashes between dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters and an army of police officers resulted in the arrest of at least three individuals.
Harris, Walz Nominated in Ceremonial Roll Call
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have overcome the final ceremonial hurdle to formalize the Democratic ticket.
The 4,695 voting delegates included few defections.
Thirty-five delegates—including delegates from Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Walz’s home state of Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington—voted present. One delegate from Iowa was absent.
Former President Donald Trump received unanimous delegate support during the Republican National Convention in July.
Protestors Clash With Police Outside Convention
Pro-Palestinian protestors are clashing with police officers outside of the United Center, where the Democratic National Convention is being held.
The clash began after a crowd of protesters pushed their way through a thin line of reporters to a police line. The crowd was quickly pushed back at that point, and the Chicago Police Department established a security perimeter.
Ceremonial Roll Call Vote for Nomination Begins
A ceremonial roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention for Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination has begun.
Harris was formally nominated earlier this month in a virtual roll call vote.
Though the roll call was designed to proceed in alphabetical order by state name, voting was instead opened by Delaware. Alabama delegates ceded the first vote to Delaware in recognition of President Joe Biden’s home state.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) spoke for the Delaware delegation.
“On behalf of the great state of the great State of Delaware, home of the beloved 46th president of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr, it is our honor to unanimously cast our 34 votes for the next president of the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris,” Coons said.
The roll call then turned to Alabama, with states casting their ballots alphabetically.
Former Trump Press Secretary Backs Harris in Short DNC Speech
Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who served in Trump’s White House between 2019 and 2020, gave her backing to Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I wasn’t just a Trump supporter,” Grisham said. “I was a true believer.”
She cited her turning point as the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. She was serving as press secretary for former First Lady Melania Trump at the time and resigned the same day.
Notably, Grisham didn’t host a single White House press briefing during her roughly yearlong tenure, instead opting to work behind the scenes.
Addressing the Democratic National Convention, Grisham said she “never wanted to stand at that podium and lie.”
“Now, here I am behind a podium advocating for a Democrat, and that’s because I love my country more than my party,” Grisham said. “Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people, and she has my vote.”
JFK’s Grandson Compares Harris to His Grandfather
President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, backed Vice President Kamala Harris during an early speech on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.
Notably, the endorsement was made in a race in which Schlossberg’s great uncle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is also competing. About a dozen Kennedys publicly spoke out against Kennedy’s run for president and backed President Joe Biden several months ago.
Schlossberg said his grandfather “inspired a new generation to ask what they could do for our country.”
“Tonight, JFK, his call to action, is now ours to answer, because once again, the torch has been passed to a new generation, to a leader who shares my grandfather’s energy, vision, and optimism for our future,” Schlossberg said. “That leader is Vice President Kamala Harris.”
DNC Day 2 Speaker Line-Up Released
The Democratic National Committee has released the finalized speaker list for the second night of its convention in Chicago, under the theme “A Bold Vision for America’s Future.”
Vice President Kamala Harris will not be present at the convention, instead hosting a rally in Milwaukee around 9:00 p.m. ET.
All times listed below are in Eastern.
The night will begin with opening remarks by Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison at 6:30 p.m., followed by a series of speeches by Democrat notables.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)—who are often seen as ideological opposites in the Senate—will both speak in support of Vice President Kamala Harris around 9 p.m.
The night will also feature a speech from Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff at around 10:45 p.m.
He’ll be followed by former First Lady Michelle Obama, who will speak before her husband takes the stage.
The keynote speaker will be former President Barack Obama, who’s scheduled to wrap up the speeches starting around 11 p.m.
Some of the biggest names set to take the stage, however, aren’t Democrats at all.
They include Stephanie Grisham, who served as press secretary both for President Donald Trump and later for First Lady Melania Trump.
Grisham resigned from the latter post on Jan. 6, 2021, in response to the U.S. Capitol breach, one of many Republicans who distanced themselves from the former president that day.
Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles, also a Republican, will speak around 10:15 p.m.
The mayor is a registered Republican and has openly feuded with the populist wing of his party.
In 2022, he endorsed Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) over Republican Blake Masters, a move for which the Arizona Republican Party censured him.
Giles has also endorsed Harris over Trump.
Other notable speakers include:
Jason Carter, grandson of President Jimmy Carter, at around 6:45 p.m.
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, after Carter
Kyle Sweetser, former Trump voter, at 7 p.m.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), at around 7:45 p.m.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, at around 9:45 p.m.
Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland U.S. Senate Democratic nominee, at around 10 p.m.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, at around 10 p.m.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), at around 10:45 p.m.
Trump Pledges Stronger Support for Law Enforcement
Former President Donald Trump shared his vision for a “crime-free America” before an audience with a heavy police presence in Howell, Michigan, on Aug. 20.
After acknowledging numerous police officials, Trump said officers are “under assault and they have a lot of difficulty with the laws of our land.
“They have to be given back their rights and their dignity; they have to be able to do their job,” he said.
The Republican presidential nominee suggested that he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), will be more strongly supportive of law enforcement than the Democratic presidential ticket.
Trump pledged to “re-fund the police,” eliminate “sanctuary cities” that shield illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities, and deport “all criminal aliens” from America.
He also pledged to protect police from unfair prosecutions that target officers while allowing criminals to go unpunished.
At Michigan Event, Trump Enters to Light Applause and Whistles as He Took the Podium
“Nice people by the way,” he said in greeting.
About 100 people including uniformed and non uniformed officers gathered inside an equipment hanger at the sheriff’s office, according to his campaign.
Trump spoke against a backdrop of sheriff’s vehicles, police shields, red and blue lights and signs that read “Michigan is Trump Country.”
Trump quipped that he has the back of the “blue” as well as those in brown, a reference to the sheriff’s department law enforcement officers who stood behind him in brown uniforms as he began his remarks.
RFK Jr. Shows Up Too Late to Testify Against Democrats’ Ballot Challenge in Pennsylvania
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed up too late to testify Tuesday in a court case in Pennsylvania where Democratic activists are trying to bar him from the ballot for president in the premier battleground state, prompting testy exchanges between the judge and Kennedy’s lawyer.
Lawyers for the two Democratic activists who filed the challenge say Kennedy’s candidacy paperwork states a fake home address—an allegation being aired in other state courts—and falls short of the signature-gathering requirement applied by state law to third-party candidates.
Kennedy showed up an hour and 40 minutes late, blaming a canceled flight from Massachusetts to Harrisburg, and never testified after Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas chose to proceed without him as a witness.
“This is the first that I’m hearing about this,” Dumas said when told about Kennedy’s absence. Shortly after Kennedy arrived, the judge adjourned the hearing and did not say when she’ll rule.
Israel Supporters Gather in Downtown Chicago
Israel supporters, including some relatives of people kidnapped by Hamas, gathered at a pro-Israel art installation Tuesday morning in downtown Chicago to call on U.S. leaders to continue backing Israel and pushing for the release of hostages.
The art installation included giant milk cartons bearing photos of some of the hostages.
“We are here to sound a voice,” Michael Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the United States, told the small crowd. “We are here to keep the issue of the hostages high on the agenda.”
He noted that 319 days have passed since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists. “We need to call on Hamas to let our people go,” he said, prompting the crowd to chant “let them go.”
Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council, condemned the pro-Palestinian protesters who have descended on Chicago this week, and demanded that U.S. leaders “stand unequivocally with the state of Israel.”
Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Yinam Cohen said he was disappointed by the “institutional support of the city of Chicago for the anti-Israel protests.”
In Michigan, Republican Senate Candidate Speaks to Law Enforcement Before Trump’s Arrival
Mike Rogers, who cinched the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate earlier this month, spoke to law enforcement for about an hour and a half ahead of Trump’s scheduled arrival.
“We will have your back,” he said to applause from the crowd of about 50 while standing in front of banners that read “Make America Safe Again.”
The Michigan U.S. Senate race is one of several that could determine the control of the chamber in the fall.
Trump will speak Tuesday afternoon at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office on law enforcement and crime.
Multiple Michigan sheriffs criticized the Biden and Harris administration over border policy, speaking about the effects drug trade and fentanyl in their communities. Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott listed a series of recent crimes in remarks he said were committed by people in the country illegally, suggesting the crimes could have been prevented if the perpetrators were stopped from entering the country.
Secret Service Looking Into Bomb Threats in Downtown Chicago
The U.S. Secret Service was checking into bomb threats made Tuesday at “various locations” in downtown Chicago where the Democratic National Convention is taking place.
Law enforcement was screening the affected areas and examining the credibility of the threat, according to a message from the joint information center established for the convention.
A reporter for Fox 32 in Chicago said in a post on X that their station received an email making a pipe bomb threat at four hotels in downtown Chicago.
Vance Talks Crime at Campaign Event in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance took the stage about 10 minutes early at a rally outside the county courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday.
Kenosha was the site of several days of protests against police that turned violent in 2020. Illinois teen Kyle Rittenhouse shot three protesters during one of the demonstrations, killing two of them. A jury later acquitted Rittenhouse of homicide and endangerment charges after he argued he fired in self-defense.
Vance said that feeling safe is an American birthright and promised that he and Trump would end sanctuary cities for people in the country illegally, deport those who are violent and push for the death penalty for drug dealers.
He also called for tougher prosecutors and pledged to end frivolous lawsuits against police.
“All this stuff is common sense,” he said.
At Trump’s Campaign Event
Asked about a comment Trump has made several times through the years at political events about using the U.S. military to help control urban crime, Rep. Byron Donalds said that “saying something at a rally is not public policy. It’s not.”
“If you go to his website, you’re not going to find that written in stone on the website under what he’s going to do the help solve crime issues,” Donalds added.
According to campaign policy positions listed on his website, Trump “has committed to deploying federal assets, including the National Guard, to restore law and order when local law enforcement refuses to act.”
Walz: ‘We’re Not Going to Make That Mistake Again’
Walz says he listened to Hillary Clinton address the party’s convention Monday night and couldn’t help but imagine “how different things could have been in 2016, if we’d gotten the work done.”
“We’re not going to make that mistake again,” Walz said at a meeting of the convention’s Women’s Caucus.
Chicago Police Superintendent: ‘We’re Up to the Challenge’ as More Protests Expected
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said there was a “brief breach” of security fencing “within sight and sound of the United Center” on Monday evening.
He said 13 people were arrested on charges ranging from criminal trespass and resisting and obstructing an arrest to aggravated battery of police officers.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday morning, Snelling praised officers’ actions, saying they didn’t overreact. “Our officers showed great restraint,” he said.
He said an estimated 3,500 protesters participated in the march and rally, and just a small group breached the security fence.
“I’m not going to tie that event—what happened with the breach—with the entirety of the protest,” he said, saying the vast majority of protesters were peaceful.
Snelling said more protests are expected as the week goes on, and his department is prepared to de-escalate situations whenever possible.
“Again, we’re up to the challenge,” he said. “The city is up to the challenge.”
New Security Measures in Chicago a Day After Activists Clashed With Police
A Chicago park, which had erupted into chaos during the first day of the Democratic National Convention as several dozen activists clashed with police, was calm Tuesday morning but now fortified with new security to prevent further breaches.
During a march of several thousand calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, the group paused at a park a block from the convention center. Several dozen activists then broke away from the larger group, breaching police fencing before being pushed back by officers, leading to multiple arrests.
On Tuesday morning, an extra line of fencing was installed at the park and the tall metal barriers were reinforced to prevent protesters from lifting and removing the panels in the future. No police officers or protesters were present at the park early Tuesday.
Closer to downtown Chicago, security was tighter than usual—including law enforcement officers with weapons slung across their bodies—outside the office building that houses the Israeli consulate and a major city transportation hub. Metal barricades were set up and an officer said they were preparing for a 7 p.m. demonstration.
Most of the largest demonstrations have been organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, which has focused on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. But smaller protests have popped up around the city, including disruptions at the convention’s welcome party at Navy Pier.
Harris Campaign Blames Convention Process for Party Platform That Wasn’t Updated
The Harris campaign is blaming a long-established process at the convention for a party platform that was approved without being updated to reflect that the vice president replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Convention delegates on Monday approved a sweeping set of Democratic policy goals for the next four years that repeatedly referred to Biden seeking reelection. Party officials spent more than a year compiling the platform delegates were to consider, but they also approved it days before Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.
No effort was then made to change it before it was approved on the convention floor.
“Obviously, the platform was voted on before the switch here, and so it’s part of the process as it played out,” Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler told reporters at a Tuesday morning briefing at the convention.
Trump Campaign Starts Day 2 of Its Counterprogramming
Rep. Byron Donalds is warning against the negative effect he says Harris and Walz would have on American policing if elected to the White House.
The Florida Republican said Tuesday at a Trump campaign media availability that Harris and Walz don’t support law enforcement ranks strongly enough. Donalds said Harris, a former prosecutor, “incentivized states to move toward cashless bail,” a policy he said “creates a turnstile for criminals to be arrested and go right back out on the streets.”
Donalds is among the Trump surrogates offering Republican counterprogramming in Chicago as Democrats gather for the DNC.
Donalds also said Walz had a delayed response to the Minneapolis violence after the killing of George Floyd, noting that the areas affected by violence “mostly are inhabited by black people and Hispanic people—that’s what was burning.”
DNC Organizers Plan to Start Earlier on 2nd Day
Organizers are planning an earlier start to day two of the Democratic National Convention in hopes avoiding scheduling that ran hours late and into the wee hours of the night on day one.
DNC director Alex Hornbrook said Tuesday morning that “we made some real-time adjustments last night” and “we’re working with our speakers and making some other adjustments this evening” including starting at 5.30 p.m. local time in Chicago “to make sure that we stay on track.”
During a briefing with reporters, Hornbrook ducked a question about speakers who were canceled on night one as the program ran long—including a performance by acclaimed singer-songwriter James Taylor—would be rescheduled. He said only, “Our program team is working very hard right now to ensure that we can be on schedule” without providing further details.
President Joe Biden gave Monday’s night key address, but didn’t take the stage until around 11:30 p.m. on the East Coast, and the program didn’t wrap up until well after midnight for a large chunk of the audience watching around the country.
What to Watch on Second Day
The Obamas Will Speak Tuesday Night
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are returning to the city they once called home to take the stage in support of Harris’s nomination.
According to the Harris campaign, Michelle Obama is expected to argue how Harris’s experiences and values make her qualified to serve as president. Her husband, Harris campaign officials said, will focus on what Democrats need to do in order to defeat former President Donald Trump in the general election.
In addition to the Obamas, Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, is also scheduled to give his speech on Tuesday night. Emhoff, the nation’s first second gentleman, would also be the first man to be first gentleman if Harris is elected president.
Also on the schedule is Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential future presidential hopeful whose name for a time was mentioned as a possible running mate for Harris.
‘A Bold Vision for America’s Future’
According to convention organizers, the theme for Tuesday’s events is “A bold vision for America’s future,” a defined pivot toward a new generation for Democrats and their leadership. After a Monday night that flicked at Harris’ possibility but also lauded the legacy of Biden and his decades of accomplishment, convention organizers now appear ready to shift toward the next stage of their journey.
In laying out their plans for the week, convention organizers described Tuesday night as a way to contrast what they characterized as Harris’ forward-looking strategy with Trump’s less positive outlook on America’s future.
As they did on Monday, Democrats also plan to showcase “everyday Americans” and some performers during each night, in addition to the elected officials and party leaders.
More Protests Planned Near DNC
More protests are planned near the site of the DNC, where on Monday, a few dozen who broke away from a larger group voicing their opposition to the war in Gaza tore down pieces of the security fence up in several areas near convention venues. Some protesters, dressed in black with their faces covered, dragged pieces of the fence back to a park near the United Center, where the convention is being held.
Several protesters who managed to get through the fence were detained and handcuffed by the police.
Thousands of activists have been expected to converge on Chicago, hoping to call attention to abortion rights, economic injustice and the war in Gaza. Demonstrations are expected every day of the convention and, while their agendas vary, many activists agree an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is the priority.
Trump’s Counterprogramming Continues
As he did on Monday, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), are continuing on their separate trips across battleground states to keep Democrats from having the political spotlight all to themselves.
Trump heads to Howell, Michigan, for a crime and safety event, while Vance hosts something similar in Kenosha, Wisconsin. As they did Monday, Trump’s campaign and surrogates—including Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida—plan a media briefing on the sidelines of the DNC in Chicago, with the daily theme of “Make America Safe Again.”
Jacob Burg, Joseph Lord, Janice Hisle, Stacy Robinson, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.