Live updates: Trump expected to announce VP pick Monday at ...

It's finally here — the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

There's a lot happening Monday at the RNC, including an expected appearance at the convention by former President Donald Trump — and an expected announcement about his vice president pick.

The Journal Sentinel is providing live coverage so you can follow along here for updates throughout the day. Be sure to refresh your browser often for the latest info.

Fox News’ Bret Baier says Trump confirmed to him he’ll announce his running mate Monday afternoon.

Sources said the schedule calls for a vice presidential nomination shortly after 3:30 p.m., local time; Trump may make an announcement before then.

Top names for the spot include Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. But it’s not out of the question that Trump will make a more surprising pick.

Trump had previously hinted he would announce his VP at the RNC, though that announcement typically came a few days before the convention in campaigns.

— Hope Karnopp and USA TODAY's David Jackson

More: Donald Trump says there's a 'pretty good chance' he will announce VP pick in Milwaukee at Republican National Convention

More: Trump's VP options: Sizing up their pros and cons from J.D. Vance to Kari Lake

As hundreds gathered in Red Arrow Park Monday, Kobi Guillory, a Chicago teacher and central committee member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, kicked off the press conference with a focus on Palestinians in Gaza.

“Our government, in a bipartisan initiative, is committing genocide in Palestine with our tax dollars and reinforcing daily militarism,” Guillory said.

Ahead of the march, Coalition Co-Chair Omar Flores said he expected the top issues for marchers would be abortion rights and standing with Palestinian people.

On Oct. 7, Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in a cross-border raid into southern Israel, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel has retaliated with an intense military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, including women and children, medical authorities in Gaza have said.

Several people told the Journal Sentinel they had come from Atlanta and Minnesota with Gaza top of mind.

Victoria Hinckley, who said she was expelled from the University of South Florida for her involvement in a Palestinian-solidarity encampment there, attended the march with others from Students for a Democratic Society. Hinckley’s remarks Monday focused on abortion.

“These attacks on reproductive freedom and abortion access are harshly felt in the South, especially in states like Florida and Texas with the emergence of anti-abortion bills banning abortion within the first few weeks of pregnancy,” she said.

— Rory Linnane and Ashley Luthern

Bill Nantell and girlfriend Kathleen Joynt, both in their mid-70s who live near downtown Milwaukee, said they came to Red Arrow Park Monday to march against Republican policies on abortion, racism and senior benefits.

"I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans," Nantell said. "This is not a Republican Party I am familiar with at all."

Nantell said he would like President Joe Biden to step aside for a younger candidate. But he will vote for him if Biden stays in.

— John Diedrich

A handful of street evangelists stood in a strip of shade on Haymarket Square Park, at North King Drive and West McKinley Avenue, holding signs with Bible verses.

One man with a microphone was preaching to a near-empty park.

Warren Marquardt of Polk City, Florida, affiliated with Calvary Chapel, said he attends four or five public events a year to spread his message. He recognized the other preachers as regulars at big events.

“There’s no politician that’s going to come on the scene and make it all right,” he said.

Stirling Long of Dawsonville, Georgia, affiliated with Providence Bible Church, a Reformed Baptist church, held a sign that read, “Are you going to Heaven? Free test.”

Asked about the Republican Party’s softer abortion stance in its RNC platform, Long said he would not “vote for baby killers.”

“They’re doing it for votes,” he said. “This is a game.”

Marquardt also distanced himself from the GOP stance on abortion, saying, “God will do what God wants to do,” no matter the president in office.

Elsewhere along the security perimeter, streets were quiet. Event security staff in orange T-shirts milled around chatting. Police boats trawled the river.

— Sophie Carson and Kathryn Muchnick

Posters for an upcoming movie on President Ronald Reagan have popped up around the security perimeter in Milwaukee.

"Reagan" stars Dennis Quaid and is scheduled to be released Aug. 30.

The RNC is also screening "Reagan" all day every day in the Regency Ballroom at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center for convention-goers.

— Ricardo Torres

Mid-Monday morning, white vendor tents were going up between the Baird Center and Panther Arena for Convention Fest, where those with credentials can experience local food and products.

Among the 100 local businesses participating in Convention Fest are Immy's African Cuisine and Scrima's Pizza. A Wisconsin cheese curds tent was in a prime location.

In the center of the road stood a replica of the Little White Schoolhouse from Ripon, Wisconsin, considered to be the birthplace of the Republican Party.

— Hope Karnopp

A team of actors and artists from Climate Power, a strategic communications organization that seeks to educate Americans on climate change, debuted a public art installation in the windows of the Germania Building, 135 W. Wells St., Monday morning. It’s located just outside the RNC's hard security perimeter.  

The exhibit features five street-facing window displays depicting life-sized scenes of people affected by extreme weather situations, including excessive heat and flooding. Actors will bring to life the experiences of real extreme weather survivors who Climate Power and its partner artists have interviewed. 

New York-based artist Annie Saunders said the installation is inspired by museum dioramas.  

“The aesthetic of a diorama is recognizable; it’s usually for history, it’s for prehistory, it’s for things that were frozen in time and are not happening anymore ...,” she said. “So, using that aesthetic to represent something that is happening but is being willfully ignored is what we’re trying to do.” 

The first window of the exhibit depicts a child’s playroom affected by extreme heat. A small plastic chair is melting, crayon wax is pooling on the table, construction paper pinned to the wall is fading, and the wallpaper is curling at the edges. An actor tries frantically to start an air conditioner.  

Another window shows men in suits sitting around an office table for a business meeting with their heads literally stuck in a pile of sand in the middle of the table. File cabinets in the hallway leading to the meeting room are strewn about and black tar leaks out of them. 

Saunders said this represents politicians and officials who “have their heads in the sand” when it comes to the effects of climate change and choose to accept donations from oil and gas companies.  

“The problem with climate change is it’s so conceptual, and the language is so saturated ...,” Saunders said. “It’s being communicated with words, which are fundamentally abstract objects, and you have to hear the word and then have a visual or an emotional response.” 

Due to the installation’s proximity to the RNC, Saunders said Climate Power hopes to send a message to elected officials and people in power. She hopes the images stick with officials and help them realize that they too could be the victims of extreme weather. 

“Extreme heat and these issues do not discriminate on the basis of wealth and power,” Saunders said. “It’s coming for everyone.” 

Saunders and the Climate Power team have been working on the installation for over two months and have been setting it up on the Germania Building’s first floor for five days. Passersby will be able to see it through the windows all day Monday and until about noon Tuesday.  

— Claire Reid

Organizers with the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 are setting up Monday morning at Red Arrow Park, where they plan to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. and rally at 11 a.m. before marching in protest outside the RNC. 

Several hundred people already had gathered at the park by 10 a.m. and the event is expected to draw more than 5,000 people. 

Organizers plan to march within a block of the convention’s main site, Fiserv Forum. They have remained committed to the plan despite heightened anxiety about security in the city after the apparent assassination attempt against Trump. 

The coalition plans to avoid the credentials-only “hard” security zone around the RNC but plans to enter the “soft” security zone. While the city has a sanctioned march route in the soft zone, the group plans to take its own route to get closer to Fiserv.  

On Friday, Coalition Co-Chair Omar Flores said the group had a "handshake agreement" with city officials that the group would be allowed to use its own route. City officials didn’t confirm such an agreement but confirmed they were working with the group to ensure marchers could safely exercise their rights. 

The “soft” security zone has special rules under the city’s extraordinary event ordinance, including a ban on certain items like non-plastic water bottles, umbrellas with a metal tip, bike locks, and bags larger than 18-by-13-by-7 inches.  

The Coalition consists of local and national organizations, including the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Anti-War Committee.

While the groups' individual missions vary, the Coalition's shared priorities include fighting for reproductive rights, standing with Palestinians and defending the rights of immigrants and LGBTQ people. Many organizers are also unsatisfied with the Democratic Party and plan to protest the Democratic National Convention in August in Chicago. 

— Rory Linnane and John Diedrich

If there's a official beer of the RNC, it might be at Major Goolsby's.

The well-known sports bar, just on the outside of the convention hard security zone, partnered with Broken Bat Brewing Company to release Screamin' Eagle Lager.

The restaurant describes the beer as "crisp, refreshing." It's available in 16-ounce cans "until we sell out!"

"A beautiful spin on our traditional Eagle, all artwork was down by our very own Orissa Camille," the restaurant wrote on Facebook. "Get them while they last!"

— Ricardo Torres

A long line of cars and other vehicles had formed by 8 a.m. along North Water Street, leading up to a security checkpoint on West Michigan Street near North Plankinton Avenue.

The cars were waiting to go through one of the five security checkpoints along the edge of the security zone surrounding the RNC.

Law enforcement personnel were instructing drivers at the checkpoint on West Michigan Street to open the hoods of their vehicles, roll down all windows and remain in their vehicles. Once at the checkpoint, law enforcement opened each vehicle’s trunk to check inside and walked a canine around the vehicle.

From near the front of the line at 7:45 a.m., Olivia Rivers of Racine said she had been waiting in line about an hour and a half. She works at the 3rd Street Market Hall and had gotten in line about 6:20 a.m. She was supposed to start work at 7.

“The Market Hall told us we’d need an extra hour of travel time,” she said. “I didn’t figure it would take this long.”

Britney Carter of Milwaukee also works inside the security zone and was late to work Monday morning because of the delays.

“I didn’t know it would be like this,” she said.

She works at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and waited in line for about 40 minutes.

Avery Leo, who lives in the security zone, also didn’t expect the long wait and said he would consider taking a different route to get home.

“It’s annoying,” he said.

— Sarah Volpenhein

The downtown “soft” security zone/footprint where pedestrians can freely cross inside, was quiet Monday morning.

Pedestrians with various levels of credentials — or not — walked through and police at the fences denoting the credentials-only “hard” zone seemed relaxed. A few vehicles moved through the area.

— Alison Dirr

As part of its Democracy Forward campaign, Microsoft Corp. is offering free training in Milwaukee on Monday aimed at helping political campaigns, activists and party officials identify and address deep fakes, which are images or videos convincingly altered to misrepresent someone as doing or saying something they didn’t actually do or say.

The sessions, focused on women, democracy and elections, are at noon and 5 p.m. at Northern Lights, an event venue at 106 W. Seeboth St. Speakers will include Ginny Badanes, general manager of the Democracy Forward campaign; and Republican U.S. Reps. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma; Burgess Owens of Utah; and Kat Cammack of Florida.

— Rick Barrett

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson may have played a serendipitous role in Trump surviving the Saturday assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.  

That’s because Trump, as he detailed in an interview with the New York Post, turned his head slightly the moment before shots were fired to read a chart on illegal immigration. The source of that chart? Johnson, who spoke about it on Fox News's Special Report with Bret Baier.

In an interview with Baier, the senator said he initially showed a chart on illegal immigration to Trump on a plane ride to a rally in Green Bay. The senator said that Trump liked the chart, and his team took it, tweaked it and used it at the Saturday rally.

A bullet pierced Trump's right ear, but he wasn't seriously injured.

“I’m happy to have been of service there,” Johnson said on the Fox News program.

— David Clarey

Police made two arrests near the Republican National Convention grounds and its events Sunday.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said both incidents involved drunk people. One person was arrested near the Summerfest grounds, near where a convention welcome party was being held, and another was arrested after driving into a security barrier near the convention.

“The events overnight were described to me as really uneventful,” Johnson said at a morning press conference. “There’s been a lot of preparation that’s gone on into the planning of this political convention and the bulk of that planning has been directly involved in and around the area of public safety.”

— David Clarey

The weather forecast looks hot for the convention's first day.

Milwaukee is expected to see a high of 89 degrees around 5 p.m., with a heat index of 95, according to the National Weather Service. Heat indices in the 90s are expected between 1 and 8 p.m. High humidity is also in the forecast throughout the day, causing things to feel "uncomfortable," said Milwaukee-Sullivan NWS meteorologist Marcia Cronce.

The heat and humidity should feel similar to Sunday, when Milwaukee County was under a heat advisory. However, a heat advisory isn't expected to be issued Monday because heat indices will be just below 100 degrees instead of at or over 100, Cronce explained. Still, the Weather Service urges people to stay hydrated, limit time outside and take other precautions to prevent heat-related illness.

Showers and thunderstorms are possible between 7 p.m. and midnight, with chances peaking at 62% around 9 p.m. Some storms could be severe, Cronce said, with damaging winds being the main threat.

Heavy rain, hail and even tornadoes are possible, Cronce added. The risk for severe storms is more likely near the Illinois border. Brief, heavy downpours are likely but shouldn't stay over single areas for extended periods.

The hot weather should subside by Tuesday after a cold front moves in overnight, Cronce said.

— Claire Reid

The first official session of the convention starts at 12:35 p.m. and runs until 4:45 p.m. A second official session will follow at 5:45 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m.

However, the day is littered with events before and after the official sessions.

The events kick off at 8 a.m., with The Heritage Foundation’s policy-centric event called the Heritage Policy Fest: Fighting for America’s Future and state delegation breakfasts throughout the early morning. Other events include things like a screening of "Reagan," the 2024 Dennis Quaid-led biopic of the former president.

The convention isn't open to the general public, but according to an RNC spokesperson, you can stream it on YouTube, X, Facebook Live, Rumble, Amazon Prime, Twitch and Direct TV.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will also be streaming RNC events.

The City Channel will broadcast the Republican National Convention beginning at 6 p.m. Monday. It'll air 24/7 and end at midnight Friday. Viewers can watch via Spectrum Cable on Channel 25 as well as on the “Livestream 1” feed.

Other coverage will be available through Spectrum News and Fox News Media.

The official convention watch party takes place each day at the Drink Wisconsinbly Pub, 320 W. Highland Ave., across from Fiserv Forum.

Throughout the week, guests are invited to attend official sessions at the convention venues; group receptions; groups like Moms for Liberty, the American Jewish Committee and the European Union will host events; and there will be more movie screenings, too.

Many events require tickets or registration and more information can be found here.

— David Clarey

In a briefing outside City Hall early Monday morning, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he would avoid focusing on political differences in light of the attempted assassination of Trump.

Johnson, a vocal supporter of President Joe Biden’s re-election bid, instead struck a tone of unity.

“While Democrats and Republicans differ substantially on how we get there, the fact of the matter is … that we all want people of this country to succeed,” he said. “We want families in Milwaukee to have the opportunity to thrive. We want financial stability. We want peace, we want growth, we want health for citizens here, across our state and across our country.”

Johnson also said he thought Biden was “showcasing leadership” in the wake of the attack on Trump by pausing political ads and events.

He also acknowledged the presidential election rematch between Trump and Biden in November.

“Although the president may not be engaging in political activity in this specific moment in light of what’s happened, I’ve got no doubt that those things will continue,” Johnson said. “Obviously, the Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago next month and the president will have the opportunity to showcase the difference between his policies, what he’s done, what he intends to do for the United States and its people in the future.” 

He said he was looking forward to serving as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention and working to ensure Biden wins a second term in November.

Johnson said he felt “great” about having the RNC in the city, saying he wanted the event to serve as a stepping stone toward further growth.

— Alison Dirr

The Secret Service has "strengthened" its security plan in the wake of Saturday’s attempted assassination of Trump, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said in a statement Monday morning.

“I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting,” Cheatle’s statement said.

“In addition to the additional security enhancements we provided former President Trump's detail in June, we have also implemented changes to his security detail since Saturday to ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign.”

The statement comes a day after the Secret Service’s RNC coordinator, Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, said the agency was “not anticipating any changes to our operational security plans.”

In Monday’s statement, Cheatle said the security plans for events like the RNC are “designed to be flexible.”“As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the direction of the President, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as necessary in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee,” she said. 

The Secret Service has come under intense scrutiny after a gunman was able to shoot and injure Trump in the right ear during a campaign rally Saturday in Pennsylvania from a nearby rooftop. One man, Corey Comperatore, was killed and two people were injured, and Secret Service snipers killed the gunman, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks.

— Sarah Volpenhein

Former President Donald Trump will make an appearance Monday at the Republican National Convention, said RNC committee member David Bossie in an interview with WISN-TV (Channel 12).

Trump has yet to name his vice presidential pick. Asked whether a running mate would join Trump on stage Monday, Bossie said: "I don't get ahead of him, but that's — the plan is, it's imminent, for certain."

Trump’s motorcade arrived Sunday night at the Pfister Hotel, where many expect he'll be staying.

Secret Service agents lined the perimeter and eyed the surrounding rooftops as dozens of SUVs pulled up to the storied hotel.

Trump, however, could not be spotted exiting his vehicle. A tent was waiting outside the entrance, and security quickly pulled the curtains shut.

— Genevieve Redsten

The Coalition to March on the RNC held a press conference Sunday afternoon to share updates on their planned march route Monday.

On Friday, organizers shared a revised route plan and said they had reached a “handshake agreement” with the Milwaukee Police Department and the city attorney’s office, though city officials didn't confirm the agreement.

Omar Flores, the coalition’s co-chair, said the group reconfirmed the route with the city Saturday night.

The group said Sunday that a representative from the city attorney’s office would join the route “to ensure that there’s no problems.”

The route is separate from the city’s designated parade route.

Flores said the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump does not change their messaging. Asked multiple times by reporters if the group condemned the shooting, Flores repeated “it has nothing to do with us.”

The coalition will hold a press conference 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a rally at 11 a.m. and a march at noon. The group currently only plans to march Monday.

— Hope Karnopp

Numerous downtown Milwaukee streets will be closed in downtown Milwaukee in and around the security perimeter until Friday at about 1 a.m.:

• West Wisconsin Avenue closed between Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and James Lovell Street
• West Wells Street closed between Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and James Lovell Street
• West Kilbourn Avenue closed between Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and North 8th Street
• Kilbourn Avenue exit tunnel closed from Interstate 43
• Kilbourn Avenue entrance tunnel closed to I-43
• West State Street closed between North 8th Street and Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
• West Juneau Avenue closed between North 8th Street and Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Moderne Condo garage will be accessible to residents)
• Northbound I-43 offramp closed at eastbound and westbound Fond du Lac Avenue
• West Fond du Lac Avenue, West McKinley Avenue and East Knapp Street closed between I-43 and North Water Street
• Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, no northbound traffic past West Juneau Avenue (the Aloft Hotel will be accessible to guests)
• Old World 3rd / Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, no southbound traffic past West McKinley Avenue
• North Vel R. Phillips Avenue closed between West Michigan Street and West McKinley Avenue (the parking garage entrance on North Vel R. Phillips Avenue immediately south of West Michigan Street will be accessible to vehicles)
• North 6th Street closed between West Michigan Street and West McKinley Avenue (the 5th Street Parking Garage will be accessible to residents of the 550 Ultra Lofts Building and guests of the Trade Hotel via 6th Street)
• North James Lovell Street closed between West Wells Street and West Juneau Avenue
• Southbound I-43 ramp closed from Fond du Lac Avenue
• Eastbound I-794 ramp closed from North James Lovell Street

Also, the westbound I-794 ramp to the northbound I-43 ramp will have intermittent closures as needed for bus traffic.

Widespread street parking restrictions will also be in effect until Sunday.

— Claire Reid

More: What Milwaukeeans need to know about the RNC, including road closures, parking, venues and more

Multiple Milwaukee County Transit System bus routes will be disrupted or follow detours until Friday, including the East-West Bus Rapid Transit CONNECT 1. There will also be disruptions to the County's paratransit service, Transit Plus, for riders with disabilities.

Bublr Bikes, Milwaukee's bikeshare system, will shut down seven of its stations until Friday. The stations are all located downtown in and around the security perimeter.

Milwaukee's Hop streetcar will run on a normal schedule from 5 a.m. to midnight and arrive every 15 minutes.

— Claire Reid

The RNC begins Monday, July 15.

The convention runs four days, from Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18.

The convention venues are closed to all but delegates, politicians, media members and volunteers. However, there are plenty of ways to watch the RNC. Numerous platforms will stream the convention, including the Journal Sentinel. FOX News Media will also have coverage across all of its platforms.

Here's the master schedule of events for the Republican National Convention.

The convention is closed to all but delegates, politicians, media members and volunteers.

Throughout the week, guests are invited to attend official sessions at the convention venues; affinity group receptions; lectures and presentations; and film screenings.

Many events require tickets or registration; be sure to consult the master calendar for information on how to register.

The official convention watch party takes place each day at the Drink Wisconsinbly Pub, 320 W. Highland Ave., across from Fiserv Forum.

— Claire Reid

Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, is the main venue for the RNC. That's also where the first Republican debate was held in August. Thousands of delegates will gather there to hear the big speeches.

The nearby University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center will also be used as spaces for the event.

Here's more about each venue:

— Hope Karnopp

Unless you're a delegate, politician, media member or volunteer, you won't be able to attend the RNC. Those attendees already have credentials to get inside the convention venues.

In other words, you can't buy a ticket to get into the convention if you're a member of the public.

But there are other RNC-related events that are open to the public. And, there are plenty of ways to watch the RNC. Numerous platforms will stream the convention, including the Journal Sentinel. Fox News Media will also have coverage across all of its platforms.

— Hope Karnopp

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago — less than 100 miles south of the RNC — from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.