Sites of the 2016 national presidential nominating conventions. Blue, red, green, and yellow indicate the conventions for the Democratic, Republican, Green, and Libertarian parties, respectively.
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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13] In late June 2014, Cleveland and Dallas were announced as the final two contenders to be the host city.[14] Cleveland was selected on July 8, 2014.[15]
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".[16] The Host Committee is composed of prominent Ohio business executives, civic leaders, and other community leaders.[17][18] David Gilbert, CEO of Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, is the President and CEO of the host committee.[16] 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.[19] 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.[20][21] 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.[22]
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.[2]
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.'[23]
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.[24] A highly publicized online petition[25] 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 it[26]) during the event,[27] 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."[28] The Secret Service has the authority to restrict guns, firearms or other weapons from entering any site where it is protecting an individual.[29]
The Cleveland Police Department received $50 million in federal grants to support local police operations during the event.[30] 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.[31] 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.[26][32][33][34] 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."[25][35] 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.[25] 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,[26] 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."[26]
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.[36] 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.[37] 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."[38]
Group of protesters in Cleveland's Public Square 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."[39] 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."[39] Left-wing activists have been preparing for the convention since it was announced in 2014.[39] 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.[40] 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.[41] The ACLU sued the city in federal district court on June 14, 2016.[42] 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.[43]
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.[44][45] 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.[46] 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.[44] Most notably, Governor Kasich chose to avoid the convention, while Ohio SenatorRob Portman attended the convention but avoided taking a major role in its proceedings.[47] On July 8, 2016, Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse announced that he would not attend the convention.[48] Many Republican senators did not attend the convention at all:[49] 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.[49]
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.[45][50] 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.[51]Apple Inc. followed suit, announcing that it, too, would be withdrawing funding from the convention over Trump's position on certain election issues.[52]
Seating arrangements for state and territorial delegations were announced on July 16, two days before the convention began.[53][54] 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).[55][56]
Convention committees and meetings before the Convention
Quicken Loans Arena on the eve of the conventionExterior of Quicken Loans Arena several days prior to the conventionExterior of Quicken Loans Arena on the first day of the convention (viewed from the Cuyahoga River)
There are four Convention committees, which met ahead of the convention for specific purposes under the rules of the Republican Party.[57] 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.[58] Each of the committees met the week before the convention at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland.[59] The committees are as follows:
Committee on Rules and Order of Business (or Rules Committee)
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.[60][61] The Rules Committee was chaired by Enid Mickelsen of Utah and Ron Kaufman of Massachusetts.[62]
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."[63][64][58] 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."[65] 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.[66] 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."[67] 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.[67]
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.[72][73] 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.[74]
The Committee on Arrangements handles the scheduling and logistics of the convention.[75] The committee was chaired by Steve King, former chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.[76]
On July 12, 2016, the Republican Platform Committee completed work on a draft of the party's 2016 platform.[77] The draft platform was described as "very conservative"[78] and reflective of the party's move towards the right.[79][80][81]
On foreign policy, the members of the platform committee were split between "libertarian-minded isolationists" and "national security hawks."[81] 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.[81] 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.[85] The draft platform opposed a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[81] 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.[79] The draft platform expressly echoed Trump's call for a wall to be built on the U.S.-Mexico border.[79]
The most contentious discussions held by the platform committee were discussions of social issues, particularly issues of sexuality and gender.[79][81] The draft platform took a traditionalist view on social issues, criticizing "how the modern American family has evolved".[79] 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.[79] The draft platform called for overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, by a constitutional amendment.[79] The platform also called for the appointment of judges "who respect traditional family values".[79] 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.[81][79] 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.[81][86][79][87][88]
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.[89] 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.[89] 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.[79][81]
The 2016 Republican Party platform submitted by the Platform Committee was adopted by the Convention on July 18, 2016.[90][91]
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.[92][93] Cicione tried to force a debate and vote on the platform from the floor of the convention.[92][93] Cicione's effort was unsuccessful; the delegates approved the platform by voice vote, with only a few scattered "nays" audible.[94]
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.[95][96] A simple majority of 1,237 delegates was needed to win the nomination.[97][98] Entering the convention, Trump was seen as the presumptive nominee and had the support of a comfortable majority of the delegates.[99]
Presidential nomination delegate count prior to convention
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.[99][103] 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.[99] 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.[99][104]
That morning, a petition for a roll call vote was submitted with the signatures of a majority of delegates from ten states.[105] 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.[99][105] 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.[106] 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,[99] 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.[107] 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."[99][103] Delegates, including Senator Mike Lee of Utah, sought recognition and repeatedly called for a point of order,[108] but were ignored by Womack, and reportedly had their microphones turned off.[109] Lee said he had "never seen anything like this" after Womack declined to recognize their objections and walked off the stage,[108] and Ken Cuccinelli, the Virginia delegation chairman, said the RNC "cheated" and "violate[d] their own rules."[109] The process prompted the Colorado delegation to walk out in protest.[99]
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.[118][119][120][121][122]
^The delegations of Alaska, District of Columbia and Utah reported votes for other candidates, which were nonetheless recorded by the convention secretary as bound votes for Trump according to RNC rules.[118][122]
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."[124] 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."[125]Politico reported that Trump was directly involved in details of convention plans, seeking "to maximize the drama and spectacle" of the four-night event.[126] 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.[127] 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.[126] Ultimately, Trump decided not to speak every night.[128] Trump also initially stated that he would announce his vice-presidential running mate at the convention itself, rather than before the convention,[129] 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."[126] Trump's campaign eventually announced plans to announce a running mate the week before the convention[130] and named Mike Pence as his running mate on July 15, 2016.[131]
A number of figures that Trump said he would invite to speak, including boxing promoter Don King, former Alaska governorSarah Palin and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, were not included in the lineup.[125] 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.[132] Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, a Trump supporter, declined an invitation to speak.[133] 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.[134][135]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.[136]
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.[137] 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."[138] Cruz met with Trump two weeks before the convention and accepted an invitation to speak.[138] Rubio was initially not offered a speaking slot and was expected to skip the convention,[139] but on July 17, 2016, it was confirmed that Rubio would address the convention via recorded video.[138] Neither Rubio nor Cruz were listed as "headliner" speakers.[138]
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.[139] 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.[139] 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."[140] 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.[140]
On July 17, 2016, the convention planners released the convention's official schedule of events and speakers, along with themes.[141] (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.)[45] The schedule of speakers is as follows:
Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump, speaking on the first night
Monday, July 18–"Make America Safe Again"[141][142]
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.[138]
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.[145]"
—Melania Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention
"Comparing Melania Trump's Speech in 2016 with Michelle Obama's in 2008"
Melania Trump's speech[148] "almost immediately came under scrutiny when striking similarities were discovered between her speech" and Michelle Obama's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[149] The Trump campaign at first denied allegations of plagiarism.[150][151] 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."[152]
Following Trump's speech, freelance journalist Jarrett Hill was the first to report that the speech had large similarities.[153][154][155] 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".[156][157] 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."[158]
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.[159]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."[160] 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.[161]
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.[162]
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.[163][164]
On July 20, two days after Melania's speech, McIver wrote that Donald Trump declined her offer to resign.[165]
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.[166][167][168] The "lock her up" chant was later uttered by supporters of Bernie Sanders before the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[169] Clinton responded to the chant in an interview on 60 Minutes by saying that it saddened her.[170]
Если вы любите нашу страну и наших детей так же сильно, как и вы, встаньте, говорите и голосуйте по совести, голосуйте за кандидатов вверх и вниз по списку, которым вы доверяете защищать нашу свободу и быть верными конституции. " [171]
- Тед Круз на Национальном съезде Республиканской партии 2016 года.
На третий вечер съезда сенатор от Техаса Тед Круз выступил с речью, в которой он не поддержал Трампа на посту президента, а вместо этого призвал слушателей «голосовать за свою совесть, голосовать за кандидатов вверх и вниз по списку, которым вы доверяете защищать нашу страну». свободу и быть верным Конституции». [172] Делегаты, поддерживающие Трампа, были в ярости от выступления Круза, кричали на него и выгоняли со сцены. [173] в том, что New York Times назвала «самым волнующим моментом съезда». [172] Сотрудники службы безопасности съезда и советник Круза Кен Куччинелли вывели жену Круза Хайди из зала, опасаясь за ее безопасность. [172] [173] Ньют Гингрич выступил после Круза и сказал: «У меня был текст того, что собирался сказать Тед Круз, и я подумал, что это забавно», - сказал Гингрич. «Я имею в виду, Тед встает и говорит: «Послушайте, голосуйте своей совестью за того, кто поддержит Конституцию». Что ж, в этот конкретный год выборов этого по определению не может быть для Хиллари Клинтон». [174] На следующее утро Круз присутствовал на спорной встрече с делегатами, представляющими Техас, которая привела к тому, что CNN назвал «замечательной 25-минутной беседой с его собственными избирателями, игнорируя призывы его собственной делегации Техаса поставить партию выше его запретов и запретов». поддержите Трампа». [175] [176]
Речь Круза вызвала негативную реакцию [177] [178] [179] [180] и вызвало негативную реакцию со стороны видных республиканцев, поддерживающих Трампа. [181] Губернатор Нью-Джерси и бывший кандидат в президенты Крис Кристи назвал речь «ужасной» и «эгоистичной». [181] Представитель Нью-Йорка Питер Т. Кинг назвал Круза «мошенником» и «эгоистичным лжецом». [181] Сенатор Дэн Коутс от Индианы ответил, что Круз был «эгоцентричным, самовлюбленным и патологическим лжецом». [182] Представитель штата Теннесси Марша Блэкберн , когда ее спросили о речи Круза, ответила, что она «сказала бы [Крузу] то же самое, что я бы сказала своим детям: «преодолей себя»». [183] [184] Сьюзан Хатчисон , председатель Республиканской партии штата Вашингтон , выступила против Круза после его выступления и назвала Круза «предателем партии». [185] Кроме того, влиятельного донора-республиканца Шелдона Адельсона . на съезде Крузу было отказано во входе в апартаменты [186] Консервативный радиоведущий Раш Лимбо предположил, что Круз пытался подражать Рональда Рейгана речи на Национальном съезде Республиканской партии 1976 года , поскольку «он хотел произнести речь, которая была бы рейгановской, в том смысле, что делегаты выйдут оттуда, думая, что им следует номинировал его. Он туда не попал». Вместо этого Лимбо сравнил свою речь с речью Теда Кеннеди на Национальном съезде Демократической партии 1980 года , на которой он не смог поддержать кандидата на пост президента Джимми Картера , поставив свои собственные интересы выше интересов партии. [187] По данным CNN, после того, как Круз не поддержал Трампа в СРН, его критики полагают, что внутрипартийный вызов возможен. Доноры Республиканской партии и политики Техаса попросили представителя Майка Маккола баллотироваться против него на праймериз в Техасе в следующем цикле в 2018 году. Маккол, представитель на шесть сроков и председатель Комитета внутренней безопасности Палаты представителей, еще не принял решения, но также еще не сделал этого. исключил возможность баллотироваться в Сенат. [188] Позже, 23 сентября 2016 года, Круз публично поддержал Трампа на посту президента. [189]
Вместо того, чтобы отправиться на Марс, мы вторглись на Ближний Восток. … Пришло время положить конец эпохе глупых войн и восстановить нашу страну. Когда я был ребенком, шла большая дискуссия о том, как победить Советский Союз, и мы победили. Теперь нам говорят, что главный спор идет о том, кому какой ванной пользоваться. Это отвлечение от наших реальных проблем. Какая разница? [190]
—Питер Тиль на Национальном съезде Республиканской партии 2016 года.
Питер Тиль , миллиардер, PayPal соучредитель и инвестор Кремниевой долины , выступил с манифестом по решению важнейших проблем современности, уделив особое внимание технологиям, экономике и небольшому правительству. [191] Тиль также подтвердил, что гордится тем, что он «гей, республиканец и, прежде всего, американец», и эта позиция принесла ему овации и скандирование «США!». [192] Это был первый случай в истории республиканских национальных съездов, когда оратор в своей речи назвал себя геем, хотя и раньше были выступления геев. [193]
Трамп, официально выдвинутый кандидатом в президенты от республиканской партии во второй вечер съезда, выступил в четвертый и последний вечер съезда. Речь Трампа была обнародована за несколько часов до этого организацией Correct the Record , либеральным Super PAC , хотя Трамп уже передал копии своей речи пресс-пулу сети. [194] Дочь Трампа, Иванка Трамп , представила Трампа в речи непосредственно перед его собственным выступлением. [195] « Here Comes the Sun » использовалась в качестве вступительной музыки для Иванки Трамп. Поместье Джорджа Харрисона пожаловалось на использование этой песни, которая, по мнению его семьи, была «оскорбительной и противоречила воле поместья Джорджа Харрисона». [196]
Трамп говорил 75 минут, что сделало его речь самой длинной со времен Национального съезда Республиканской партии 1972 года и одной из самых длинных приветственных речей за всю историю съездов крупных партий. [197] В своей речи Трамп заявил, что Америке грозит «кризис» из-за «нападений на нашу полицию» и «терроризма в наших городах», и подчеркнул важную тему своей предвыборной кампании: закон и порядок . [197] Оценивая речь, Гленн Траш из Politico отметил влияние Ричарда Никсона , Спиро Агнью , Рональда Рейгана и Руди Джулиани , каждый из которых ранее в американской истории озвучивал схожие темы в попытках привлечь на свою сторону « молчаливое большинство ». [198] Трамп также пообещал ограничить участие Америки в глобальных кризисах и торговых сделках. [197] Когда Трамп обратился к теме нелегальной иммиграции , многие в аудитории начали кричать: «Постройте стену, постройте стену», имея в виду фирменное обещание предвыборного штаба Трампа построить стену на границе Мексики и США . [197] Трамп также неоднократно нападал на президента Барака Обаму и предполагаемого кандидата от Демократической партии Хиллари Клинтон , утверждая, что страна и мир стали менее безопасными за время их пребывания у власти. [197] Однако Трамп попытался связаться со сторонниками потерпевшего поражение кандидата от Демократической партии Берни Сандерса , а также с бедными горожанами. [199] В своей речи Трамп также стал первым кандидатом от Республиканской партии, который упомянул ЛГБТ-сообщество в обращении Республиканской партии, заявив: «Как ваш президент, я сделаю все, что в моих силах, чтобы защитить наших ЛГБТ-граждан от насилия и угнетения со стороны ненавистного иностранного государства. идеология». [200]
Трамп выступает с речью в последний день СРН, июль 2016 г.
Филип Ракер и Дэвид Фарентхольд из The Washington Post сочли речь Трампа «безжалостно мрачной» и заметили, что Трамп изображал себя агентом перемен, в то время как Клинтон он изображал защитником статус-кво. [201] Речь Трампа получила название «Траур в Америке». [202] Найл Стэнейдж из The Hill утверждал, что речь Трампа принесла стабильность в бурный съезд и показала, что Трамп находится «наиболее комфортно и энергично». [203] Опрос Politico выявил в основном положительную реакцию среди «политических инсайдеров Республиканской партии», в то время как демократы утверждали, что «мрачная» речь Трампа нанесет ущерб. [204] На следующий день газета New York Post опубликовала статью Майкла Гудвина, в которой он похвалил речь Трампа, назвав ее «речью всей его жизни», а также заявив, что эта речь «может сигнализировать о начале американского возрождения». [205] Данные рейтингов, опубликованные крупными сетями, показали, что речь Трампа посмотрели около 32 миллионов зрителей, что немного больше, чем число зрителей, которые смотрели речь Митта Ромни в 2012 году. [206]
Некоторые защитники ЛГБТ раскритиковали упоминание Трампа о ЛГБТ на том основании, что оно противоречит позициям, которые он занимал по вопросам ЛГБТ во время кампании; такие активисты, как Чад Гриффин из « Кампании за права человека» и Рик Збур из «Равенства Калифорнии», предположили, что это заявление было попыткой настроить ЛГБТ против мусульман и настроить группы меньшинств друг против друга. [207] [208]
Опрос Gallup показал, что 35% американцев оценили речь Трампа положительно (либо «отлично», либо «хорошо»), а 36% оценили ее отрицательно. [209] [210] По данным Gallup, это выступление получило «наименее положительные отзывы из всех выступлений, которые мы проверяли постфактум». [209] 36% американцев заявили, что съезд увеличил их вероятность проголосовать за Трампа, а 51% заявили, что они снизили вероятность проголосовать за него. Это самый высокий процент «меньше шансов проголосовать» среди кандидатов из 15 раз, когда Gallup задавал этот вопрос после съезда. [209] Кроме того, это первый случай в опросе съезда Gallup, когда на съезде Демократической или Республиканской партии больше говорится о том, что они с меньшей вероятностью проголосуют за кандидата от партии. [211]
Согласно опросу CNN/ORC, общественность разделилась во мнениях относительно того, сделало ли соглашение более или менее вероятным их поддержание Трампа: 42% сказали, что это более вероятно, а 44% сказали, что меньше. [212] 40% назвали выступление «отличным или хорошим», а около половины избирателей (45%) заявили, что речь Трампа отражает их отношение к сегодняшней ситуации в США. [212] Однако некоторые отрицательные цифры включают тот факт, что 18% назвали речь Трампа «ужасной», и это был самый высокий показатель, зафиксированный в этой категории CNN с тех пор, как он впервые начал задавать этот вопрос в 1996 году. [212]
По данным FiveThirtyEight, средние результаты опросов предполагают, что после съезда Трамп поднимется на 3-4 процентных пункта. [213]
Число демонстрантов оказалось значительно меньше, чем ожидалось, и, согласно отчетам Кливленда, три из пяти официально разрешенных акций протеста, запланированных на первые три дня съезда, не состоялись. Более низкий, чем ожидалось, результат был обусловлен рядом факторов, в том числе «страхом насилия со стороны полиции и страхом насилия со стороны сторонников Трампа»; Относительно небольшой размер Кливленда по сравнению с такими городами, как Чикаго или Нью-Йорк; и сильное присутствие полиции. [214]
18 июля, в первый день съезда, в различных местах Кливленда прошли дуэльные демонстрации против и в поддержку Трампа, собрав по несколько сотен демонстрантов в каждом. Демонстрации были мирными, [215] сообщалось всего о двух арестах. [216]
20 июля, на третий день съезда, были арестованы семнадцать человек, а двое офицеров получили легкие ранения. The International Business Journal сообщил: «В социальных сетях распространяются новостные сообщения и видеоролики о все более напряженном характере протестов, в которых участвуют активисты Black Lives Matter , Ку-клукс-клана и Баптистской церкви Вестборо , а также ярые сторонники Дональда Трампа и Хиллари Клинтон». [220]
21 июля, в последний день съезда, приветственная речь Дональда Трампа была ненадолго прервана активисткой Code Pink Медеей Бенджамин . [221]
^ Яффе, Александра (23 января 2015 г.). «Установлена дата проведения Национального съезда Демократической партии» . CNN . Проверено 25 августа 2015 г. Июльская дата на два месяца раньше съезда демократов 2012 года, но она настраивает демократов на то, чтобы немедленно следить за торжествами Республиканской партии ... Республиканцы перенесли свой съезд на месяц назад в надежде избежать затяжной первичной битвы, которая привела к расколу партии. и их кандидат 2012 года ранен перед всеобщими выборами
↑ Фрэнк Локвуд, Вуд выбран в мандатный комитет Республиканской партии , Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette (10 июня 2016 г.) («Чиновник Республиканского национального комитета сравнил конкурсный комитет с судом первой инстанции, а мандатный комитет с апелляционным судом»).
^ Ребекка Берг, Неизвестная комиссия может иметь большое влияние на съезд Республиканской партии , RealClearPolitics (2 мая 2016 г.) (Комитет СРН по конкурсам ... будет оценивать проблемы, с которыми сталкиваются делегаты съезда, выбранные на уровне штата, с правом рекомендовать делегатам быть аннулирован Комитетом по полномочиям съезда».).
^ Берг-Андерссон, Ричард Э. «Республиканский съезд» . Зеленые книги . Проверено 9 июня 2016 г. «Жесткий подсчет» «Зеленых книг» «состоит из подсчета делегатов Национального собрания, поскольку они формально распределяются между кандидатами в президенты (или в ряды «неприверженных») в соответствии с правилами, регулирующими отбор таких делегатов в каждом штате или штате. другая юрисдикция».
^ Берг-Андерссон, Ричард Э. «Сводка республиканских обещанных и необязательных делегатов» . Зеленые книги . Проверено 9 июня 2016 г. «Мягкий подсчет» «Зеленых книг» отражает «поддержку каждого кандидата в президенты как со стороны делегатов, внесших обязательства, так и со стороны необъявленных делегатов – независимо от того, распределены ли они официально или нет – как лучше всего можно оценить по «Зеленым книгам»; предположительно, оно может меняться даже изо дня в день, поскольку претенденты на пост президента могут быть вытеснены из гонки за выдвижение - возможно, освобождение всех делегатов, которые, возможно, уже были формально закреплены за ними - или делегаты, оказавшиеся в рядах «непривязанных», могут начать указывать поддержка конкретного кандидата в президенты еще до того, как этим летом соберутся национальные съезды! Число делегатов, перечисленных как «доступные» в мягком подсчете, «еще не оценено».
^ Крис Джонсон (22 июля 2016 г.). «Трамп вошел в историю, включив ЛГБТ в свою приветственную речь» . Вашингтон Блейд . Но обещание Трампа защитить ЛГБТ от терроризма контрастирует с позицией по правам ЛГБТ, которую он отстаивал в ходе предвыборной кампании. ... Но обещание Трампа защитить ЛГБТ от терроризма контрастирует с позицией по правам ЛГБТ, которую он отстаивал в ходе предвыборной кампании.
^ Збур, Рик; аль-Мараяти, Салам (27 февраля 2017 г.). «Гнусный план Трампа настроить ЛГБТ против мусульман» . Защитник . Во время съезда Республиканской партии в прошлом году тогдашний кандидат Трамп заявил в типично гиперболическом языке, что «как ваш президент я сделаю все, что в моих силах, чтобы защитить наших ЛГБТ-граждан от насилия и угнетения со стороны ненавистной иностранной идеологии». А как насчет ненавистной внутренней идеологии? Примечательно, что практически все члены ближайшего окружения Трампа и члены кабинета министров яростно выступают против ЛГБТ и равенства.
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2016 U.S. presidential election
"Melania Trump Remarks at Republican National Convention", July 18, 2016, C-SPAN[146]
"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".[147]
