How to Watch What Happens at the Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention kicked off today, and while President Trump has already been reappointed (and apparently adopted), you now have the chance to spend the next four nights listening to dozens of supporters explain why. As a bonus, the event was partly planned by two producers of Trump’s television fame reality show The Apprentice , so you know it’s going to be downright down to earth.
How to view the exit
While convention programming runs throughout the day, each day’s keynote addresses are scheduled to start at 8:30 pm ET every night and last 2-2.5 hours. (Coverage and analysis may air at different times on different channels.)
If you’re just looking for a live stream, you can watch it on RNC’s Facebook , Twitter , YouTube, and Prime Video pages . New York Times will also be broadcast every evening in the live commentary.
If you prefer cable TV, you can watch it on ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox News from 10pm to 11pm ET. CNN will provide coverage from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am, MSNBC from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am and PBS from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm C-SPAN will also cover the event.
For audio only: follow NPR or watch the Spotify playlist that prepares at the end of each evening.
Who to look at at the convention
Unsurprisingly, President Trump is expected to speak every evening at 10 p.m. You will also receive news from six members of the Trump family, including the first lady and all of his children, during the week. And, of course, Vice President Mike Pence will take the stage on Wednesday night.
The full lineup is long, but here are a few highlights:
- Monday: Donald Trump Jr., Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Congressman known for gas masks, and Mark and Patricia McCloskey , a couple facing felony charges after pointing guns at protesters passing by their home in St. Louis.
- Tuesday: Melania Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Nick Sandmann, a high school student who went viral with a Native American activist at a 2019 demonstration in Washington DC.
- Wednesday: The Pence family, former councilor Kellianne Conway (retired this week ) and civil rights activist Clarence Henderson.
- Thursday: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, Rudy Giuliani, and UFC President Dana White
Since the convention cannot be held entirely in person, attendees will come from a wide variety of locations, including the White House lawn. This drew a lot of criticism, as the Hatch Act restricts what campaigning federal employees can carry out in their official positions.
Technically, Trump himself is exempted from the Ransom Act, but Melania Trump will be speaking from the Rose Garden, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be present practically during his official trip to the Middle East .