Trump attends Republican convention, first public appearance since assassination attempt

Former President Donald Trump appears at RNC Convention in Milwaukee.

Former President Donald Trump is making an appearance at at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, his first public showing since the assassination attempt against him at his Pennsylvania rally.

The former president appeared wearing a bandage over his right ear. He is not expected to deliver remarks.

Earlier Monday, Trump officially received the 1,215 delegates required to become the official GOP presidential nominee. He also announced his VP pick on Truth Social, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, solidifying the Republican ticket for November.

The convention kicks off days after Trump’s attempted assassination at a Saturday rally where one attendee was killed, and two others were critically injured. The alleged gunman, 20-year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead moments after he opened fire.

The RNC schedule, which goes until Thursday, is expected to remain relatively unchanged, though the assassination attempt has supercharged the emotional energy of a convention that was already expected to be revved up with Trump fanfare.

“When he [Trump] walks in that arena for the first time, the decibel level will be so high it will be almost unmeasurable,” Corey Lewandowski, a close Trump ally who is advising the RNC, said Sunday.

Day one of the convention has featured a slate of speakers including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trump fundraiser David Sacks, along with former VP hopefuls like South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

From Monday to Thursday, over 80 of Trump’s closest allies, big-ticket donors and other lawmakers are expected to speak. The City of Milwaukee expects roughly 50,000 attendees.

Here is the full list of speakers that were set to headline on Monday: