Welcome to the special edition From the policy deskevening bulletin that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill from the NBC News Politics team.
Tonight, Henry J. Gomez and Allan Smith report from the GOP convention hall on how Donald Trump’s former opponents have become his boosters. Plus, it’s the most united GOP convention in 20 years, writes senior political analyst Chuck Todd.
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Trump’s former opponents become his defenders at the congress of the PFLP
By Henry J. Gomez and Allan Smith
MILWAUKEE — Former President Donald Trump greeted his defeated rivals at the Republican National Convention here on Tuesday, watching as they stuck to a carefully orchestrated script of one-by-one party unity.
There was Nikki Haley, who spent more than two months trying to confirm him after finishing his bid for the White House, speaking to “those who have some doubts” about Trump. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis launched a strong attack on President Joe Biden, who has become an ally of Trump.
And there was Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who urged congressmen in Cleveland eight years ago to “vote your conscience,” thanking ‘God Almighty’ for the turnaround. [Trump’s] “He hit his head while firing on Saturday.”
In 2016, a barrage of boos chased Cruz off the stage, but on Tuesday night he had nothing but cheers. DeSantis also received a standing ovation.
Only Haley, whose stand against Trump was freshest in the delegates’ memories, heard jeers. But he quickly won over the crowd.
“I’ll start by making one thing absolutely clear,” said Haley, Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations and a former governor of South Carolina. “Donald Trump has my strong support.”
Trump, who changed his schedule to be in time to see his former rival’s march speak, watched from his personal box, according to a source familiar with his plans. His newly appointed running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, sat next to him.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the No. 2 runner-up on the ticket this year after being one of Trump’s staunchest opponents and critics in 2016, also spoke Tuesday night.
He related his thoughts to Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief was killed at a Trump rally on Saturdayhailing him as a hero for shielding his wife and daughter from bullets. Rubio’s speech was one of several that referenced the shooting, even as convention planners did little to change the general themes of the week afterward.
Unity can be difficult for the country – but not here
By Chuck Todd
MILWAUKEE — Ever since Dwight Eisenhower’s nomination in 1952, there’s been a saying about Republicans and their presidential candidates: They line up more than they fall in love.
Ike, Richard Nixon, both Bushes, Bob Dole, John McCain, Mitt Romney—they all beat more passionate conservative opponents. And until 2012, there was almost an unofficial rule that the runner-up in the previous GOP presidential campaign became the primary default front-runner four or eight years later.
The only exceptions to the GOP’s six-plus decades of falling in line were Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, who each led their parties to historic landslides—one big loss and one big win.
The consistent consistency of these establishment Republicans was actually somewhat of a trait for some GOP supporters, particularly those in the business community or the Chamber of Commerce wing of the Republican Party. Predictability was perceived as stabilizing, especially in economic and foreign policy.
But what the party sometimes lacked was passion and an ability to connect with everyday Americans. Goldwater and Reagan gave a passion that many other GOP leaders lacked.
What’s striking about the atmosphere in Milwaukee is how cheerful it is despite what happened Saturday. I didn’t know what to expect at this convention in the first 24 hours after the assassination attempt on Trump, but I didn’t expect his supporters to take action as quickly as the weight of that missed moment suggests. there is – at least that’s how it feels on the ground in Milwaukee.
It’s a very festive atmosphere. These representatives are not angry or anxious or ready to throw up. It’s the opposite: They are confident, excited and ready to win, and they win big. Perhaps for some, confidence comes from their faith. Many believe there was divine intervention on Saturday, which only strengthened their belief that Trump would be president again.
Trying to fully understand their psyche is something I leave to others, but the reality is this: This is the most unified Republican convention I’ve been to since George W. Bush’s second 9/11 convention in New York. 2004. As House and Senate Republicans had no problem working with Bush, this alliance continued into the post-convention campaign. The result: The GOP won the Senate and held the White House and the House, giving them a trio that ran Washington.
🗞️ Other top stories tonight
- ⭕ Confidence Circle: Biden intends to put aside the divisiveness among Democrats to move forward and focus on defeating Trump. After hearing out his critics, he narrows his circle to those he has trusted the longest and who support his way forward. More →
- ⚖️ SCOTUS reform: Biden is set to back significant proposals to reform the Supreme Court. Proposals under serious consideration include legislation to establish term limits for justices and create an updated code of ethics that is binding and enforceable. More →
- 💰 Money tracking: Democratic candidates in key House and Senate races are raising campaign cash as the party grapples with an increasingly well-funded GOP and questions about Biden’s strength at the top of the ticket. More →
- ❓In the dark: Three days after a gunman opened fire on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, injuring his ear, Trump and his campaign have not released an update on his condition. More →
- 🐘 The never-ending fight: Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida tried to mock former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on the floor of Congress, telling him he would be “disgusted off the stage” if he spoke. More →
- 👋 Meet Usha Vance: NBC News’ Sakshi Venkatraman profiles attorney Usha Vance, wife of JD Vance, daughter of immigrants and former clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts. More →
That’s all for the Policy Desk for now. If you have feedback – like it or not – send us an email politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
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