The RNC convention kicks off tonight with speeches from Charlie Kirk - a teacher - a coffee shop owner from Montana - and now Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. #RNCConvention2020
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: “if you watched the DNC last week you probably noticed the Democrats spent a lot of time saying how much they hate our president,” says there was not enough focus on policy.
This roll call is so fast I want to see more of their backgrounds and hear more from them!! #RNCConvention2020
The RNC is going through Trump’s 2016 RNC speech - talking about “promises kept.” I did a segment on this same topic last night:
Next up: an RN speaking about COVID-19. She worked as a relief nurse in NY and Texas during the pandemic. She says she’s seen an improvement in our health system (ie telehealth).
She says Trump’s quick actions saved thousands of lives. (The US leads the world in the number of both COVID deaths and COVID cases)
Trump is speaking with frontline workers (without masks). A trucker, USPS employees and a custodian among others.
Woman: “I’m a custodian.”
Trump: “what do you do exactly?”
Woman: “I’m a custodian.”
Trump: “what do you do exactly?”
Former NFL player Herschel Walker talks about how Trump came last minute to Disneyland with him and his family (and Trump’s family). He says Trump is a great dad.
Walker disputes the allegations that Trump is a racist, saying he’s been friends with him for years and years and wouldn’t be if that was the case.
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Georgia Democratic State Rep. Vernon Jones talks through why he believes Trump should be re-elected. Talks about how was threatened and called an embarrassment when he endorsed Trump. #RNCConvention2020
Andrew Pollack, father of Meadow, who was killed in the Parkland shooting, is speaking now. These gun violence families have been through so much. “She has her whole life ahead of her ... I didn’t get to drop her off at college or walk her down the aisle.”
Pollack says he met with Trump soon after his daughter was killed. Says Trump is a “great listener” and “cuts through the BS.”
Interesting turn from a man who lost his daughter to gun violence to a couple who was charged with “unlawful use of a weapon” after waving guns at BLM protesters.
The McCloskeys say “these radicals are not content with walking in the streets, they want to take over, they want power.” Talks about suburbs being threatened: “your family will not be safe in the radical democrats’ America.” #DNC2020
MSNBC is breaking in and out of the RNC to fact check and give context, which is responsible journalism. #DNC2020
Rep. Steve Scalise: “who better to lead us out of this tough times than President Trump?”
Parnell, a combat veteran running for Congress, says “President Trump has unleashed the economic might of our nation like no other president in history.”
“With four more years, imagine what we can achieve.”
#RNCConvention2020
“With four more years, imagine what we can achieve.”
#RNCConvention2020
(Sorry just realized I put the DNC hashtag on the fact check tweet and not the RNC one)
Trump appears with released hostages in another round table. They all tout the President’s success and thank him for getting them back home. #RNCConvention2020
This.
A Florida business man, whose family fled Cuba, compares the democrats’ plans to Castro. Says the country he was born in is gone, “totally destroyed.” Says he hears echoes from his past in the Democrats’ platforms. #RNC2020
The businessman, Maximo Alvarez, full of emotion, says Trump is fighting the powers of anarchy and communism. “I choose President trump because I choose America. I choose freedom.” #RNCConvention2020
This fact checking of the RNC is beyond important. Thank you @maddow, @NicolleDWallace, @JoyAnnReid and everyone behind the scenes helping with that. #RNCConvention2020
Fmr. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley with a live speech tonight. “This President has a record of strength and success.” Says Biden is good for Iran, ISIS and China. #RNCConvention2020
If you’d like to follow along with a live fact check, @janestreet has you covered. #RNCConvention2020 nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
Donald Trump Junior continues to tout the recurring talking point that the Trump administration has had the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years. It is actually the highest it’s been since the Great Depression.
Donald Trump Junior: “Joe Biden is practically the Loch Ness Monster of the swamp.” #RNCConvention2020
Donald Trump Junior says, “we must put an end to racism” and “what happened to George Floyd is a disgrace” but we can’t “lose sight of the fact that our police officers are American heroes ... defunding the police is not an option.” #RNCConvention2020
Indeed.
Sen. Tim Scott: “do we want a culture that cancels anything they slightly disagree with?” #RNCConvention2020
Sen. Scott: if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want “a cultural revolution... if we elect them they will turn our country into a socialist utopia.” #RNCConvention2020
Sen. Scott: “Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime.” #RNC2020
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Here’s some more fact checking: washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…
RNC Night Two (tuning in a bit late): Trump appears with the founder of a prisoner re-entry program. He announces a full pardon. #RNCConvention2020
Here’s Sen. Rand Paul:
A Wisconsin dairy farmer talks about how Trump “understands farming is a complicated and risky business.” Says he took action to help save farmers during the spring when the pandemic hit. “The economy is roaring back.”
Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow says a “v shaped recovery is pointing to 20 percent growth.” Promises tax cuts and regulatory relief for small businesses. Reminder: we are still in a pandemic. Reminder: millions are still unemployed.
@SRuhle “he continues to talk about the coronavirus in the past tense ... it’s not ... There are no booms.” #RNCConvention2020
Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of prominent Evangelical figure Billy Graham, talks about how church services were banned during the pandemic and how no one should be able to take away their freedoms. #RNCConvention2020
Lots of Wisconsin & Minnesota representation tonight. #RNCConvention2020
A mayor from Eveleth, MN, a life long democrat, supports Trump and says “we know we can count on him to fight for us and win.” #RNCConvention2020
Maddow makes a great point about the religious freedom speech from Ms. Lynch. This comes from the administration who enacted a Muslim ban. #RNCConvention2020
Nicholas Sandmann blames cable news and network news for the viral video he appears in: "the mainstream media revved up into attack mode ... without asking me for my side of the story." Says he looks forward to the day the media returns to responsible coverage.
I was thinking about this. I feel like more people would have recognized him more if they played the video.
Here's more context: vox.com/2020/8/25/2140…
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi spends her allotted time talking about Hunter Biden and how the Biden children have benefited off Joe Biden's political career. Interesting argument in support of Trump, whose children work in his administration.
Tiffany Trump: "my father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again." Tries to relate to recent college grads and talks about uncertain futures.
Tiffany Trump talks about "the media" and says "division and controversy breed profit."
Tiffany Trump: "we believe in equality of opportunity. We believe in freedom of thought and expression ... we believe in school choice ... we believe in freedom of religion for all faiths ... and we believe in the American spirit."
Pence is chatting with Trump supporters, who have had success for a number of ways while he was president, in front of some sort of log cabin and grassy area.
Trump appears at the RNC and then immediately stands by for a naturalization ceremony with acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. #RNC2020
He jokes about a woman from Lebanon who was just part of the naturalization ceremony, saying she has a degree in college so "she can figure me out."
Wait Trump's voiceover OVER VIDEO OF HIMSELF IS SO CONFUSING.
Eric Trump: "my father rebuilt the modern American military." Talks about the military defense budget. And the success of the special forces. But let's not forget about this: nytimes.com/2020/06/26/us/…
Eric Trump bashes Biden for his ... years of political service. "Every day my father fights for the American people."
The speakers really like talking about the cancel culture during this RNC.
Here's a reminder about Eric Trump making some headlines before his speech this week: nytimes.com/2020/08/24/nyr…
Mike Pompeo ... speaking from Jerusalem ...
nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
Secretary of State Pompeo says the president has been tough on China and has held China accountable for Covid-19. And he says the ISIS caliphate is wiped out. Here's some context about ISIS. washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/0…
Melania Trump begins speaking from the newly renovated rose garden (after Trump, VP Pence and Karen Pence exit the White House - there are very few masks in the crowd).
I agree.
"The invisible enemy COVID-19 swept across our beautiful country." Offers prayers for those who have died and those who have suffered during the pandemic. "Donald will not rest until he has done all he can to take care of everyone impacted by this terrible pandemic."
Melania Trump thanks front-line workers and teachers. Acknowledges they put their lives on the line to help the country. I haven't heard much of that sentiment tonight or last night.
Melania says the president is "not a traditional politician ... the future of our country has always been very important to him. And it's something I've always admired."
On the topic of Black Lives Matter rallies, Melania says "focus on the future while still learning from our past," acknowledging there are parts of our history we "are not proud of."
Melania brings up opioid abuse and drug addiction again - and my colleagues at NBC News have some context from the earlier speech about this same topic earlier tonight: nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
Here's some more fact checking from tonight for those who are interested: nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
Melania, talking about President Trump, says "whether you like it or not, you always know what he's thinking."
Here's someone we did NOT hear from tonight: nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
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Night three: Karen Pence, veterans, Reps. Crenshaw, Zeldin and Stefanik. Sen. Joni Ernst.
Here’s a fact check: nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
