President Trump on 'tremendous hate' at DNC, Republican National Convention plans, COVID response
Part 3 of President Trump's exclusive interview with Sean Hannity.
The 2020 Republican National Convention starts its celebratory programming Monday as Republicans officially renominate President Trump and will get four nights to provide a counterpunch to Democrats' convention from the previous week, rally their base and try to get swing voters to side with them in November.
The party conventions, held every four years, have had their plans blown up by the coronavirus pandemic and have had to adjust how they'll take care of business. The GOP convention will still have a footprint in Charlotte, N.C., where a large celebration was initially planned -- six delegates from each state are set to travel to the city to take care of the party's official business. But due to the coronavirus and restrictions put in place by the state, it won't be the normal descent of tens of thousands of supporters and activists that injects millions of dollars into the local economy.
Here's what you need to know about the 2020 Republican National Convention as it's being held in the age of the coronavirus.
RNC INVITES MAJORITY OF HOUSE, SENATE REPUBLICANS TO TRUMP CONVENTION SPEECH
Where the action will take place
The official party business, including the official nominating of Trump to represent the party on the presidential ballot, is happening in Charlotte. Just six delegates from each state will attend, including two from each state on the all-important Committee on Credentials, which officially seats the party's delegates.
There are also various training sessions and meetings for party leaders, and a possible visit from Trump, who will be in North Carolina on other business Monday.
A top Trump campaign official told Fox News that "we're having calls about that today" when asked on Friday about a potential Trump appearance in Charlotte on Monday.
The business in Charlotte is happening at the Charlotte Convention Center. Attendees were provided with self-swab coronavirus tests before going to the convention and were tested again with a nasal swab test upon arrival. Masks are mandatory, and social-distancing protocols, including chairs being placed 6 feet apart from each other, are being observed. In addition, the RNC gave each convention attendee badges to assist with contact tracing.
The agenda for the Charlotte convention, obtained by Fox News, indicates a strict stance on potential coronavirus spread.
TRUMP TO DELIVER CONVENTION ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FROM WHITE HOUSE
"Please note that seating will be limited at all sessions due to COVID-19 restrictions. Once a session's seats have been filled no further entry is permitted. Additional chairs will not be added to a session," it reads. "Please also note that there will be health screening required for entry throughout the duration of the program."
The main programming of the convention -- which election-wise is perhaps the most important element as it's to fire up the base and attract swing voters -- will be centered on the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., according to the Trump campaign.
There will also be speakers beamed in from Fort McHenry and locations around the U.S., as well as Trump's acceptance address from the White House.
When it's taking place
The broadcast of the convention, according to Axios, will be from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the more high-profile speakers appearing later in the broadcast and a "nightly surprise" at 10 p.m. from Monday through Thursday.
As for the business in Charlotte, delegates began arriving on Thursday and business started Friday with the meeting of the RNC Standing Committee on Contests. There was also a reception to honor outgoing RNC members Friday evening.
Saturday, the RNC Standing Budget Committee held a meeting at 9 a.m. and the RNC Executive Budget Committee Meeting happened at 9:30 a.m. The RNC Standing Committee of Rules, RNC Standing Committee on Resolutions and state party chairs will also met Saturday. The RNC General Session happened 1 p.m. Saturday, and there was a reception for incoming RNC members at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, there were two training sessions, and the Committee on Credentials met at 1:30 p.m. to resolve any disputes on the seating of delegates. There was also a reception to honor the Committee on Arrangements members who helped organize the convention.
On Monday, the official meeting at which the party will nominate Trump to be its presidential candidate will begin at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 1 p.m.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN PREDICTS 'CHAOS' AT NEXT WEEK'S GOP CONVENTION
What's the theme?
As Democrats did at their convention, Republicans will have a theme for each night, as well as an overall theme for the week. The overall theme will be "Honoring the Great American Story."
Monday - "Land of Promise"
Tuesday - "Land of Opportunity"
Wednesday - "Land of Heroes"
Thursday - "Land of Greatness"
Who are the speakers?
The Trump campaign announced an extensive list of speakers on Sunday, running the gamut from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and evangelist Franklin Graham on Thursday to Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who flashed guns on protesters that were allegedly trespassing on their property.
Monday: Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.; Gaetz; Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley; GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel; Democratic Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones; Amy Johnson Ford; Kimberly Guilfoyle; Natalie Harp; Charlie Kirk; Maryland congressional candidate Kim Klacik; the McCloskeys; Sean Parnell; Andrew Pollack, Donald Trump, Jr.; Tanya Weinreis
Tuesday: First Lady Melania Trump; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds; Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez; Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi; Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; Abby Johnson, Jason Joyce; Myron Lizer; Mary Ann Mendoza; Megan Pauley; Cris Peterson; John Peterson; Nicholas Sandmann; Eric Trump; Tiffany Trump
Wednesday: Vice President Mike Pence; Second Lady Karen Pence; Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem; Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas; Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.; Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y.; Former Acting Director of Nationa Intelligence Richard Grenell; Kellyanne Conway; Keith Kellogg; Jack Brewer; Sister Dede Byrne; Madison Cawthorn; Scott Dane; Clarence Henderson; Ryan Holets; Michael McHale; Burgess Owens; Lara Trump
Thursday: HUD Secretary Ben Carson; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif; Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J.; Ivanka Trump; Ja'Ron Smith; Ann Dorn; Debbie Flood; Giuliani; Graham; Alice Johnson; Wade Mayfield; Carl and Marsha Mueller; Dana White
There are also likely to be speakers who are not currently on the list. Trump himself will speak each night of the convention.
Cotton's campaign also confirmed to Fox News that the topic of his speech will be China, Biden and foreign policy.
When is the nomination acceptance speech?
President Trump will be speaking Thursday night from the White House in front of an audience. The RNC, Fox News learned this week, invited the majority of House and Senate Republicans to attend the event.
The RNC also applied this week for a permit for fireworks over the Washington Monument for next Thursday — a display that will likely line up with the end of Trump’s speech.
What's happening with the party platform?
Unlike Democrats, Republicans are leaving their platform untouched from 2016.
At the convention in Charlotte, Republican delegates adopted a resolution officially declaring that the 2016 platform would not be amended and a new one would be adopted which also slammed the news media and declaring their support for Trump.
GOP Conveiton 2020 Platform... by Fox News on Scribd
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"The RNC has unanimously voted to forego the Convention Committee on Platform, in appreciation of the fact that it did not want a small contingent of delegates formulating a new platform without the breadth of perspectives within the ever-growing Republican movement," the resolution said. "The media has outrageously misrepresented the implications of the RNC not adopting a new platform in 2020 and continues to engage in misleading advocacy for the failed policies of the Obama-Biden Administration, rather than providing the public with unbiased reporting of facts."
It added: "RESOLVED, That the Republican Party has and will continue to enthusiastically support the President’s America-first agenda... That the 2020 Republican National Convention calls on the media to engage in accurate and unbiased reporting, especially as it relates to the strong support of the RNC for President Trump and his Administration."
The party’s current platform – which was adopted at the convention in Cleveland, Ohio, four years ago – contains outdated references such as condemnations of the “current” president, who at the time was President Barack Obama. The platform also includes language opposing same-sex marriage and is supportive of gay conversion therapy. On the other hand, it does not include references to newer issues like the movement to defund police supported by many on the left and vehemently opposed by most Republicans.
Fox News' Kristin Fisher, Remy Numa, John Roberts, Paul Steinhauser and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
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