Summary
Donald Trump is in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, two days after he survived an assassination attempt
The leading Republican candidate became the party's official nominee, after a formal counting of the delegates at the convention
The former president named JD Vance, the senator of Ohio, to be his running mate and vice-president if he returns to the White House
Vance was once a Trump critic, but he has since become one of the candidate's most trusted defenders on Capitol Hill and in the media
Meanwhile, the fallout from Saturday's shooting continues - the US Homeland Security secretary says the gunman should never have had a direct line of sight, while Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle says they are working to "prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again"
Trump also enjoyed a big legal win earlier today, after a judge in Florida threw out the classified documents case against him
The Republican nominee says it should be the "first step" in dismissing other criminal cases against him
Live Reporting
Edited by Brandon Livesay, at the convention, and Phil McCausland in New York
Biden calls remark about putting Trump in bullseye 'mistake'published at 23:48
23:48
Christal Hayes
US reporterAway from the Republican convention - President Biden, in his first sit-down interview since Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt, has told NBC's Lester Holt, external that it was a "mistake" to have said we need to put "Trump in the bullseye" during a recent donor call.
Biden says he meant Democrats needed to focus more on Trump's policie and rhetoric as well as the false statements he made during the first debate.
Days after Biden made the remarks, Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.
"It was a mistake to use the word. I didn't mean it - I didn't say cross hairs. I meant bullseye. I meant focus on him. Focus on what he's doing," Biden tells Holt in a clip of the interview.
We'll bring you more from the pair's sit down when it airs later this evening.
Delegate still shaken by shooting at Trump rallypublished at 23:34
23:34
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from the conventionSome of the Republican attendees here are still rattled by the shooting that took place at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Cindy Warner, a Wisconsin delegate, was at home when she learned of the shooting and watched it unfold from her living room.
“I turned on the TV and instantly started praying," she said. "When Trump got up, it was grace. God's grace."
She felt that this was a moment to celebrate the former president.
When Wisconsin pledged its delegates to Trump this afternoon, “I felt proud,” she said.
“I felt that we will have afighter that will get back into the fight.”
Recapping the first day of the Republican conventionpublished at 23:26
23:26
Brandon Livesay
Reporting from the convention
Image source, ReutersWe've just had a few updates on the FBI's investigation into the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Before we pivot our live coverage back to the Republican convention here in Milwaukee, let's look back at some of the event's key moments so far.
- The convention kicked off earlier today - with jubilant (and dressed up) Republicans inside the high-security area, and protesters on the street outside
- Former president Donald Trump has officially been nominated as the Republican presidential candidate
- Trump also announced that JD Vance will be his running mate, meaning Vance will be the next vice president if Trump wins the election in November
Remember, you can watch the action for yourself by clicking the watch live button at the top of this page. In the meantime, here are some images from today:
Image source, EPAImage source, EPACrooks' dad called police after Butler shooting - law enforcementpublished at 23:06
23:06
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Bethel ParkCiting three law enforcement sources, CBS - the BBC’s US partner - has now reported that Matthew Thomas Crooks’ father called police after the shooting at Trump's Butler rally took place.
The nature of the call and its exact time remains unclear. The Crooks family has been cooperating with investigators.
Crooks’ motivation continues to be a mystery to investigators, and a confusing portrait has so far emerged about the 20-year-old suspect.
Earlier this afternoon, the Community College of Allegheny County, or CCAC, confirmed to the BBC that he graduated with high honours on 16 May.
A school administrator told me that a preliminary review of his records has unearthed no disciplinary, student conduct or security-related incidents involving him.
Over the course of two separate visits to CCAC’s south campus in the nearby town of West Mifflin, the BBC was unable to find any students who knew him.
Staff at Angelo’s Pizza, a restaurant in Bethel Park, told the BBC they were familiar with Crooks.
The restaurant’s owner, Sara Petko, said that staff members – some of whom were his classmates – thought he was a “loner” but that they were having trouble understanding how an otherwise quiet young man turned to violence.
“It’s just crazy, and too close for comfort,” she said. “To think that someone at basically the start of his life could do this.”
See AlsoUS: Ex-FBI counterintelligence agent aided Russian oligarchJustice Department Announces Charges and New Arrest in Connection with Assassination Plot Directed from IranU.S. Attorney Announces Charges In Connection With Foiled Plot To Assassinate U.S. Citizen In New York CityFormer Special Agent in Charge of the New York FBI Counterintelligence Division Sentenced to 50 Months for Conspiring to Violate U.S. Sanctions on RussiaFBI gets into attacker's phone but have not found a motive yetpublished at 23:00
23:00
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Bethel ParkWe've just had another update from the FBI about its investigation into the Butler shooting.
According to the bureau, technical specialists have gained access to attacker Thomas Matthew Crooks' phone.
They hope that the phone, along with other digital evidence, could provide clues to his motivation.
The FBI has also so far conducted more than 100 interviews with witnesses to the shooting, including police officers and event attendees.
So far, however, investigators have not been able to pinpoint a motive in the shooting.
A few minutes ago, I visited the Crooks' residence in Bethel Park.
Yellow police tape is still visible on the street directly in front, with investigators seen leaving the residence. A solitary police officer is blocking access to the street with his car.
I also had a clear view of the rear of the residence, although I could see no movement outside.
Unlike yesterday, it's a quiet scene. Aside from me and the police officer only people outside were a Finnish journalist, her photographer, along with a US TV journalist and a dog walker.
"Didn't know him, didn't know them," the dog walker told me.
Where do things stand with the assassination investigation?published at 22:57
22:57
Brandon Livesay
Reporting from the conventionWith the Republican convention on a short break, let's take a moment to check in on the latest updates into the investigation of the attempted assassination on Donald Trump.
My colleague Bernd Debusmann Jr is in Bethel Park - the town where the attacker identified by the FBI lived.
Bernd has been following the criminal investigation closely, and he was at the rally in Butler when Trump was attacked.
Keep following this page for the latest from Bernd.
Who is the Republican VP nominee's wife?published at 22:42
22:42
Brandon Drenon
US reporterImage source, Getty ImagesFor many, this will be their first time seeing Usha Vance, the wife of Donald Trump's vice-presidential nominee, JD Vance.
The two met as students at Yale Law School in the 2010s, according to the New York Times, before getting married in 2014.
Usha - the child of Indian immigrants - was born in California and raised in the suburbs of San Diego.
She's currently a corporate litigator at a San Francisco law firm and previously has clerked for conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice John G Roberts Jr.
Vance frequently praises his wife for her support in his career and considered her his “Yale spirit guide” when the two were classmates.
In an interview on Fox News last month, Usha said: "I believe in JD, and I really love him, and so we’ll just sort of see what happens with our life.”
Together, Vance and Usha have three children: two sons, Ewan and Vivek, and a daughter named Mirabel.
You couldn't have done better than Vance - Milford Ohio delegatepublished at 22:37
22:37
Mike Wendling
Reporting from the conventionGreg Simpson is a delegate from Milford Ohio, just a few dozen miles from Vance’s childhood home.
He had an inkling that Vance would be picked as Trump's VP nominee.
“Of the three on the shortlist, I don’t think you could have done better,” he says.
Democrats will make light of Vance’s anti-abortion views and previous opposition to Donald Trump, but Simpson is unbothered.
“If Trump is comfortable with him, then I am,” he says. “He’s flexible on some things, and that’s a good thing.”
Unity calls are fine but I don't think it's achievable - Ohio delegatepublished at 22:33
22:33
Mike Wendling
Reporting from the conventionThe Republican National Convention is taking a short break - but don't worry, there's lots for us to bring you.
I've been chatting to Ohio delegate Amanda Suffecool, who says there's "going to be so much energy around" fellow Ohioan JD Vance being named as the vice-presidential nominee.
Suffecool, chair of her county's Republican Party in the north-east part of the state, says of Vance:
Quote Message
He’s from humble beginnings and he’s young and I think a lot of people are going to think he looks like them."
Vance was one of the first Republicans to blame Saturday's assassination attempt on Trump on Democratic rhetoric - which Suffecool says is justified and that she's seen people celebrating the attack online.
Calls for unity are fine, she adds, "but I don’t think it’s really achievable".
Vance is the embodiment of the American dream - Lt Gov Hustedpublished at 22:17
22:17
Jude Sheerin
Reporting from the conventionThe Ohio delegation of Vance’s home state, in particular, is deliriously happy - according to the state’s Lt Gov Jon Husted.
“Are we ready to nominate a vice-president?," he asked the crowd just moments ago.
“He is the living embodiment of the American dream,” says Lt Gov Husted.
“He came from humble beginnings and he never forgot where he came from.”
Vance grins as he is officially named running matepublished at 22:09
22:09
We're currently hearing from officials at the Republican convention.
They tell the crowd JD Vance is officially the running mate of Donald Trump.
Vance has a huge grin and holds his arms in the air.
And a reminder, you can click watch live at the top of this page to watch along.
Country music plays as Vance walks inpublished at 22:00
22:00
Mike Wendling
Reporting from the conventionA large cheer comes up as Vance enters along with his wife to the strains of a country music song.
Vance pauses to chat with delegates from Ohio who seem in a triumphant mood.
JD Vance and his wife arrive at stadium to standing ovationpublished at 21:53
21:53Breaking
Image source, ReutersRepublican vice-president candidate JD Vance and his wife Usha have arrived at the party's national convention in Milwaukee.
He's taking to the stage now to loud cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd.
Stay with us as we bring you more on his first appearance as Trump's running mate.
Image source, ReutersHand-written signs appear for JD Vancepublished at 21:51
21:51
Mike Wendling
Reporting from the conventionSporadic chants of “JD” are breaking out here on the floor of the convention, and delegates are crowding forward to try and get a glimpse of Vance's arrival.
Some people here have handwritten "Vance" underneath their Trump posters, making their own campaign signs after the recent announcement of Vance as Trump's running mate.
We are not sure when he will arrive here, but it could be soon.
Stick with us.
'It's exciting to be part of American history'published at 21:46
21:46
Jude Sheerin
Reporting from the conventionI've been speaking to some of the attendees here at the Republican convention.
Dr Elizabeth Hinds-Ferrick, 60, is a naturalised citizen, originally from Guyana, South America, but now of Boston, Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts delegate says: "It’s exhilarating, this is my first convention. It’s exciting to be part of American history, especially after what happened to Trump on Saturday."
Hinds-Ferrick “strongly” believes the Republicans will win in November and is glad Trump picked JD Vance because Vance is “wise” and “very knowledgeable”.
She believes the US has gone “too far left" - adding "we need to come back to the centre".
The week-long Republican party gets startedpublished at 21:42
21:42
Anthony Zurcher
Reporting from the conventionThe roll call of states relaying their primary results is over here in the convention hall.
Donald Trump is now officially the nominee of the Republican Party. On Thursday he will take the stage to accept the nomination.
At the moment, the band is blasting old rock hits from one corner of the stage, and convention delegates are milling around the floor.
Later tonight there will be speeches, videos and more music.The formal part of Day One is over, and the week-long party is just starting.
Spot the Texanspublished at 21:24
21:24
Anthony Zurcher
Reporting from the conventionIt’s not hard to pick the Texas delegation out of the crowd on the floor of the Republican National Convention arena.
They’re the ones in the red western shirts and the big white Stetson hats.
They’re also one of the largest delegations to this convention, with prime seating near the front of the stage. This is because of the state’s population and heavy Republican tilt.
Regional garb is a bit of a tradition at political conventions, and the Texas Republicans take considerable pride in wearing their cowboy hats to the quadrennial gatherings.
It’s just a taste of the Texas pride that’s in store four years from now, when the Republican National Convention is scheduled to take place in Houston.
Senator McConnell gets booed by Republicanspublished at 21:06
21:06
Anthony Zurcher
Reporting from the conventionImage source, ReutersSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell may have made peace with Donald Trump, but the delegates to the Republican National Convention here in Wisconsin have not forgiven him.
When the Kentucky senator appeared on the floor of the convention arena, his face shown on the large television screens, he was roundly booed by the crowd.
As Senate majority leader, McConnell regularly sparred with then-President Trump. And after the 6 January attack on the US Capitol, he had said the former president was “morally responsible for provoking the events of that day”.
Yet McConnell announced in March that he would support the former president’s re-election bid - the last Republican leader in Congress to fall in line.
McConnell, who served as the Republican leader in the Senate since 2015, has proven to be an effective legislative tactician with a long record of accomplishment in the chamber, including helping to push through Trump’s three nominees to the US Supreme Court.
That didn’t seem to concern the Milwaukee convention crowd, though. Their response to McConnell is yet another sign that the delegates here in Wisconsin - and the Republican Party itself- have fully moved on from the party’s old guard.
Republicans officially nominate Trump for presidential electionpublished at 20:58
20:58Breaking
Donald Trump is now officially the Republican party's candidate for the presidential election.
He has received a majority of delegate nominations at the Republican National Convention.
Trump's son Eric, who was representing Florida, put Trump over the threshold.
'JD, JD, JD': Convention attendees chant Trump's vice-presidential pickpublished at 20:29
20:29
Back inside the Fiserv Forum, Republican National Convention (RNC) attendees have been reacting to the news that JD Vance will be Donald Trump's running mate.
As the former president announced his decision on social media, people at the convention in Milwaukee erupted into chants of "JD".
Image source, Getty Images
