Logo

The Republican National Convention rocked a Milwaukee, Wisc. arena for its third night Wednesday.

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance officially accepted the vice presidential nomination with a dynamic speech at the Fiserv Forum, sharing anecdotes from his Appalachia childhood and vowing to work for “the working man.”

And Trump’s eldest granddaughter, Kai, 17, stole the show with words about her “very loving” grandpa.

The Post’s political reporters are all on the scene in Milwaukee, Wisc., to bring you everything you need to know from the RNC. Here’s our coverage from night two and night one.

This live blog has ended.

Catch up withThe Post’s live updates for the latest news, photos, analysis and more from the RNC:

Watch the DNC Live

Watch every night of the historic Democratic National Convention live with DIRECTV Stream by signing up for the 5-day free trial.

Republican National Convention adjourns

By Victor Nava

Night three of the Republican National Convention has come to a close.

The convention has adjourned until 5 p.m. CT Thursday,

Tomorrow is the final day of the convention and GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to address delegates and attendees.

rnc arena
The convention has adjourned until 5 p.m. CT Thursday. AP
trump and family
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump will address delegates and convention attendees tomorrow night. AP

Biden campaign calls JD Vance ‘Project 25 in human form’

By Joe Durbin

The Biden-Harris Communications Director Michael Tyler sent a brief statement immediately after Vance concluded his remarks to close out night three of the RNC.

“Tonight, J.D. Vance, the poster boy for Project 2025, took center stage. But it’s working families and the middle class who will suffer if he’s allowed to stay there,” Tyler said. “Backed by Silicon Valley and the billionaires who bought his vice presidential selection, Vance is Project 2025 in human form.”

jd vance and family
"Vance is Project 2025 in human form," the Biden-Harris campaign said in a statement after the GOP VP nominee's speech. REUTERS

This continues the Biden team’s near-constant peppering of Project 25 mentions in official communications as they hope to forge an image of Trump as a dictator-in-progress in the minds of undecided voters. 

“J.D. Vance is unprepared, unqualified, and willing to do anything Donald Trump demands,” Tyler concluded. 

Convention floor and arena erupt for Vance as he accepts VP nomination

By Amy Sikma

MILWAUKEE — The Fiserv crowd loved Vance's jab at Trump's children, Eric and Donald Jr., and every reference he made to Trump, erupting when he said he officially accepted the nomination for vice president.

VP candidate Vance and his wife, Usha.
VP candidate Vance and his wife, Usha. Getty Images
jd vance
The arena crowd erupted as Vance officially accepted the nomination for vice president. Reuters
JD Vance with his mom, Beverly.
JD Vance with family after his speech. Reuters
trump
The Fiserv crowd loved every reference Vance made to Trump. Reuters

Attendees loved everything Vance had to say about his grandmother, particularly the story about the 19 loaded handguns they found around her house after her death, and cheered on his hometown jokes.

Vance's quip that if his kids were watching they needed to go to bed seemed almost jarring considering the age of the presidential nominees and their children for the last few cycles.

The atmosphere in the arena matched Vance's confidence and excitement as he spoke about his hometown roots.

J.D. Vance was joined on the stage at the end of his speech by his wife Usha Vance and family members at the end of his acceptance speech.

JD Vance roasts Biden: 'Been a politician in Washington for as long as I’ve been alive'

By Victor Nava

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance went after President Biden’s long career in politics Wednesday in his speech at the Republican National Convention.  

“Joe Biden has been a politician in Washington for as long as I’ve been alive – 39-years-old,” Vance said.

“Kamala Harris is not much further behind,” the Ohio senator added.

“For half a century he’s been the champion of every policy initiative to make America weaker and poorer, and in four short years Donald Trump reversed decades of betrayals inflicted by Joe Biden and the rest of the corrupt Washington insiders,” Vance argued. 

Vance says family found 19 handguns in grandma's house after her death: 'That's who we fight for'

By Josh Christenson

JD Vance said his grandma had quite the gun collection when she passed.

"My Mamaw died shortly before I left for Iraq in 2005, and when we went through her things we found 19 loaded handguns," Vance began.

"They were stashed all over her house, under her bed, in her closet — in the silverware drawer, and we wondered what was going on," he said, smiling.

"And it occurred to us that towards the end of her life, Mamaw couldn't get around so well," he explained.

"And we realized that this frail old woman made sure that no matter where she was she was always within arms length of whatever she needed to protect her family," Vance said.

"That's who we fight for. That's American spirit."

Vance reveals his mom Beverly is in the audience tonight, and is 10 years sober

By Josh Christenson

JD Vance surprised attendees by revealing his mother is in the audience tonight.

beverly vance
JD Vance surprised attendees by revealing his mother is in the audience tonight. REUTERS
She was seated next to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Donald Trump and his family.
She was seated next to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Donald Trump and his family. Getty Images
mike johnson and beverly vance
The crowd erupted into chants of "JD's mom." Getty Images

"Our movement is about single moms like mine who struggled with money and addiction but never gave up," Vance said.

"And I'm proud to say that my mom is here — 10 years clean and sober — I love you, Mom," he told her.

"That's my boy," Beverly mouthed back as she sat in the VIP box with Trump and others who gave remarks earlier tonight.

The crowd erupted into chants of "JD's mom."

"And you know, mom, I was thinking it will be 10 years officially in January of 2025 — and if President Trump's OK with it: Let's have the celebration in the White House," he said, beaming.

'You should be ashamed of yourself!' Republican says to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle outside RNC floor

By asikmanyp and Amy Sikma

The Post witnessed Republicans in Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's face as she walked outside the third floor of the Fiserv arena with a gaggle of media following them.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," one man on Cheatle's right said with obvious rage as she headed toward an escalator, "to allow that to happen."

The group moved at a clipped pace across the floor as Cheatle listened with a straight face and without facing the speaker.

Cheatle has come under intense scrutiny since the botched handling of the Butler, PA, rally on Saturday have revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to hide within 130 yards to take a shot at Pres. Donald Trump.

WOW: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle confronted by Republicans at the RNC pic.twitter.com/fEL2GFhdPj

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 18, 2024

JD Vance says he went to Ohio State, jokingly apologizes to Michigan fans yelling 'go blue'

By George Caldwell

After mentioning the fact that he went to the Ohio State University, Vance said, “sorry Michigan, I had to get that in there,” a reference to the fierce football rivalry between the schools.

Michiganders swiftly replied with chants of “let’s go blue.” A cheerful Vance quipped, “come on, we’ve had enough political violence.”

jd vance
After mentioning the fact that he went to the Ohio State University, Vance said, “sorry Michigan, I had to get that in there." REUTERS

The Buckeye will be campaigning heavily in Michigan, a must-win swing state.

JD Vance says his 'Mamaw' had deep Christian faith but 'loved the F-word'

By Josh Christenson

JD Vance said his grandmother was "a woman of contradictions" who had a "deep Christian faith" — but "also loved the F-word."

"She could make a sailor blush," Vance said, prompting laughter from the crowd.

jd vance's grandmother
"She could make a sailor blush," Vance said, prompting laughter from the crowd.
JD Vance's wife, Usha, in the crowd with Donald Trump.
JD Vance's wife, Usha, in the crowd with Donald Trump. Reuters

"She once told me, when she found out that I was spending too much time with a local kid who was known for dealing drugs, that if I ever hung out with that kid again she would run him over with her car," he recounted.

"And she said, 'JD no one will ever find out about it,'" Vance said.

The crowd began chanting "Mamaw," the name the Ohio senator used as a child to refer to his grandmother.

Who is Usha Vance?

By Josh Christenson

Chilukuri "Usha" Vance received a warm welcome on the arena stage before introducing her husband.

The 38-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants was raised in San Diego, Calif., and attended Yale University before receiving a master's degree on a scholarship at Cambridge.

Usha met JD at Yale Law School where the two studied in the early 2010s.

They wed in 2014, and have three children.

READ MORE

Usha Vance introduces her husband, JD Vance, to RNC crowd 

By Victor Nava

Usha Vance, the possible future second lady of the United States, told Republican National Convention attendees Wednesday that the JD Vance she knew in law school is “the same JD you see today.” 

Usha, a graduate of Yale Law School, is a civil litigation attorney who clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, said the Republican Ohio senator loved “playing with poppies and watching the movie ‘Babe’” when they dated. 

usha vance
Usha Vance, the possible future second lady of the United States, told Republican National Convention attendees Wednesday that the JD Vance she knew in law school is “the same JD you see today.”  Getty Images
usha vance
Usha, a graduate of Yale Law School, is a civil litigation attorney. Getty Images
usha vance
“I'm grateful to all of you for the trust you placed in him and in our family,” she added, before introducing the GOP’s vice presidential nominee. Getty Images

“We were friends first because, I mean, who wouldn't want to be friends with JD?” she said. 

“He was then, as now, the most interesting person I knew – a working class guy who had overcome childhood traumas that I could barely fathom to end up at Yale Law School,” Usha explained. 

“Although he's a meat and potatoes guy, he adapted to my vegetarian diet and learned to cook Indian food for my mother,” she said. 

A daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha Vance, whose maiden name is Chilukuri, was raised in the San Diego area.

“I'm grateful to all of you for the trust you placed in him and in our family,” she added, before introducing the GOP’s vice presidential nominee.

JD Vance, 39, could be youngest vice president since Civil War

By Josh Christenson

JD Vance could be the youngest vice president since the Civil War.

If elected, the Ohio Republican would take office as a 39-year-old in January 2025.

jd vance
If elected, the Ohio Republican would take office as a 39-year-old in January 2025. REUTERS

Former President James Buchanan had a 36-year-old vice president, John Breckinridge, with him in the 1850s.

A young Richard Nixon also served as President Dwight Eisenhower's vice president when he was just 40 years old.

Vance met his wife, Usha, 38, when they were both students at Yale Law School.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy