2016 Republican National Convention#Platform

{{further|Republican Party presidential candidates, 2016|Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016|Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016}}

In 2016, both the Democratic and Republican conventions were held before the Summer Olympics instead of after, as was the case in 2008 and 2012. One reason the Republican Party scheduled their convention in July was to help avoid a longer, drawn-out primary battle similar to what happened in 2012, which left the party fractured heading into the general election and eventually led to Mitt Romney losing the election to Barack Obama. The Democratic Party then followed suit, scheduling their convention in Philadelphia the week after the Republicans' convention, to provide a quicker response.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/23/politics/democratic-national-convention-date-set/ | title=Democratic National Convention date set | first=Alexandra | last=Jaffe | publisher=CNN | date=January 23, 2015 | access-date=August 25, 2015 | quote=The July date is two months earlier than Democrats' 2012 convention, but it sets the Democrats up to immediately follow the GOP's festivities ... Republicans moved their convention back a month in hopes of avoiding the drawn-out primary battle that left the party fractured and their 2012 nominee wounded heading into the general election}} On May 3, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus declared Donald Trump the presumptive nominee after Texas senator Ted Cruz dropped out of the race. The next day, Ohio Governor John Kasich suspended his campaign, effectively making Trump the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Trump was the first presidential nominee of a major party since Wendell Willkie, the Republican candidate in 1940, who has held neither political office nor a high military rank prior to his nomination. He was also the first presidential nominee of a major party without political experience since General Dwight D. Eisenhower first captured the Republican presidential nomination in 1952. This was the first Republican National Convention to be held entirely in July since 1980. Twitter and CBS News live streamed the convention via Twitter.{{cite web|last1=Collins|first1=Eliza|title=Twitter, CBS News to livestream GOP and Democratic conventions|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/11/twitter-cbs-livestream-rnc-dnc/86938676/|work=USA Today|access-date=July 11, 2016}}

On April 2, 2014, the Republican National Committee announced that Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City and Las Vegas were the finalists for hosting the convention.(April 2, 2014) [http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-hoping-to-make-next-2016-republican-national-convention-rnc-cut"Denver makes latest cut for hosting 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406090138/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-hoping-to-make-next-2016-republican-national-convention-rnc-cut |date=April 6, 2014 }}, The Denver Channel. Retrieved April 2, 2014. In late June 2014, Cleveland and Dallas were announced as the final two contenders to be the host city.{{cite news |url=http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/national-news/2014/06/25/UPDATED-Cleveland-Dallas-finalists-to-host-2016-Republican-National-Convention.html |title=Cleveland, Dallas finalists to host 2016 Republican National Convention |work=The Chronicle |location=Lorain County, Ohio |agency= Associated Press |date=June 25, 2014}} Cleveland was selected on July 8, 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/07/08/republicans-choose-cleveland-for-2016-convention/|title=Republicans choose Cleveland for 2016 convention|last=Wilson|first=Reid|date=July 8, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 12, 2016}}

The 2016 Cleveland Host Committee, an Ohio nonprofit corporation with no political affiliation, was the official and federally designated Presidential Convention Host Committee for the convention. It is responsible for "organizing, hosting and funding" the convention; it also aims "to promote Northeast Ohio and ensure Cleveland is best represented, and to lessen the burden of local governments in hosting the 2016 Republican National Convention".{{cite web|url=https://www.2016cle.com/the-host-committee|title=The Host Committee|work=Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, Inc.|access-date=July 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116141628/https://www.2016cle.com/the-host-committee|archive-date=November 16, 2016|url-status=dead}} The Host Committee is composed of prominent Ohio business executives, civic leaders, and other community leaders.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/downtown_cleveland_could_vault_into_the_major_leagues_after_the_rnc_2016_city_club_panelists_say.html|title=Cleveland could vault into major leagues after hosting 2016 Republican National Convention, City Club panelists say (photos)|work=The Plain Dealer|date=March 25, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/2016_republican_national_conve_1.html|title=2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland is a 'free-market economy' for event spaces|work=The Plain Dealer|date=March 26, 2015}} David Gilbert, CEO of Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, is the President and CEO of the host committee. Organizers have found it hard to raise the money needed to put on the convention, which is normally supported by corporate donations. Corporations that donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the 2012 convention but nothing in 2016 include JPMorgan Chase, General Electric, Ford Motor Company, Motorola Solutions and Amgen.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/corporations-slash-republican-convention-funding.html|title=Corporations slash Republican convention funding|last=Levingston|first=Ivan|date=July 12, 2016|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 17, 2016}} Reluctance to be associated with Trump, or concern that the convention might be disrupted by floor fights or violence, were sometimes cited as factors in the decision to withhold funds.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/apple-wont-aid-gop-convention-over-trump-224513|title=Apple won't aid GOP convention over Trump|last=Romm|first=Tony|date=June 18, 2016|work=Politico|access-date=July 17, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-national-convention.html|title=Corporations Grow Nervous About Participating in Republican Convention|last1=Martin|first1=Jonathan|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|date=March 30, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 17, 2016}} In July as the convention got under way, the Cleveland Host Committee said it had raised $58 million of its $64 million goal. They asked billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who often contributes to Republicans, to make up the $6 million shortfall.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/convention-planners-sought-6-million-sheldon-adelson-n610476|title=GOP Convention Planners Sought $6 Million From Sheldon Adelson|last=Caldwell|first=Leigh Ann|author-link=Leigh Ann Caldwell|date=July 15, 2016|work=NBC News|access-date=July 17, 2016}}

Quicken Loans Arena was selected in July 2014 as the host site for the 2016 Republican National Convention. The arena hosted the first Republican presidential debate of the 2016 election, aired by Fox News Channel, on August 6, 2015. The convention was held July 18–21, 2016.{{cite news |url= https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-choose-cleveland-2016-convention-site/story?id=24467358 |title=Republicans Choose Cleveland As 2016 Convention Site |work=ABC News |date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=July 27, 2014 |last1=Walshe |first1=Shushannah |last2=Klein |first2=Rick }}

The Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, who "facilitated construction of the 'cloakroom" space' for Republican lawmakers, which consisted of an "exclusive office, lounge and gathering space" built on the Cleveland Cavaliers practice court, received $923,100 from the Friends of the House 2016 LLC". Bank records obtained by the Center for Public Integrity show that Comcast, Microsoft, the American Petroleum Institute, Chevron, Koch Companies Public Sector, PhRMA, and other trade and lobby groups "funded a limited liability company called 'Friends of the House 2016 LLC' to pay for the 'cloakroom.'{{cite news |url=https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/10/18/21213/republican-lawmakers-posh-hideaway-bankrolled-secret-corporate-cash |title=Republican lawmakers' posh hideaway bankrolled by secret corporate cash |quote="Bank records: Comcast, Microsoft, Koch helped fund GOP convention 'cloakroom'" |first=Carrie |last=Levine |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |publisher=Center for Public Integrity}}

File:Secretary Johnson Inspects Convention Security Operations in Cleveland (28670817876).jpg, the secretary of Homeland Security, inspects the venue on July 15, 2016]]

File:Cleveland 2732461.jpg enhanced mobile incident command post installed in Cleveland for the convention]]

File:2016 RNC day 3 734870D6-5BD3-4AB6-B7B5-1D461EFAC5BE w610 r0 s.jpg

File:CBP @ RNC (28660976092).jpg of the United States Customs and Border Protection deployed to Cleveland during the convention]]

File:2016 RNC day 1 security line (2).jpg

The convention is designated as a National Special Security Event, meaning that ultimate authority over law enforcement goes to the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security.[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/us/politics/to-prepare-for-convention-tampa-restricts-protests.html To Prepare for Republican Convention, Tampa Restricts Protests]. The New York Times. July 22, 2012 A highly publicized online petition{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/politics/rnc/cleveland-police-union-naacp-have-rnc-security-concerns/106659555|title=Cleveland police union, NAACP have RNC security concerns|first=Tom|last=Beres|publisher=WKYC|language=en-US|date=March 28, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160804132621/http://www.wkyc.com/news/politics/rnc/cleveland-police-union-naacp-have-rnc-security-concerns/106659555|access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-date=August 4, 2016}} by gun activists to allow the open carry of guns inside Quicken Loans Arena garnered 45,000 signatures; however, the Secret Service, which is in charge of convention security, announced that it would not allow guns in the arena (or the small "secure zone" immediately outside itGregory Krieg, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/17/politics/cleveland-police-baton-rouge-security-open-carry/ Cleveland police union asks for suspension of 'open carry' in wake of Baton Rouge, ahead of RNC], CNN (July 17, 2016).) during the event,Niraj Chokshi, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/28/more-than-42000-people-have-signed-a-petition-to-allow-guns-at-the-republican-national-convention/ Secret Service: We're not allowing firearms at the Republican National Convention], The Washington Post (March 28, 2016). releasing a statement in late March 2016 saying: "Individuals determined to be carrying firearms will not be allowed past a predetermined outer perimeter checkpoint, regardless of whether they possess a ticket to the event."{{cite news|last1=Chiacu|first1=Doina|title=Secret Service says 'no' to guns at Republican convention|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-guns-idUSKCN0WU1PE|work=Reuters|access-date=March 28, 2016}} The Secret Service has the authority to restrict guns, firearms or other weapons from entering any site where it is protecting an individual.{{cite web|last1=Faulders|first1=Katherine|title=Secret Service Will Not Allow Guns at GOP Convention Despite Petition for Open Carry|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/secret-service-guns-gop-convention-petition-open-carry/story?id=37981517|work=ABC News|access-date=March 28, 2016}}

The Cleveland Police Department received $50 million in federal grants to support local police operations during the event.{{cite news|last1=Smith |first1=Kate |title=Cities Bill Trump for the High Cost of Rallies |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-30/trump-rallies |access-date=July 10, 2016 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=June 30, 2016}} With this grant money, the City of Cleveland sought to purchase over 2,000 riot control personnel gear sets prior to the convention for $20 million, and the remaining $30 million was planned to be used for personnel expenses.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/rnc-2016/index.ssf/2016/03/cleveland_seeking_to_buy_riot.html|title=Cleveland seeking to buy riot gear for Republican National Convention|work=The Plain Dealer|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=April 15, 2016}} Items such as water guns, swords, tennis balls and coolers have been banned by the City of Cleveland from the 1.7-square-mile "event zone" outside the convention hall by the City of Cleveland, but because of a statewide open-carry law permitting the open carrying of guns, firearms are permitted.Mary Kilpatrick, [http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/06/guns_allowed_water_guns_banned.html Guns allowed, water guns banned in the Republican National Convention event zone: Here's why], The Plain Dealer (June 1, 2016).Laura Bult, [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/water-guns-banned-rnc-firearms-won-article-1.2695913 Water guns will be banned at Cleveland's Republican National Convention — firearms won't be], Daily News (New York) (July 1, 2016).Eliza Collins, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/14/rnc-convention-banned-items/87074530/ Tennis balls, coolers, lasers: What's been banned at the RNC], USA Today (July 14, 2016). The Cleveland chapter of the NAACP raised concerns in March 2016 in a letter to city and county leaders about security at the convention, writing that police were unprepared for a "possible mix of protesters and demonstrators brandishing guns."{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Sheil|url=http://fox8.com/2016/03/28/naacp-expresses-concern-over-rnc-security/|title=NAACP expresses concern over RNC security|publisher=WJW|date=March 30, 2016}} The Cleveland Police Union also raised concerns similar to those raised by the local NAACP in March, writing that equipment and training for police was behind schedule. On July 16—the eve of the convention—the Cleveland Police Union asked Governor John Kasich to temporarily suspend Ohio's state open-carry gun law so as to block the carrying of guns within the event zone, but Kasich rejected the request, writing: "Ohio governors do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws as suggested."

Before the convention there were a number of online phishing expeditions that may have been hackers looking for weak spots in the convention's network.[https://www.yahoo.com/tech/why-hackers-targeting-gop-convention-000000310.html Why hackers are targeting the GOP convention] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713214803/https://www.yahoo.com/tech/why-hackers-targeting-gop-convention-000000310.html |date=July 13, 2016 }}, by Rick Newman, on Yahoo!Tech, July 12, 2016. The computer network of the Democratic National Committee had already been penetrated by hackers linked with the Russian government, compromising, among other things, the database of opposition research on Trump.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-government-hackers-penetrated-dnc-stole-opposition-research-on-trump/2016/06/14/cf006cb4-316e-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html Russian government hackers penetrated DNC, stole opposition research on Trump], by Ellen Nakashima, in The Washington Post, June 14, 2016. On July 17, 2016, The New York Times reported that "Cleveland has assigned about 500 police officers specifically to handle the convention and it has brought in thousands more officers to help, from departments as distant as California and Texas."Alexander Burns, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/us/politics/trump-rnc-baton-rogue.html On Eve of the Republican Convention, Law and Order Takes the Floor], The New York Times (July 17, 2016).

File:Protests in the Public Square during day 4 of the 2016 RNC.jpg during the convention]]

The Los Angeles Times wrote at the end of March 2016 that fears of a turbulent and volatile convention atmosphere were heightened because of a variety of factors: "a city scarred by controversial police shootings and simmering with racial tension; a candidate [Trump] who has threatened that his supporters will riot if he comes with the most delegates but leaves without the nomination; and a police force with a reputation for brutality."{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Pearce|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-republican-convention-protests-20160321-story.html|title=This summer's Republican convention protests will be fueled by a volatile mix of forces|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 30, 2016}} Concerns specifically focused on the ability of the Cleveland Police Department to handle protests in the wake of the Tamir Rice and Michael Brelo cases, and a 2014 Department of Justice investigation that criticized the police department for having a pattern or practice of using "unreasonable and unnecessary force." Left-wing activists have been preparing for the convention since it was announced in 2014. In May 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union threatened to file a lawsuit on behalf of two activist groups, Citizens for Trump and a progressive group called Organize Ohio, asserting that protesters were being inhibited in their attempts to organize effectively by the city's delay in granting permits.{{cite news|last1=Tobias|first1=Andrew|title=ACLU threatens to sue Cleveland over delay in acting on demonstration permits for Republican National Convention|url=http://www.cleveland.com/rnc-2016/index.ssf/2016/05/aclu_threatens_to_sue_clevelan.html|access-date=May 22, 2016|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 19, 2016}} As of May 19, six groups had filed for permits, but none had been granted. Cleveland stalled on approving and making public the demonstration applications it received, while Philadelphia (hosting the 2016 Democratic National Convention) had already granted an application.Mark Naymik, [http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2016/05/cleveland_stalling_rnc_protest.html Philadelphia approves first DNC protest application while Cleveland continues to stall on RNC requests], The Plain Dealer (May 13, 2016). The ACLU sued the city in federal district court on June 14, 2016.{{cite news |last=DuVall |first=Eric |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/06/17/ACLU-sues-Cleveland-over-GOP-convention-protest-restrictions/2391466190609/?spt=hs&or=tn_us |title=ACLU sues Cleveland over GOP convention protest restrictions |work=United Press International |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=June 18, 2016}} As of May 20, 2016, groups that have filed for protest permits have included the AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Global Zero; Organize Ohio, a group of progressive activists; the Citizens for Trump/Our Votes Matter March; Coalition to March on the RNC and Dump Trump; Stand Together Against Trump, an anti-Donald Trump group; People's Fightback Center/March Against Racism; and Created Equal, an anti-abortion group. A pro-Trump group, Trump March RNC, withdrew its application after Trump became the presumptive nominee.{{cite news|last1=Tobias|first1=Andres|title=Three additional groups, including two anti-Trump groups, file for Cleveland protest permits during Republican National Convention|url=http://www.cleveland.com/rnc-2016/index.ssf/2016/05/three_additional_groups_includ.html|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 20, 2016}}

As Trump rose to become the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party, a number of prominent Republicans announced they would not attend the convention.Manu Raju & Deirdre Walsh, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/politics/republican-convention-2016/ First on CNN: Top Republicans may skip GOP convention], CNN (April 12, 2016).Jeremy W. Peters, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-convention.html 'I Can Watch It on TV': Excuses for Republicans Skipping a Donald Trump Convention], The New York Times (June 1, 2016). Of the living former Republican nominees for president, only 1996 nominee Bob Dole announced that he would attend the convention; Romney, John McCain, George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush all announced that they would skip the convention.Shushannah Walshe & Alexander Mallin, [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gop-nominee-skip-republican-national-convention/story?id=38904356 All But One Former GOP Nominee to Skip Republican National Convention], ABC News (May 5, 2016). A number of Republican governors, U.S. representatives and U.S. senators, particularly those facing difficult reelection campaigns, also indicated that they would not attend, seeking to distance themselves from Trump and spend more time with voters in their home states. Most notably, Governor Kasich chose to avoid the convention, while Ohio Senator Rob Portman attended the convention but avoided taking a major role in its proceedings.{{cite news|last1=Roarty|first1=Alex|title=At RNC, Portman Keeps Trump at a Distance|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/rnc-portman-keeps-trump-distance|access-date=July 20, 2016|publisher=Roll Call|date=July 19, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817013957/http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/rnc-portman-keeps-trump-distance|url-status=dead}} On July 8, 2016, Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse announced that he would not attend the convention.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-08/nebraska-sen-ben-sasse-will-take-his-kids-to-watch-some-dumpster-fires-instead-of-attending-gop-convention|title=Nebraska Senator Will 'Take His Kids to Watch Some Dumpster Fires' Instead of Attending GOP Convention|access-date=July 8, 2016}} Many Republican senators did not attend the convention at all:{{cite web|first1=Erica|last1=Werner|first2=Mary Clare|last2=Jalonick|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/caad6da7881a478c96820ca4aaea42e3/large-number-gop-senators-skipping-trumps-convention|title=Large number of GOP senators skipping Trump's convention|agency=Associated Press|language=en-US|access-date=July 14, 2016|archive-date=July 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715175321/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/caad6da7881a478c96820ca4aaea42e3/large-number-gop-senators-skipping-trumps-convention|url-status=dead}} Senator Steve Daines of Montana, who would be "fly-fishing with his wife"; Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who said he had "to mow his lawn"; and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who would be traveling in Alaska by bush plane.

{{anchor|Business scales back sponsorship of convention}}

A number of prominent businesses and trade groups, including Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, scaled back participation in the convention, sharply reducing their contributions for convention events and sponsorship.Jonathan Martin & Maggie Haberman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-national-convention.html Corporations Grow Nervous About Participating in Republican Convention], The New York Times (March 30, 2016). In June, six major companies that sponsored the 2012 Republican convention—Wells Fargo, UPS, Motorola, JPMorgan Chase, Ford and Walgreens Boots—announced they would not sponsor the 2016 Republican convention.Zachary Mider & Elizabeth Dexheimer, [https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-16/more-companies-opt-to-sit-out-trump-s-coronation-in-cleveland More Companies Opt to Sit Out Trump's Coronation in Cleveland], Bloomberg Politics (June 16, 2016). Apple Inc. followed suit, announcing that it, too, would be withdrawing funding from the convention over Trump's position on certain election issues.{{cite web|title=Apple Won't Be Funding The Republican Convention Because Of Trump|date=June 18, 2016 |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/apple-wont-be-funding-the-republican-convention|publisher=Buzzfeed News|access-date=June 19, 2016}}

Seating arrangements for state and territorial delegations were announced on July 16, two days before the convention began.Sara Pompeo, [http://wkbn.com/2016/07/16/2016-rnc-announces-delegation-seating-arrangement/ 2016 RNC announces delegation seating arrangement], WKBN (July 16, 2016).[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2016-gop-convention-announces-the-delegation-seating-arrangement-300299694.html 2016 GOP Convention Announces the Delegation Seating Arrangement] (press release), 2016 Republican National Convention (July 16, 2016). The Ohio and Texas delegations were assigned to the back of the convention hall, a move viewed as punishment for the delegations, as they did not back Trump in their respective primaries (Ohio and Texas voted for Kasich and Cruz, respectively).Robert Wang, [http://www.indeonline.com/news/20160717/rnc-notebook-creighton-sees-ohios-seating-as-punishment RNC notebook: Creighton sees Ohio's seating as 'punishment'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820163557/http://www.indeonline.com/news/20160717/rnc-notebook-creighton-sees-ohios-seating-as-punishment |date=August 20, 2016 }}, Massillon Independent (July 17, 2016).Todd J. Gillman & Gromer Jeffers Jr., [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160716-payback-time-for-texas-huge-gop-delegation-gets-distant-seats-at-trump-convention.ece Payback time for Texas? Huge GOP delegation gets distant seats at Trump convention] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816233129/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160716-payback-time-for-texas-huge-gop-delegation-gets-distant-seats-at-trump-convention.ece |date=August 16, 2016 }} (July 16, 2016).

File:Workers finish last-minute preparations at the Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday, the day before the start of the Republican National Convention, July 17, 2016.jpg

File:RNC Quicken Loans Arena (28249345472).jpg

File:160719-G-ZZ999-001 (b).jpg)]]

There are four Convention committees, which met ahead of the convention for specific purposes under the rules of the Republican Party.{{cite web|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-static-ngop-pbl/docs/Rules_of_the_Republican+Party_FINAL_S14090314.pdf |title=The Rules of the Republican Party |page=21 |orig-year=August 27, 2012 |date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716170734/https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-static-ngop-pbl/docs/Rules_of_the_Republican%20Party_FINAL_S14090314.pdf |archive-date=July 16, 2016 }} Each committee is composed of one man and one woman from each state, the five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, totaling 112 members. Those committee members are selected by the 56 delegations, which determine on their own how to choose their representatives on each committee. Each of the committees met the week before the convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland.Tom Troy, [http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/07/13/GOP-platform-panel-nixes-LGBT-reference.html GOP platform panel nixes LGBT reference: Complete text of document kept under wraps], Toledo Blade (July 13, 2016). The committees are as follows:

{{further|Stop Trump movement|Delegates Unbound}}

The Rules Committee, which sets the rules of the convention and the standing rules that govern the party until the next convention, met on July 14. The rules it passes must be adopted by the full convention to take effect. This committee is regarded as the most powerful. It consists of 112 members, including one male delegate and one female delegate from each state, territory and Washington, D.C. Members of this committee are elected at state conventions.Kyle Cheney, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/politics/gop-convention-rules-committee/ Meet the Rules Committee: 112 people who may decide the Republican nominee], CNN (March 14, 2016).{{cite web|title=RNC Rules Committee, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/RNC_Rules_Committee,_2016|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=June 21, 2016}} The Rules Committee was chaired by Enid Mickelsen of Utah and Ron Kaufman of Massachusetts.Tal Kopan, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/24/politics/rnc-rules-committee-membership/ RNC Rules Committee stocked with stalwarts], CNN (June 24, 2016).

In June 2016, activists Eric O'Keefe and Dane Waters formed a group called Delegates Unbound, which CNN described as "an effort to convince delegates that they have the authority and the ability to vote for whomever they want."{{cite news|last1=LoBianco|first1=Tom|author-link=Tal Kopan|title=RNC delegates launch 'Anybody but Trump' drive|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/17/politics/delegate-unbinding-effort-organized/|access-date=June 18, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=June 17, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|title=How the GOP could cut ties with Donald Trump|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/politics/donald-trump-republican-anxiety/index.html|access-date=June 18, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=June 17, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=O'Keefe|first1=Eric|last2=Rivkin|first2=David|title=Release the GOP Delegates|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/release-the-gop-delegates-1465769777|access-date=June 18, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=June 13, 2016}} Republican delegate Kendal Unruh led an effort among other Republican delegates to change the convention rules "to include a 'conscience clause' that would allow delegates bound to Trump to vote against him, even on the first ballot at the July convention."{{cite news|last1=Jaffe|first1=Alexandra|title=Campaign to Dump Trump at Republican Convention Emerges|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/campaign-dump-trump-republican-convention-emerges-n594766|access-date=June 18, 2016|work=NBC News|date=June 17, 2016}} Following a "marathon 15-hour meeting" on July 14, 2016, the Rules Committee voted down, by a vote of 84–21, a move to send a "minority report" to the floor allowing the unbinding of delegates, thereby guaranteeing Trump's nomination. The committee then made the opposite move, voting 87–12 to include rules language specifically stating that delegates were required to vote based on their states' primary and caucus results.{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Detrow|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/07/15/486153506/never-trump-is-nevermore-anti-trump-forces-fail-to-force-rnc-floor-fight|title='Never Trump Is Nevermore': Anti-Trump Forces Fail To Force RNC Floor Fight|website=NPR|date=July 15, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}} By a unanimous vote, the Rules Committee also voted to change Rule 40(b), a controversial rule that had provided that "a candidate had to win a majority of the vote in eight states to have his or her name placed into nomination at the convention."Josh Putnam, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/07/17/how-the-republican-party-made-it-harder-for-convention-delegates-to-vote-against-trump/ How the Republican Party made it harder for convention delegates to vote against Trump], The Washington Post (July 17, 2016). The committee voted to return to the pre-2012 rule, which required a candidate to receive only a plurality of the vote in at least five states to have his or her name placed in nomination.

The Platform Committee met for two days of open hearings on July 11 and 12Igor Bobic, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gop-platform-lgbt-drama_us_57853c4ee4b07c356cfec2df Fight Over LGBT Rights Spawns Last-Minute Drama At GOP Platform Committee], The Huffington Post (July 12, 2016) to draft a party platform, which had to be ratified by the full convention. (See Platform below).{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/heres-another-possible-headache-gop-convention|title=Here's Another Possible Headache at the GOP Convention|date=April 13, 2016|newspaper=Roll Call|access-date=July 17, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820211307/http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/heres-another-possible-headache-gop-convention|url-status=dead}} The Platform Committee was chaired by Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming and co-chaired by Congresswoman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina and Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma.Daniel DiSalvo & James W. Ceaser, [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/party-platform-national-convention/491147/ Do Party Platforms Still Matter?], The Atlantic (July 13, 2016).[https://www.gop.com/rnc-announces-platform-committee-leadership/ RNC Announces Platform Committee Leadership] GOP.com

The Credentials Committee handles disputes on the eligibility of convention delegates. The Committee on Contests reviews contested delegates; if the Contests Committee recommends that a delegate be de-certified, the Credentials Committee considers the recommendation.Frank Lockwood, [http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/jun/10/webb-picked-for-gop-s-credentials-commi/ Wood picked for GOP's credentials committee], Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette (June 10, 2016) ("A Republican National Committee official has compared the contests committee to a trial court and the credentials committee to an appeals court.").Rebecca Berg, [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/05/02/obscure_panel_may_have_big_effect_on_gop_convention_130442.html Obscure Panel May Have Big Effect on GOP Convention], RealClearPolitics (May 2, 2016) (The RNC Committee on Contests ... will evaluate challenges to convention delegates selected at the state level, with the power to recommend that delegates be de-certified by the convention Committee on Credentials."). The Rule Committee was chaired by Mike Duncan, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and co-chaired by Arkansas Republican Party chairman Doyle Webb.[https://www.gop.com/rnc-announces-credentials-committee-leadership/ RNC Announces Credentials Committee Leadership] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920033739/https://www.gop.com/rnc-announces-credentials-committee-leadership/ |date=September 20, 2016 }} (press release), 2016 Republican National Convention (June 3, 2016).

The Committee on Arrangements handles the scheduling and logistics of the convention.{{cite web |url=https://www.2016cle.com/community-updates/getting-to-know-the-committee-on-arrangements |title=Getting to Know the Committee on Arrangements |publisher=Cleveland2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927191538/https://www.2016cle.com/community-updates/getting-to-know-the-committee-on-arrangements |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |url-status=dead }} The committee was chaired by Steve King, former chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.Craig Gilbert, [http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/cleveland-gop-convention-will-have-very-wisconsin-flavor-b99761338z1-386687091.html Cleveland GOP convention will have very Wisconsin flavor], Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (July 13, 2016).

On July 12, 2016, the Republican Platform Committee completed work on a draft of the party's 2016 platform.{{Cite web|url=https://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2016/07/13/GOP-platform-panel-nixes-LGBT-reference/stories/20160712323|title=GOP platform panel nixes LGBT reference|website=The Blade}} The draft platform was described as "very conservative"{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2016/07/10_things_that_may_surprise_you_and_sometimes_trum.html|title=10 things that may surprise you about RNC 2016 platform|first=Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for|last=NJ.com|date=July 19, 2016|website=nj}} and reflective of the party's move towards the right.Jeremy W. Peters, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/us/politics/republican-convention-issues.html Emerging Republican Platform Goes Far to the Right], The New York Times (July 12, 2016).Steve Benen, [https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republican-platform-reflects-the-partys-far-right-evolution Republican platform reflects the party’s far-right evolution], MSNBC (July 13, 2016).{{cite news |last=Caldwell|first=Leigh Ann|author-link=Leigh Ann Caldwell|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-campaign-supports-gop-platform-moved-further-right-n608271 |title=Trump Campaign Supports GOP Platform That Moved Further Right|website=NBC News|date=July 12, 2016}}

On domestic policy, the draft platform opposed abortion without exceptions.{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4411842/republican-platform-same-sex-marriage-abortion-guns-wall-street/|title=Read the Republican Platform on Hot-Button Issues|magazine=Time}} The platform committee adopted a provision, proposed by Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach, expressing opposition to any restriction on magazine capacity in firearms. The platform called for "certain federally controlled public lands" to be immediately transferred to state ownership where they could be privatized. The platform did not specify whether the lands would include national parks, national forests, or wilderness areas.Ryan F. Mandelbaum, [http://www.popsci.com/does-gop-want-eliminate-national-parks Republican Party Wants to Privatize Public Land; Could include National Parks], Popular Science (July 15, 2016). The platform called internet pornography "a public health crisis that is destroying the life of millions" and encouraged states to fight it.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/11/politics/gop-platform-republican-convention-internet-pornography/|title=GOP platform draft declares pornography 'public health crisis|last=Kopan|first=Tal|date=July 11, 2016|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 18, 2016}} The platform also called for the teaching of the Bible in public schools.

On foreign policy, the members of the platform committee were split between "libertarian-minded isolationists" and "national security hawks." The latter camp won on almost every point, voting down measures that would have condemned ongoing U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern wars and approving language promoting increased military spending. One plank reflected a more isolationist approach, eliminating references to giving weapons to Ukraine in its fight with Russia and rebel forces; the removal of this language reportedly resulted from intervention from staffers to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.{{cite news |author=Tracy Wilkinson |title=In a shift, Republican platform doesn't call for arming Ukraine against Russia, spurring outrage |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-na-pol-ukraine-gop-20160720-snap-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=2016-07-25 }} The draft platform opposed a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. While the 2012 Republican platform called for passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the draft 2016 platform did not mention the agreement; this omission reflected the influence of Trump, who opposed the trade pact. The draft platform expressly echoed Trump's call for a wall to be built on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The most contentious discussions held by the platform committee were discussions of social issues, particularly issues of sexuality and gender. The draft platform took a traditionalist view on social issues, criticizing "how the modern American family has evolved". Many platform planks expressing "disapproval of homosexuality, same-sex marriage or transgender rights"—championed by Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council—passed. The draft platform called for overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, by a constitutional amendment. The platform also called for the appointment of judges "who respect traditional family values". The draft platform promoted state legislation to limit restroom access to persons of the same biological sex. It also stated that "natural marriage" is between a man and a woman, asserting that such unions are best for children. The draft platform also expressed support for allowing parents to seek "the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children"; this language was believed to allude to parental freedom to engage in sexual orientation change efforts with their minor children.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/while-trump-stays-out-of-it-gop-platform-tacks-to-the-right-on-gay-rights/2016/07/13/969165ca-490d-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html|title=While Trump stays out of it, GOP platform tacks to the right on gay rights|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-11-16}}{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4401600/gop-platform-contemplates-anti-porn-provision-embrace-of-conversion-therapy/|title=Republican Platform Writers Contemplate Anti-Porn Provision|last=Clevel|first=Zeke J. Miller /|magazine=Time|access-date=2016-11-16}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/11/politics/gop-platform-republican-convention-conservative-bathroom-lgbt-abortion/index.html|title=Social conservatives hold the line on day one in Cleveland|author=Tal Kopan|website=CNN|access-date=2016-11-16}}

Rachel Hoff, a District of Columbia delegate who is the first openly gay member of a Republican platform committee, offered several pro-LGBT platform amendments. Each proposal failed.Katy Steinmetz, [https://time.com/4405261/gay-republicans-convention-rachel-hoff-platform/ First Openly Gay Republican on GOP Platform Committee: 'Why Am I Even Here?'], Time (July 13, 2016). Hoff's proposal for language "stating that marriage is a fundamentally important institution and that 'there are diverse and sincerely held views on marriage' within the party" failed in an unofficial vote of 30 to 82. An amendment was also offered to recognize that gay people are targeted by ISIL; the delegates who introduced this amendment sought to signal inclusion of the gay community. The amendment was opposed by conservative delegates (such as Jim Bopp of Indiana, who termed such an amendment "identity politics") and was voted down.

The 2016 Republican Party platform submitted by the Platform Committee was adopted by the Convention on July 18, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.toledoblade.com/local/politics/2016/07/18/Protests-erupt-on-GOP-convention-floor/stories/20160718227|title=Protests erupt on GOP convention floor|website=The Blade}}{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/2293375230bd46c9a04f4ee6fbe8f5c4|title=Republican platform tacks right on social issues|date=July 18, 2016|website=AP NEWS}}

Giovanni Cicione of Rhode Island, a platform committee member, led "a dissident group of Republican delegates" who opposed the provisions of the draft platform relating to sexuality and gender and sought to replace the entire platform with a two-page "statement of principles" that avoided controversial issues like same-sex marriage.Reid J. Epstein, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-dissidents-to-challenge-platform-as-anti-gay-on-convention-floor-1468449084 GOP Group Promotes a Platform That Avoids Hot-Button Issues], The Wall Street Journal (July 14, 2016).Tal Kopan, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/12/politics/gop-platform-republican-convention-lgbt-minority-report/ Pro-LGBT Republicans look to force floor debate], CNN (July 12, 2016). Cicione tried to force a debate and vote on the platform from the floor of the convention. Cicione's effort was unsuccessful; the delegates approved the platform by voice vote, with only a few scattered "nays" audible.Scott Bixby, [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/jul/18/republican-national-convention-2016-day-one-donald-trump?page=with:block-578d3f06e4b0ae77712da03b#block-578d3f06e4b0ae77712da03b Republican convention live: Republican National Convention ratifies party platform], The Guardian (July 18, 2016).

File:Republican National Convention 2016 Delegate Hard Count.svg

After the Indiana primary on May 3, 2016, Donald Trump became the presumptive nominee as the lone remaining Republican candidate running for the Republican nomination. Under rules established by previous Republican conventions, most delegates were bound on the first ballot according to the results of the primaries.{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|title=Here's what happens to Republican delegates if no one clinches a majority before the convention|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/04/15/heres-what-happens-to-republican-delegates-if-no-one-clinches-a-majority-before-the-convention/|access-date=April 15, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 15, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Epstein|first1=Reid J.|last2=McGill|first2=Brian|last3=Rust|first3=Max|title=Republican Convention's Delegate Math Explained|url=http://graphics.wsj.com/elections/2016/rnc-convention-delegates/|access-date=April 27, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=April 27, 2016}} A simple majority of 1,237 delegates was needed to win the nomination.{{cite web |url=https://www.gop.com/official-2016-gop-delegate-count/ |title=RNC's 2016 Presidential Primary Estimated Delegate Count |publisher=Republican Party |date=April 6, 2016 |access-date=April 11, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Steinhauer|first1=Jennifer|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|title=Paul Ryan Rules Out Run for President|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/us/politics/paul-ryan-to-ruleout-run-for-president-aide-says.html|access-date=April 15, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2016}} Entering the convention, Trump was seen as the presumptive nominee and had the support of a comfortable majority of the delegates.

On the afternoon of July 18, 2016, a group of delegates sought to force a roll-call vote on the proposed convention rules package adopted by the Rules Committee.Tal Kopan & Tom LoBianco, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/18/politics/rnc-procedural-votes-rules-committee/ Protests break out on convention floor after anti-Trump effort fails], CNN (July 18, 2016).Jeremy W. Peters & Alan Rappeport, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/politics/republican-national-convention.html Republican Convention: Floor Fighting on Day 1], The New York Times (July 18, 2016). Some who demanded a roll call vote sought to change the party rules package to "unbind" delegates so that on the first ballot, delegates could "vote their conscience" and conceivably block Trump from being nominated on the first ballot; such a move would also "allow Trump opponents a platform to argue against" Trump. Others demanding a roll call vote were seeking to reform party rules to decentralize power from the RNC and make changes for the 2020 primary process.[http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/delegates-wanted-roll-call-vote-rules Why Delegates Wanted a Roll Call Vote on the Rules] Roll Call

That morning, a petition for a roll call vote was submitted with the signatures of a majority of delegates from ten states. That afternoon, the presiding officer, Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas, did not recognize delegates clamoring for recognition over the rules package for the convention. Womack first declared the previous question was ordered by unanimous consent despite loud cries of objection. The rules were then adopted by voice vote, prompting loud cries of protest from delegates demanding recognition for a roll-call vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-national-convention-trump-cleveland/2016/07/18/d5370996-4cdd-11e6-a422-83ab49ed5e6a_story.html|title=Republican National Convention: Brief chaos as anti-Trump delegates are rebuffed|last=Sean Sullivan and Ed O'Keefe|date=July 18, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 18, 2016}} Finally, Womack declared that a Reconsideration of a motion was laid upon the table by unanimous consent, again to cries of objection. With loud cries throughout the convention hall, Womack abandoned the podium for several minutes, allowing RNC and Trump whips to work the floor and collect withdrawal signatures from the petition for a roll call vote.[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/never-trump-delegates-have-support-needed-to-force-rules-vote-225716 Chaos erupts on GOP convention floor after voice vote shuts down Never Trump forces] Politico Womack then reappeared and, again using unanimous consent, stated he would put the question of adopting the rules to the convention for a voice vote a second time. A second voice vote was taken. Womack then recognized the leader of the Utah delegation, who requested a roll call vote. Womack denied the motion, ruling that there were insufficient signatures to compel such a vote, and announcing that while there had initially appeared to be nine state delegations that agreed to the roll-call vote, enough signatures had since been withdrawn to cause three states to fall below the threshold, thus missing the required seven states needed.{{cite web|url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4611609/rnc-denies-roll-call-vote-convention-rules-amid-floor-protests|title=RNC Denies Roll Call Vote on Convention Rules Amid Floor Protests|last=Caitlin Hillyard|date=July 18, 2016|website=C-SPAN|access-date=July 18, 2016}} It was reported that Trump campaign aides and RNC staff worked on the floor to persuade delegates to withdraw their support and "challenged the validity of various signatures." Delegates, including Senator Mike Lee of Utah, sought recognition and repeatedly called for a point of order,[https://web.archive.org/web/20160719130138/http://www.weeklystandard.com/mike-lee-fights-the-rnc-machine/article/2003368/ Mike Lee Fights the RNC Machine] The Weekly Standard but were ignored by Womack, and reportedly had their microphones turned off.[https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-18/republican-rules-panel-said-to-quash-anti-trump-effort Anti-Trump Factions Disrupt Vote at Republican Convention] Bloomberg Lee said he had "never seen anything like this" after Womack declined to recognize their objections and walked off the stage, and Ken Cuccinelli, the Virginia delegation chairman, said the RNC "cheated" and "violate[d] their own rules." The process prompted the Colorado delegation to walk out in protest.

{{further|Results of the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries|2016 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection}}

File:2016 RNC roll call.jpg

Jeff Sessions, U.S. senator from Alabama, formally nominated Trump for president,{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2016/07/19/sen-jeff-sessions-nominates-trump-for-president/|title=Sen. Jeff Sessions nominates Trump for president|agency=Associated Press|date=July 19, 2016|work=New York Post|access-date=July 21, 2016}} with Chris Collins, U.S. representative from New York, and Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, seconding the nomination.{{cite web|url=http://politicsnow.buffalonews.com/2016/07/18/chris-collins-will-second-trumps-nomination-for-president/|title=Chris Collins will second Trump's nomination for president|date=July 18, 2016|work=The Buffalo News|access-date=July 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723183346/http://politicsnow.buffalonews.com/2016/07/18/chris-collins-will-second-trumps-nomination-for-president/|archive-date=July 23, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/18/mcmaster-nominate-trump-wednesday-gop-convention/87268066/|title=McMaster to nominate Trump at GOP convention|publisher=GreenevilleOnline.com|access-date=July 21, 2016}} Trump won the presidential nomination on July 19, 2016{{cite news|last1=Henderson|first1=Barney|last2=Graham|first2=Chris|title=Republican National Convention diary day 2: Donald Trump formally nominated as 2016 presidential candidate|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/19/republican-national-convention-diary-day-2-trump-campaign-insist/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/19/republican-national-convention-diary-day-2-trump-campaign-insist/ |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=November 7, 2016|work=The Telegraph|date=July 19, 2016}}{{cbignore}} on the first ballot with 69.8% of the delegates, the lowest percentage of delegates won by the Republican nominee since the 1976 Republican National Convention.{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|title=Donald Trump was just nominated with the eighth-lowest delegate percentage in Republican history|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/19/donald-trump-was-just-nominated-with-the-eighth-lowest-delegate-percentage-in-republican-history/|access-date=July 20, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 19, 2016}} The vice presidential nomination was held immediately after the presidential nomination. Eric Holcomb, the lieutenant governor of Indiana, nominated Indiana governor Mike Pence for vice president.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-republican-convention-2016-live-mike-pence-nominated-for-gop-vice-1468973935-htmlstory.html|title=Republican National Convention 2016 live updates: Mike Pence says when Trump is elected 'the change will be huge'|access-date=July 21, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 21, 2016 }} Trump had announced his choice of Pence as his preferred running mate the weekend before the start of the convention.{{cite news|last1=Wren|first1=Adam|title=Did Trump Just Make a Huge Mistake?|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/07/mike-pence-vp-donald-trump-indiana-214054|access-date=July 16, 2016|publisher=Politico|date=July 15, 2016}} Pence won the vice presidential nomination by acclamation.{{cite news|last1=Cook|first1=Tony|title=Gov. Mike Pence formally nominated as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/19/indiana-formally-casts-its-votes-nominate-trump-republican-national-convention/87317966/|access-date=July 20, 2016|work=The Indianapolis Star|date=July 19, 2016}}

All of the delegates from Iowa, Alaska, Utah and the District of Columbia were recorded and counted for Trump, despite the fact that Trump lost all three contests, and most of the members of those delegations had voted for other candidates. The Alaska delegation challenged the award of votes to Trump by the RNC secretary and the Utah delegation booed when its delegates were awarded to Trump, but was reminded by the RNC chairman that the rules for these two states required the votes to be awarded to whichever candidate was still in the race for the RNC Nomination for President, and that Cruz, Rubio, and the other candidates that had withdrawn from the race had forfeited these delegates based on the RNC nomination rules.{{cite news|url=http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Alaska-Republicans-shocked-to-see-all-delegates-counted-for-Trump-387547651.html|title=Alaska Republicans 'shocked' to see all delegates counted for Trump|publisher=KTUU|agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/07/19/3800065/another-rnc-delegate-revolt/|title=Delegates Say Their Votes Were Changed Against Their Will To Nominate Trump|work=ThinkProgress|access-date=July 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/politics/alaska-delegates-donald-trump/index.html|title=Why Alaska's delegates were counted for Donald Trump|first1=Tal|last1=Kopan|first2=Wade|last2=Payson-Denney|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 21, 2016}}{{cite web |last=Corbett|first=Erin|url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/173678-what-did-alaska-just-do-at-the-rnc-delegates-contested-their-recorded-votes-for-an-important |title=What Did Alaska Just Do At The RNC? Delegates Contested Their Recorded Votes For An Important Reason|work=Bustle|date=July 20, 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-delegates-react-to-rnc-vote-switch-from-cruz-to-trump|title=Utah delegates react to RNC vote switch from Cruz to Trump|first=Heidi|last=Hatch|date=July 19, 2016|publisher=KUTV|access-date=July 21, 2016}}

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In April 2016, Trump vowed to bring "some showbiz" to the convention, criticizing the party's 2012 convention in Tampa, Florida, as "the single most boring convention I've ever seen."Philip Rucker, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-promises-showbiz-at-convention-but-stars-on-stage-will-be-relatively-dim/2016/07/13/2e28d14e-4453-11e6-bc99-7d269f8719b1_story.html Trump promises 'showbiz' at convention, but stars on stage will be relatively dim], The Washington Post (July 13, 2016). The convention's lineup of speakers lacked "many of the party's rising stars" and rather featured some of Trump's "eclectic collection of friends, celebrities and relatives."Jeremy W. Peters, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/us/politics/republican-convention-speakers-donald-trump.html Speakers at Donald Trump's Convention: Tim Tebow, Peter Thiel, but No Sarah Palin?], The New York Times (July 13, 2016). Politico reported that Trump was directly involved in details of convention plans, seeking "to maximize the drama and spectacle" of the four-night event.Eli Stokols & Hadas Gold, [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trumps-gold-plated-convention-223309 Donald Trump's gold-plated convention: The celebrity billionaire is revamping everything about the GOP’s dog-and-pony show], Politico (May 18, 2016). A large number of prominent Republican elected officials said they were not interested in attending the convention or even speaking at it, seeking to distance themselves from Trump.Alex Isenstadt, [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/hardly-anybody-wants-to-speak-at-trumps-convention-224815 Hardly anybody wants to speak at Trump's convention], Politico (June 27, 2016). The Trump campaign considered the idea of having Trump speak all four nights at the convention – a break from the traditional practice of the presidential nominee taking the stage only on the final night of the convention. Ultimately, Trump decided not to speak every night.Harper Neidig, [https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/286230-trump-says-he-turned-down-offer-to-speak-every-night-at-convention/ Trump says he turned down offer to speak every night at convention], The Hill (July 1, 2016). Trump also initially stated that he would announce his vice-presidential running mate at the convention itself, rather than before the convention,[https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278910-trump-ill-announce-vp-pick-at-convention/ Trump: I'll announce VP pick at convention], The Hill (May 5, 2016). with a campaign staffer saying that "announcing the vice-presidential nominee before the convention is like announcing the winner of Celebrity Apprentice before the final episode is on the air." Trump's campaign eventually announced plans to announce a running mate the week before the conventionDavid Jackson, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/13/donald-trump-running-mate-convention-pence-gingrich-christie-sessions/87028290/ Trump says he will announce running mate on Friday], USA Today (July 13, 2016). and named Mike Pence as his running mate on July 15, 2016.Maggie Haberman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/us/politics/mike-pence-donald-trump.html Donald Trump Delivers a Long, Passionate Speech. He Introduces Mike Pence, Too.], The New York Times (July 16, 2016).

A number of figures that Trump said he would invite to speak, including boxing promoter Don King, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, were not included in the lineup. Trump wanted King to speak at the convention and raised the issue several times, reportedly until Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus "firmly explained" to Trump that King should not be invited due to his past manslaughter conviction.Jonathan Martin & Jeremy W. Peters, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/us/politics/republican-convention-speakers.html?_r=0 Scrambling, Planners of the Republican Convention Put ‘Showbiz’ Off to the Wings], New York Times (July 17, 2016). Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, a Trump supporter, declined an invitation to speak.Kim Janssen, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-mike-ditka-donald-trump-republican-convention0-630-chicago-inc-20160629-story.html Ditka declines convention invite, slams Republicans for not getting behind Trump], Chicago Tribune (June 29, 2016). An early roster of speakers obtained by the media listed former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow as a speaker, but Tebow later dismissed this as a rumor and did not appear at the convention.[http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/more-establishment-than-celebrity-in-trump-convention-lineup/ Tim Tebow: Speaking slot at Trump convention 'a rumor'], Associated Press (July 14, 2016).Victor Mather, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/sports/football/tim-tebow-republican-national-convention.html Tim Tebow Suggests He Won't Speak at Republican Convention], The New York Times (July 14, 2016). Haskel Lookstein, a prominent Orthodox rabbi, was initially set to appear at the convention to deliver the opening prayer (having accepted an invitation to do so from Ivanka Trump, a congregant), but after hundreds of American Modern Orthodox Jews urged him to withdraw from the convention, Lookstein pulled out.Julie Zauzmer, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/07/15/ivanka-trumps-rabbi-pulls-out-of-republican-convention/ Ivanka Trump’s rabbi pulls out of Republican convention] (July 15, 2016).

Trump sought to bar those who have not endorsed him from addressing the convention, making comments aimed at the former primary rivals who have declined to endorse him – Bush, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham and George Pataki.Gabrielle Levy, [https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-06-27/trump-no-endorsement-no-convention-speech Trump: No Endorsement, No Convention Speech], U.S. News & World Report (June 27, 2016). However, both Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination and lost, were eventually placed on the speakers' schedule, although "neither ... paid the expected price of that spotlight by offering an explicit endorsement."{{cite web|first=Todd J.|last=Gillman|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160717-trump-adds-rubio-rick-perry-to-convention-lineup-heavy-with-people-named-trump.ece|title=Trump adds Rubio, Rick Perry to convention lineup heavy with people named Trump|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=July 17, 2016}} Cruz met with Trump two weeks before the convention and accepted an invitation to speak. Rubio was initially not offered a speaking slot and was expected to skip the convention,Sara Murray, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/11/politics/john-kasich-republicans-2016/ How the GOP is courting John Kasich], CNN (July 12, 2016). but on July 17, 2016, it was confirmed that Rubio would address the convention via recorded video. Neither Rubio nor Cruz were listed as "headliner" speakers.

Governor Kasich did not enter the convention hall or speak at the convention, despite overtures from Trump allies Priebus and Newt Gingrich – who, along with Chris Christie, lost the running mate job to Pence – and top Trump campaign advisor Paul Manafort. Kasich said: "If I'm going to show up at the convention and I'm not going to be saying all these great things about the host, then I think it's inappropriate. I don't think that's the right thing to do." Kasich attended events outside the convention hall in support of down-ballot Republican candidates. As the convention began, the Trump campaign lashed out at Kasich for his failure to endorse, prompting an exchange that The New York Times called "remarkably bitter" and "the latest extraordinary turn in a campaign that has veered sharply away from political precedent."Jonathan Martin, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/politics/john-kasich-rnc.html?_r=0 Trump Campaign Denounces John Kasich in Ohio, Where Convention Begins], The New York Times (July 18, 2016). Manafort called Kasich "petulant" and accused him of "embarrassing his party," prompting Kasich chief political aide John Weaver to mock Trump and criticize Manafort for his work on behalf of foreign "thugs and autocrats" abroad.

On July 17, 2016, the convention planners released the convention's official schedule of events and speakers, along with themes.Kristen East, [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/rnc-events-speakers-convention-republicans-225683 RNC 2016 schedule of events and speakers], Politico (July 17, 2016). (An early, preliminary roster of speakers, "confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the convention planning," had been obtained and published by the New York Times several days earlier.) The schedule of speakers is as follows:

File:Melania Trump 2016 RNC.jpg, wife of Donald Trump, speaking on the first night]]

• Monday, July 18–"Make America Safe Again"Jonathan D. Salant, [http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/07/rnc_2016_complete_schedule_speakers_events_what_to.html RNC 2016: Complete schedule, speakers, events, what to expect from GOP in Cleveland] The Star-Ledger (July 17, 2016).

File:Paul Ryan, 113th Congress.png, the chairman of the convention, spoke on the second night]]

• Tuesday, July 19–"Make America Work Again"

File:2016 RNC day 3 905803DD-A1DB-4DCC-AE14-37BE7060948A w610 r0 s (cropped).jpg

File:Mike Pence by Gage Skidmore 6.jpg gave a speech on the third night of the convention]]

• Wednesday, July 20–"Make {{vanchor|America First}} Again"

File:2016 RNC day 4 60107225-BDFB-4A56-8715-5E4CB949C20F w610 r0 s (cropped).jpg

File:Ivanka Trump RNC July 2016 (cropped2).jpg introducing her father, Donald Trump, immediately before his speech]]

• Thursday, July 21–"Make America One Again"

Of the 19 speakers billed as "headliners," six are members of the Trump family: Trump himself, his wife Melania and four of his children, Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric and Tiffany.

These speeches received a significant amount of media attention.

{{Quote box

|quote = File:Melania Trump (8 February 2016).jpg From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life: that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise; that you treat people with respect.{{cite news|last1=Scherer|first1=Michael|title=Melania Trump Uses Phrases From Michelle Obama's 2008 Convention Speech|url=https://time.com/4412175/republican-convention-melania-trump-michelle-obama/|access-date=21 December 2016|work=TIME.com|date=19 July 2016}}"

|source = —Melania Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention

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{{external media | width = 23em | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [http://www.c-span.org/video/?412399-4/melania-trump-remarks-republican-national-convention "Melania Trump Remarks at Republican National Convention"], July 18, 2016, C-SPAN{{cite web | title =Melania Trump Remarks at Republican National Convention | publisher =C-SPAN | date =July 18, 2016 | url =http://www.c-span.org/video/?412399-4/melania-trump-remarks-republican-national-convention | access-date =July 23, 2016 }} }}

{{external media |float=right |width=23em |image1=[https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2016/07/19/National-Politics/Graphics/melania-trump-speech.jpg "Comparing Melania Trump's Speech in 2016 with Michelle Obama's in 2008"], The Washington Post, July 19, 2016. Some portions of the two speeches were "very similar" and other parts were "nearly identical".{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-national-convention-scrutiny-of-melania-trumps-speech-follows-plagiarism-allegations/2016/07/19/3efc4208-4da4-11e6-a7d8-13d06b37f256_story.html |title=Scrutiny of Melania Trump's speech follows plagiarism allegations |first1=Karen |last1=Tumulty |author-link1=Karen Tumulty |first2=Robert |last2=Costa |author-link2=Robert Costa (journalist) |first3=Jose |last3=DelReal |date=July 19, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 19, 2016 }} }}

File:Melania Trump's plagiarised speech compared with Michelle Obama's.webm's in 2008"]]

Melania Trump's speech{{cite web|title=Melania Trump Convention Speech and Transcript|url=http://2016.republican-convention.org/?speech=Melania-Trump|website=2016 Republican National Convention|publisher=Politicks.org|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724092548/http://2016.republican-convention.org/?speech=Melania-Trump|url-status=dead}} "almost immediately came under scrutiny when striking similarities were discovered between her speech" and Michelle Obama's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.Maggie Haberman, Alan Rappeport & Patrick Healy, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/us/politics/melania-trump-speech.html?_r=0 Melania Trump's Speech Bears Striking Similarities to Michelle Obama's in 2008], The New York Times (July 19, 2016). The Trump campaign at first denied allegations of plagiarism.Julian Routh, [https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/07/19/paul-manafort-blames-hillary-clinton-for-melania-trump-speech-plagiarism-allegation/ Paul Manafort Blames Hillary Clinton for Melania Trump Speech Plagiarism Allegation], The Wall Street Journal (July 19, 2016).{{cite web|url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/5041589176001/you-decide-did-melania-plagiarize-michelles-08-speech/?#sp=show-clips|title=You decide: Did Melania plagiarize Michelle's '08 speech?|date=July 19, 2016|publisher=Fox News Channel|access-date=July 21, 2016}} Campaign manager Paul Manafort argued that the speech contained "not that many similarities" and the words used are not unique words "that belong to the Obamas."{{cite web|last1=Flores|first1=Reena|title=Manafort defends Melania Trump's convention speech after plagiarism charges|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-manafort-defends-melania-trumps-convention-speech/|website=CBS This Morning|date=July 19, 2016 |publisher=CBS News|access-date=July 25, 2016}}

Following Trump's speech, freelance journalist Jarrett Hill was the first to report that the speech had large similarities.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Elisha |date=2016-07-21 |title=How a freelance journalist broke the Melania Trump plagiarism story in 3 tweets |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/21/12247504/jarrett-hill-melania-trump-plagiarism |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Vox |language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Engel|first1=Pamela|title=Melania Trump's speech appeared to lift from parts of Michelle Obama's 2008 convention address|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/melania-trump-takes-center-stage-night-one-gop-convention-2016-7 |date=July 19, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Cooper|title=Was Melania Trump's speech plagiarized from Michelle Obama?|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/19/melania-trump-republican-convention-speech-plagiarism/87278088/|work=USA Today|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 19, 2016}} Later, Chris Harrick, Vice President of Marketing at the plagiarism prevention service Turnitin, later reported that Trump used about 6% of Michelle Obama's words and found two types of plagiarism, "clone" and "find and replace".{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Eliza|title=Professors say Melania's speech would count as plagiarism|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/19/professors-weigh-in-melania-speech-plagiarism/87296008/|access-date=July 20, 2016|date=July 19, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Korn|first1=Melissa|last2=Belkin|first2=Douglas|title=Was Melania Trump Speech 'Common Words' Or Plagiarism? Professors Parse|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/was-melania-trump-speech-common-words-or-plagiarism-professors-parse-1468982640|access-date=July 19, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 20, 2016}} Various media outlets suggested that members of Donald Trump's presidential campaign should respond to the accusations, which they did a few hours after the speech in the form of the following statement by the campaign's senior communications advisor, Jason Miller: "In writing [the] speech, Melania's team of writers took notes on her life's inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking. Melania's immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it a success."Leight, Elias (July 19, 2016). [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/melania-trump-accused-of-plagiarizing-michelle-obama-speech-w429779 "Melania Trump Accused of Plagiarizing Michelle Obama Speech"]. Rolling Stone.

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, described the speech as "inspirational" but said if plagiarism were found, he thought "it certainly seems reasonable" to fire the person who wrote the speech.{{cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/2016/07/rnc_chairman_reince_priebus_itd_be_reasonable_to_fire_melania_trumps |title=RNC Chairman Reince Priebus: It'd be 'reasonable' to fire Melania Trump's speechwriter |first=Ted |last=Johnson |date=July 19, 2016 |work=Boston Herald |access-date=July 19, 2016}} Paul Manafort, Donald Trump's campaign chairman, called it a "great speech" and said "obviously Michelle Obama feels very similar sentiments toward her family". He later said "to think that she would be cribbing Michelle Obama's words is crazy", adding "This is once again an example of when a woman threatens Hillary Clinton, she seeks out to demean her and take her down. It's not going to work against Melania Trump."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/us/politics/melania-trump-speech.html |title=Questions Over Melania Trump's Speech Set Off Finger-Pointing |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |first2=Alan |last2=Rappeport |first3=Patrick |last3=Healy |first4=Jonathan |last4=Martin |date=July 19, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 19, 2016 }} Sean Spicer, director of communications for the Republican National Committee, defended the speech by saying that similar statements have existed before her speech such as quotes by John Legend, Kid Rock, and Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.{{Cite web |last=Tatum |first=Sophie |date=2016-07-19 |title=RNC official cites 'My Little Pony' to defend Melania Trump|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/politics/sean-spicer-melania-trump-my-little-pony/index.html |access-date=2024-03-18|publisher=CNN|language=en}}

David Lauter of the Los Angeles Times stated that while these allegations were unlikely to cost Trump votes, the distraction is unhelpful, referring to it as a "lost opportunity" for the campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-melania-trump-plagiarism-accusations-20160719-snap-story.html|title=Why the plagiarism allegations against Melania Trump matter for her husband's campaign|author=David Lauter|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 19, 2016}}

On July 20, 2016, the Trump campaign issued a statement by Meredith McIver which included the following:

In working with Melania on her recent first lady speech, we discussed many people who inspired her and messages she wanted to share with the American people. A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama. Over the phone, she read me some passages from Mrs. Obama's speech as examples. I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech.[https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/MeredithStatement.pdf The Trump Organization.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212082231/https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/MeredithStatement.pdf |date=December 12, 2020 }} Letter. Meredith McIver. July 20, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|title=Melania Trump's Speechwriter Takes Responsibility for Lifted Remarks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/melania-trump-speech-meredith-mciver.html|access-date=July 20, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 20, 2016}}

On July 20, two days after Melania's speech, McIver wrote that Donald Trump declined her offer to resign.{{cite news|last1=Diamond|first1=Jeremy|title=Trump aide offers resignation in Melania Trump plagiarism incident|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/trump-aide-offers-resignation-in-melania-trump-plagiarism-incident/index.html|access-date=July 20, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=July 20, 2016}}

In the second night of the convention, Governor Chris Christie gave a speech in a style of a mock trial. After a series of accusations against Hillary Clinton to which his audience responded "guilty", the crowd chanted "lock her up". The crowd's reaction has received widespread coverage following the speech.{{cite news|last1=Imbert|first1=Fred|title='Lock her up': Chris Christie leads mock trial of Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/19/lock-her-up-chris-christie-leads-mock-trial-of-hillary-clinton.html|access-date=July 26, 2016|work=CNBC|date=July 20, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Moody|first1=Chris Moody|title=The RNC's unofficial slogan: 'Lock her up'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/politics/hillary-clinton-republican-convention-chants/|access-date=July 26, 2016|work=CNN|date=July 19, 2016}}{{cite magazine|last1=Reilly|first1=Katie|date=July 22, 2016|title=Read Chris Christie's Convention Speech Attacking Hillary Clinton|magazine=Time|url=https://time.com/4419974/chris-christie-republican-convention-speech/|access-date=July 26, 2016}} The "lock her up" chant was later uttered by supporters of Bernie Sanders before the 2016 Democratic National Convention.{{cite news|last1=Gabbatt|first1=Adam|last2=Roberts|first2=Dan|title='Lock her up': Sanders supporters adopt Trump's attack line on Clinton|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/25/lock-her-up-sanders-trump-clinton-chant|access-date=July 26, 2016|work=the Guardian|date=July 25, 2016}} Clinton responded to the chant in an interview on 60 Minutes by saying that it saddened her.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=The Latest: Clinton Saddened by GOP's 'Lock Her Up' Chants|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/07/24/us/politics/ap-us-dem-2016-convention-the-latest.html|access-date=July 26, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 24, 2016}}

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|quote = File:Ted Cruz RNC July 20 2016 (A).jpg If you love our country, and love our children as much as you do, stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom, and to be faithful to the constitution."{{cite news|title=Jeers and Boos: Transcript ofTed Cruz's Speech|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/transcript-ted-cruz-convention-speech|access-date=21 December 2016|work=Roll Call|date=21 July 2016}}

|source = —Ted Cruz at the 2016 Republican National Convention

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}}

In the third night of the convention, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas gave a speech in which he did not endorse Trump for president, and instead urged listeners to "vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution."Patrick Healy & Jonathan Martin [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-mike-pence-rnc.html Ted Cruz Is Booed When He Refuses to Back Donald Trump at Convention], The New York Times (July 20, 2016). Pro-Trump delegates were enraged at Cruz's speech, shouting him down and booing him off the stage,Karen Tumulty & Sean Sullivan, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/day-3-of-republican-convention-pence-accepts-nomination-sought-for-unity-falls-short/2016/07/20/d592ff88-4e92-11e6-aa14-e0c1087f7583_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_no-name%3Ahomepage%2Fstory Day 3 of Republican convention: Pence accepts nomination; sought-for unity falls short], The Washington Post (). in what was described by the New York Times as "the most electric moment of the convention." Convention security personnel and Cruz advisor Ken Cuccinelli escorted Cruz's wife Heidi out of the hall, fearing for her safety. Newt Gingrich spoke after Cruz and said: "I had the text of what Ted Cruz was gonna say, and I thought it was funny," Gingrich said. "I mean, Ted gets up and he says, 'Look, vote your conscience for someone who will support the Constitution.' Well, in this particular election year, that by definition cannot be for Hillary Clinton."[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/newt-gingrich-ted-cruz-225936 Politico, Newt Gingrich found Ted Cruz's speech 'funny'], By Donovan Harrell, 07/21/16 The following morning, Cruz attended a contentious meeting with delegates representing Texas that resulted in what CNN labeled "a remarkable 25-minute back-and-forth with his own constituents, defying appeals from his own Texas delegation to put the party above his inhibitions and back Trump."{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/ted-cruz-republican-convention-moment/| title=Defiant Ted Cruz stands by refusal to endorse Trump after being booed during convention speech| publisher=CNN | date= July 22, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}}{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/21/politics/ted-cruz-texas-delegation-meeting/index.html| title=Why not endorse Trump? I'm not 'a servile puppy dog' Cruz tells Texas delegation| publisher=CNN | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}}

Cruz's speech sparked a backlash{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288645-cruz-wont-say-whether-hes-voting-for-trump/| title=Cruz faces backlash over Trump snub| work=The Hill | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.wcvb.com/news/ted-cruzs-rnc-appearance-triggers-backlash/40824026| title=Ted Cruz's RNC appearance triggers backlash| publisher=WCVB | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}}{{cite web | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-rnc-2016_us_5790c893e4b0bdddc4d340e2| title=Even After Republican Backlash, Ted Cruz Won't Endorse Trump 'Like A Servile Puppy'| work=The Huffington Post | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-rnc-speech-convention-backlash-2016-7| title='Condemned to Republican hell': Ted Cruz faces GOP knives for anti-Trump message at RNC speech| work=Business Insider | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}} and elicited negative reactions from prominent Republicans supporting Trump.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/21/politics/ted-cruz-reaction-convention-speech/| title=Republicans unleash how they really feel about Ted Cruz's speech| publisher=CNN | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}} New Jersey governor and former presidential candidate Chris Christie called the speech "awful" and "selfish." New York Representative Peter T. King called Cruz a "fraud" and a "self-centered liar." Senator Dan Coats of Indiana responded that Cruz was a "self-centered, narcissistic, pathological liar."{{cite web | url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/21/sen-dan-coats-calls-ted-cruz-self-centered-narcissistic-pathological-liar/87383250/| title=Sen. Dan Coats calls Ted Cruz a 'self-centered, narcissistic, pathological liar'| work=The Indianapolis Star | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}} Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, when asked about Cruz's speech, responded that she "would tell [Cruz] the same thing I would tell my kids, 'get over yourself.'"{{cite web | url=http://theslot.jezebel.com/everything-i-learned-about-women-at-the-republican-nati-1783855703| title=Everything I Learned About Women at the Republican National Convention | work=Jezebel | date= July 22, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/21/marsha-blackburn-channels-taylor-swift-tells-ted-cruz-shake-off/87391954/| title=Marsha Blackburn channels Taylor Swift, tells Ted Cruz to 'shake it off'| work=The Tennessean | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}} Susan Hutchison, chair of the Washington State Republican Party, confronted Cruz after his speech and labeled Cruz a "traitor to the party."{{cite news | url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/GOP-Chair-Hutchison-Ted-Crus-iz-a-traitor-to-8401862.php| title=State GOP Chair Susan Hutchison: Cruz a 'traitor to the party'| work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}} In addition, Cruz was denied entry to influential Republican donor Sheldon Adelson's suite at the convention.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/07/21/ted-cruz-rebuffed-by-adelsons-after-he-refuses-to-endorse-donald-trump/?tid=sm_tw| title=Ted Cruz rebuffed by Adelsons after he refuses to endorse Donald Trump| newspaper=The Washington Post | date= July 21, 2016| access-date= July 23, 2016}} Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh speculated that Cruz was trying to mimic Ronald Reagan's speech at the 1976 Republican National Convention, in that "he wanted to deliver a speech that was Reaganesque in that the delegates would walk out of there thinking that they should have nominated him. He didn't get there." Instead, Limbaugh compared his speech to Ted Kennedy's at the 1980 Democratic National Convention, in which he failed to endorse President Jimmy Carter, the nominee, by putting his own interests ahead of the interests of the party.{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2016/07/21/cruz_couldn_t_pull_off_a_reagan_in_76|title=Cruz Couldn't Pull Off a Reagan in '76|work=The Rush Limbaugh Show|date=July 21, 2016|author=Limbaugh, Rush|access-date=July 22, 2016}} In the wake of Cruz's non-endorsement of Trump, his critics believed that an intraparty challenge could be possible. GOP donors and Texas politicians asked Representative Mike McCaul to run against him in the next cycle's Texas primary in 2018, before McCaul declined to run.{{cite web|last=Raju |first=Manu |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/08/politics/ted-cruz-michael-mccaul-primary-challenge/ |title=Following RNC speech, Cruz critics urge McCaul to mount primary challenge - CNNPolitics.com |publisher=Cnn.com |date=2016-08-08 |access-date=2016-12-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Houston-energy-lawyer-to-challenge-Cruz-in-2018-11299374.php|title=Houston energy lawyer to challenge Cruz in 2018 Texas Republican primary|work=Houston Chronicle|last=Diaz|first=Kevin|date=July 19, 2017|access-date=July 19, 2017}} Later, on September 23, 2016, Cruz publicly endorsed Trump for president.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/23/politics/ted-cruz-endorses-donald-trump/|title=Ted Cruz endorses Donald Trump|author1=Theodore Schleifer |author2=Gloria Borger |author3=Dana Bash|date=September 23, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

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|quote = File:Peter Thiel 2016 RNC (1) (cropped2).jpg Instead of going to Mars, we invaded the Middle East. … It's time to end the era of stupid wars and rebuild our country. When I was a kid, the great debate was about how to defeat the Soviet Union, and we won. Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom. This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares?{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTJB8AkT1dk&t=3m53s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/UTJB8AkT1dk| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|minutes=3:53 |title=Peter Thiel, Full Speech, 2016 Republican National Convention |publisher=RNC |date=July 21, 2016}}{{cbignore}}

|source= —Peter Thiel at the 2016 Republican National Convention

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Peter Thiel, a billionaire PayPal co-founder and Silicon Valley investor, delivered a manifesto for tackling the greater issues of the day, focusing on technology, the economy and small government.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/22/thiels-trump-speech-gets-thumbs-up-from-silicon-valley-republicans.html |title=Thiel's Trump speech gets thumbs up from Silicon Valley Republicans |publisher=CNBC |first=Harriet |last=Taylor |date=July 22, 2016}}

Thiel also affirmed his pride to be "gay, a Republican and most of all an American", a stance that earned him a standing ovation, chanting "USA!".{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/21/politics/peter-thiel-gay-republican-national-convention/ |title=A gay Silicon Valley billionaire just made GOP history at the RNC |publisher=CNN |date=July 22, 2016}} It was the first time in the history of Republican National Conventions that a speaker identified himself as gay in his speech, although there have been previous speeches by gay men.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/billionaire-peter-thiel-speaks-at-gop-convention-1469155232|title=Billionaire Peter Thiel Speaks at GOP Convention|date=July 21, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=23 October 2016}}

File:Donald Trump’s acceptance speech RNC July 2016.webm making his acceptance speech for the RNC (VOA)]]

Trump, having been formally nominated as the Republican presidential nominee on the second night of the convention, spoke on the fourth and final night of the convention. Trump's speech was leaked hours in advance by Correct the Record, a liberal-leaning Super PAC, though Trump had already given copies of his speech to the network press pool.{{cite news|last1=Borchers|first1=Callum|title=How did Donald Trump's convention speech get leaked in advance?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/21/how-did-donald-trumps-speech-get-leaked-in-advance/|access-date=July 22, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 21, 2016}} Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, introduced Trump in a speech immediately before his own speech.{{cite news|last1=Serfaty|first1=Sunlen|title=Ivanka Trump delivers in prime-time|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/21/politics/ivanka-trump-republican-convention-speech/|access-date=July 22, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=July 22, 2016}} "Here Comes the Sun" was used as the entrance music for Ivanka Trump. The George Harrison estate complained about the use of this song, which his family said was "offensive and against the wishes of the George Harrison estate."{{cite news|first1=Paul |last1=Owen |first2=Scott |last2=Bixby|title='The greatest asset Trump has': Ivanka gets rave reviews for Cleveland speech|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/22/ivanka-trump-republican-national-convention-speech|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=July 23, 2016|date=July 23, 2016}}

Trump spoke for 75 minutes, making his speech the longest since at least the 1972 Republican National Convention and one of the longest acceptance speeches ever in major-party convention history. In his speech, Trump stated that America faces a "crisis" due to "attacks on our police" and "terrorism in our cities," and emphasized an important theme in his campaign: law and order.{{cite news|last1=Healy|first1=Patrick|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|title=His Tone Dark, Donald Trump Takes G.O.P. Mantle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/22/us/politics/donald-trump-rnc-speech.html|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 21, 2016}} In evaluating the speech, Glenn Thrush of Politico noted the influence of Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Ronald Reagan, and Rudy Giuliani, all of whom sounded similar themes earlier in American history in attempts to win over the "Silent Majority".{{cite news|last1=Thrush|first1=Glenn|title=5 takeaways from Donald Trump's convention speech|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/rnc-2016-donald-trump-speech-takeaways-226003|access-date=July 22, 2016|publisher=Politico|date=July 22, 2016}} Trump also promised to limit American participation in global crises and trade deals. When Trump turned to the subject of illegal immigration, many in the audience began shouting "Build the wall, build the wall," referring to a signature promise of Trump's campaign to build a wall on the Mexico–United States border. Trump also repeatedly attacked President Barack Obama and the Democratic presumptive nominee, Hillary Clinton, arguing that the country and world had become less safe during their time in office. However, Trump attempted to reach out to supporters of defeated Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, as well as down-and-out urbanites.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-sanders-never-had-a-chance/vp-BBuFekl |title=Trump: Bernie never had a chance| publisher=CNN|date=July 22, 2016}} In his speech, Trump also became the first Republican nominee to mention the LGBT community in a GOP nomination address, saying, "As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology."{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/352c499550b3401a8a66ec8c055f4a59|title=Making GOP History, Trump Vows to Protect LGBTQ Community|work=AP|author=Lederman, Josh|date=July 22, 2016|access-date=December 4, 2018}}

File:Donald Trump RNC July 2016.jpg

Philip Rucker and David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post found Trump's speech to be "relentlessly gloomy," and observed that Trump painted himself as an agent of change, while he cast Clinton as a defender of the status quo.{{cite news|last1=Rucker|first1=Philip|last2=Fahrenthold|first2=David|title=Donald Trump positions himself as the voice of 'the forgotten men and women'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-speech-at-republican-national-convention-trump-to-paint-dire-picture-of-america/2016/07/21/418f9ae6-4fad-11e6-aa14-e0c1087f7583_story.html|access-date=July 22, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 22, 2016}} Trump's speech was dubbed the "Mourning in America" speech.{{cite news|last1=Sabato|first1=Larry|title=Clinton-Kaine: A Not-So Surprising Ticket|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/clinton-kaine-a-not-so-surprising-ticket/|access-date=July 23, 2016|publisher=University of Virginia|date=July 22, 2016}} Niall Stanage of The Hill argued that Trump's speech brought stability to a turbulent convention and showed Trump at his "most comfortable and energized."{{cite news|last1=Stanage|first1=Niall|title=Trump closes convention with stabilizing speech|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288836-trump-closes-convention-with-stabilizing-speech/|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=The Hill|date=July 22, 2016}} A Politico poll found largely positive reactions among "GOP political insiders" while Democrats argued that Trump's "dark" speech would prove damaging.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/gop-convention-trump-caucus-226000|title=GOP insiders: Trump nailed it|date=July 22, 2016|publisher=Politico|last1=Shepard|first1=Steven|access-date=July 22, 2016}} The New York Post released a cover story the next day by Michael Goodwin praising Trump's speech, declaring it "the speech of his life," and also saying that the speech "could signal the start of an American revival."{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/07/21/donald-trumps-rnc-address-could-mark-the-start-of-an-american-revival/|title=Donald Trump's RNC address could mark the start of an American revival|work=The New York Post|date=July 22, 2016|author=Goodwin, Michael|access-date=July 22, 2016}} Ratings figures released by the major networks showed that approximately 32 million viewers watched Trump's speech, slightly ahead of the number that watched Mitt Romney's 2012 speech.{{cite news|last1=Grynbaum|first1=Michael|title=Republican Convention Falls Short of TV Ratings Expectations|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/rnc-ratings-trump.html|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 22, 2016}}

Some LGBT advocates critiqued Trump's reference to LGBT people, on the ground that it stood in contrast to positions he had taken on LGBT issues during the campaign; activists such as Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign and Rick Zbur of Equality California suggested that the statement was an attempt to turn LGBT people against Muslims and pit minority groups against each other.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/07/22/trump-makes-history-lgbt-inclusion-acceptance-speech/|date=July 22, 2016|title=Trump makes history with LGBT inclusion in acceptance speech|newspaper=Washington Blade|author=Chris Johnson|quote=But Trump's pledge to protect LGBT people against terrorism stands in contrast to positions on LGBT rights he has staked out on the campaign trail. ... But Trump's pledge to protect LGBT people against terrorism stands in contrast to positions on LGBT rights he has staked out on the campaign trail.}}{{cite news|last1=Zbur|first1=Rick|last2=al-Marayati|first2=Salam|title=Trump's Despicable Plan to Turn LGBTs Against Muslims|url=http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/2/27/trumps-despicable-plan-turn-lgbts-against-muslims|work=The Advocate|date=February 27, 2017|language=en|quote=During the Republican convention last year, then-candidate Trump claimed in typically hyperbolic language that 'as your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBT citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology.' But what about a hateful domestic ideology? Notably, virtually all of Trump's inner circle and Cabinet picks are virulently anti-LGBT and anti-equality.}}

A Gallup survey found that 35% of Americans saw Trump's speech positively (either "excellent" or "good"), while 36% saw it negatively.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/01/more-people-watched-donald-trumps-convention-speech-than-hillary-clintons-and-hated-it/|title=More people watched Donald Trump's convention speech than Hillary Clinton's — and hated it|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-08-02}} According to Gallup, the speech had "the least positive reviews of any speech we have tested after the fact."{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/194000/first-time-trump-image-par-clinton.aspx|title=For First Time, Trump's Image on Par With Clinton's|access-date=2016-07-27|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729225225/http://www.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/194000/first-time-trump-image-par-clinton.aspx|url-status=dead}} 36% of Americans said the convention made them more likely to vote for Trump, while 51% said it made them less likely to vote for him. This is the highest "less likely to vote" percentage for a candidate in the 15 times Gallup has asked this question after a convention. It is also the first time in Gallup's convention polling that a Democratic or Republican convention has made more say that they are less likely to vote for the party's nominee.{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/194084/americans-positive-democratic-gop-convention.aspx|title=Americans More Positive About Democratic Than GOP Convention|website=Gallup.com|date=August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-01}}

According to a CNN/ORC poll, the public rendered a split decision on whether the convention made them more or less likely to back Trump, with 42% saying more likely while 44% saying less so. 40% called the speech "excellent or good," and about half of voters (45%) said Trump's speech reflected the way they feel about things in the U.S. today. However, some negative numbers included the fact that 18% called Trump's speech "terrible," which was the highest number recorded in that category by CNN since it first started to ask the question in 1996.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-poll/index.html|title=Trump bounces into the lead|last=Director|first=Jennifer Agiesta|publisher=CNN|access-date=2016-07-27}}

According to FiveThirtyEight, poll averages suggested a post-convention bounce of 3 to 4 percentage points for Trump.{{cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/election-update-why-our-model-is-bullish-on-trump-for-now/|title=Election Update: Why Our Model Is Bullish On Trump, For Now|date=2016-07-28|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-28}}

The number of demonstrators was significantly lower than expected and, according to Cleveland records, three of five officially permitted protests planned for the first three days of the convention did not occur. Lower-than-expected was attributed to a variety of factors, including "fear of violence from the police and fear of violence from the Trump supporters"; Cleveland's relatively small size compared to cities such as Chicago or New York; and a heavy police presence.Scott Malone & Daniel Trotta, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-cleveland-protests-idUSKCN1011CS They held a convention in Cleveland, and (so far) few protesters came], Reuters (July 22, 2016).

On July 18, the convention's first day, dueling anti-Trump and pro-Trump demonstrations took place at various places in Cleveland, attracting several hundred demonstrators each. The demonstrations were peaceful,Yamiche Alcindor & Matt Flegenheimer, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/politics/gop-convention-protests-cleveland.html Peaceful, Dueling Protests So Far as G.O.P. Convention Begins], The New York Times (July 18, 2016). with just two reported arrests.Ann Domeck & Lorrie Taylor, [http://fox8.com/2016/07/19/cleveland-police-chief-5-arrests-since-the-start-of-the-rnc-strong-message-for-masked-protestors/ Cleveland police chief: 5 arrests since the start of the RNC, strong message for masked protestors], WJW (July 19, 2016).

On July 19, the convention's second day, peaceful protests continued. Demonstrators included those from groups such as the antiwar organization Code Pink and from the West Ohio Minutemen, a militia group.Tracy Connor, Jacob Rascon & Tom Winter, [https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-conventions/rnc-cleveland-protesters-get-face-arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-n612421 RNC in Cleveland: Scuffle Escalates Tensions But Calm Maintained], NBC News (July 19, 2016). Three people were arrested for criminal mischief for climbing flag poles and hanging a banner at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of convention-related arrests to five. A brief scuffle between supporters of pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and anti-Trump protesters was quickly broken up by police.Aubrey Whelan, [http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/Reporter-knocked-down-amid-scuffle-between-RNC-protesters.html Outside RNC, Infowars web site host Alex Jones gets in scuffle with anti-Nazi group], Philadelphia Inquirer (July 19, 2016). On July 21, the final day of the convention, Jones and Roger Stone interrupted a broadcast of Cenk Uygur's The Young Turks, leading to a confrontation between Jones, Stone, and Uygur.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/alex-jones-roger-stone-crashed-the-young-turks-broadcast-and-everyone-went-nuts/|title=Alex Jones, Roger Stone Crashed the Young Turks Broadcast and Everyone Went Nuts|work=Mediaite|author=Feldman, Josh|date=July 21, 2016|access-date=July 22, 2016}}

On July 20, the convention's third day, seventeen people were arrested, and two officers sustained minor injuries. The International Business Journal reported: "News reports and videos circulated on social media about the increasingly tense nature of protests that have included activists from Black Lives Matter, the Ku Klux Klan and the Westboro Baptist Church, in addition to ardent supporters for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton."Bruce Wright, [http://www.ibtimes.com/cleveland-police-assaulted-rnc-protesters-arrested-demonstrations-rage-day-3-2393391 Cleveland Police Assaulted, RNC Protesters Arrested as Demonstrations Rage on Day 3 of Republican National Convention], International Business Times (July 20, 2016).

On July 21, the final day of the convention, Donald Trump's acceptance speech was briefly interrupted by Code Pink activist Medea Benjamin.{{cite web|last1=Gupta|first1=Prachi|title=Meet the 63-Year-Old Woman Who Crashed Donald Trump's Speech at the RNC|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a61683/code-pink-medea-benjamin-rnc-trump-speech/|website=Cosmopolitan|access-date=July 22, 2016|date=July 22, 2016}}

The demonstrations were generally peaceful. Some demonstrators expressed disappointment at the low turnout.{{cite web|title=RNC Protests Rage, but Anti-Trump Organizers Ask: Where Is Everyone?|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-19/rnc-protests-rage-but-anti-trump-organizers-ask-where-is-everyone|website=US News World Report|access-date=July 26, 2016|date=July 26, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Protesters at Republican National Convention are 'extremely disappointed with turnout'|url=http://www.rawstory.com/2016/07/protesters-at-republican-national-convention-are-extremely-disappointed-with-turnout/|website=Raw Story|access-date=July 26, 2016|date=July 26, 2016}} In contrast, the 2016 Democratic National Convention saw a larger turnout and more arrests than the Republican Convention.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/dnc-protests-philadelphia-dwarf-outside-rnc-cleveland/ |title=DNC protests in Philadelphia dwarf those outside RNC in Cleveland|agency=Associated Press|date=July 25, 2016|author1=Geoff Mulvihill |author2=Megan Trimble|website=PBS}}

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• 2016 Constitution Party National Convention
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• 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries
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• 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries
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• History of the United States Republican Party
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• Mueller Report
• Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
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{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-accepting-the-presidential-nomination-the-republican-national-convention-cleveland Trump Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at RNC] at The American Presidency Project
• [http://convention.gop Official website of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2016 Republican National Convention] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028031322/http://convention.gop/ |date=October 28, 2016 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150701093619/http://www.2016cle.com/ Official website of the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee (archived)]
• [https://www.c-span.org/convention/?party=rnc C-SPAN videos (and transcripts) of all of the speeches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213221058/https://www.c-span.org/convention/?party=rnc |date=February 13, 2021 }}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Svt3kfq1c Video of Trump nomination acceptance speech for President at RNC (via YouTube)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170821084248/http://convert2mp3.net/en/index.php?p=tags Audio of Trump nomination acceptance speech for President at RNC]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q733Uzs023I Video of Pence nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at RNC (via YouTube)]
• [https://cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p128201coll0/search/searchterm/republican%20national%20convention%20(2016%20%3A%20cleveland%2C%20ohio)/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc 2016 Republican National Convention materials] in the Digital Gallery from Cleveland Public Library

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Republican National Convention

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Category:2010s in Cleveland

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