RNC Day 3 takeaways: JD Vance accepts baton as MAGA heir apparent

Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance was met with fanfare Wednesday in his debut as the heir apparent to the Republican Party under its new MAGA banner.

The 39-year-old Ohio senator was selected to be Donald Trump’s running mate earlier this week in a process that was more like his boss's old reality TV show, "The Apprentice."

Allies advertise their newly minted vice presidential pick as the millennial messenger to a conservative cause that is looking to expand its electoral map as it beams with confidence in the last leg of the 2024 presidential election.

Trump is the "last, best hope to restore" the country, he said, before listing a series of issues at stake this year.

"This is about single moms like mine, who struggled with money and addiction but never gave up," Vance said.

"And I am proud to say that tonight my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober. I love you, Mom."

Vance's heartfelt moment aside, Republicans spent much of the convention's third day leaning into the need for asserting American power. They showcased a parade of veterans, law enforcement officers and others who underscored how strength is essential.

"If you provoke the United States of America, we will hurt you," said David Bellavia, a retired U.S. Army veteran, told the audience.

"And if you threaten citizens of the United States of America, we will hurt you for generations to come, so help me God."

Here are the moments that stuck out on the third day of the Republican National Convention.

JD Vance carves out role as lunch pail messenger

Vance, author of the best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, used his speech to guide the audience through a biography growing up in rural Ohio.

It was a place filled with people who "spoke their minds, built with their hands, and loved their God, family, community and country."

But it is a region, "cast aside and forgotten" by the country’s "ruling class in Washington," Vance said.That working-class background makes Vance a favorite with populists who want to leverage Midwest and Rust Belt voters. Much of it sounds like a younger Biden, who leaned on his Pennsylvania upbringing and working-class storytelling as a Delaware senator.

Vance admitted being the running mate to Trump, a New York real estate mogul, may seem odd to some, as he slammed “Wall Street barons” who crashed the U.S. economy more than 15 years ago.

But the VP nominee's goal was a clear indication as he talked up his "Mamaw." His role is letting that herd of voters know one of them will be in the White House should Trump successfully return to power.

“And I promise you one more thing," Vance said. "The people of Middletown, Ohio, and all the forgotten communities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and every corner of our nation I promise you this: I will never forget where I came from."

Strength a centerpiece as GOP seeks contrast with Biden's age, frailty

If there is an idea that bonds the Trump coalition it is how displaying strength, whether military might in foreign affairs, beefed up police department in cities or touting traditional masculinity in families.

Over and over again speakers drew contrasts with Biden, reminding voters about his handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Israel-Hamas war and China's rising influence.

Republicans regularly brought up Biden's capacity, which has been a flashpoint with a broader segment of voters during the June 27 debate. The GOP convention showcased a video calling attention to some of the president's worst moments in public.

A new AP/NORC survey released Wednesday showed U.S. adults have a lack of confidence in both men's capability to be president, but they're more confident in Trump.

Among the GOP, for example, 60% said are "extremely or very confident" in the 78-year-old Trump's ability to effectively serve, which isn't much different from when those respondents were asked that in February.

But nearly half of Democrats said they are not very or not at all confident in the 81-year-old Biden's mental capability, which is up from a third who said the same earlier in the year.

'Pedal to the metal': Peter Navarro appears fresh out of prison

Fresh out of federal prison, Peter Navarro, a former Trump adviser, took the stage in primetime to deliver one of the more fiery speeches of the week.

"I went to prison, so you won't have to," he said.

Navarro was convicted on two charges of contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Much like Trump, who regularly criticized prosecutors and judges during his series of legal woes, Navarro accused the federal justice system of corruption, without evidence.

The move risks reminding independent voters about Trump's legal troubles, namely his 34 felony convictions. But it also demonstrates just how confident the Republican nominee's campaign is at the moment.

Navarro exuded a bravado and excited Trump supporters who believe he was unfairly targeted. At one point Navarro planted a kiss on his fiance when she joined him on stage.

Matt Gaetz's revenge? He spoke at RNC convention — Kevin McCarthy did not

One incident that interrupted the GOP unity fest was a spat between U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whose the ongoing and deeply personal rivalry spilled onto the convention floor.

Gaetz video bombed the California Republican in the middle of an interview Tuesday when he started mocking the former GOP leader, asking: "What night are you speaking? Are you speaking tonight? If you took that stage, you would get booed off of it."

The Florida congressman was part of a group of hardline conservatives who joined with House Democrats in voting to remove McCarthy from the speakership in 2023. 

Gaetz did have a speaking slot Wednesday, where he received a warm chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!" He promised to be Trump's "strongest ally in Congress," where he called for term limits, lobbying restrictions and voter ID rules.

McCarthy, however, who helped usher in a GOP House majority, has yet to appear before the GOP faithful.

Republican exiles speak out amid Trump coronation

Speaking of Republicans who've fallen out of favor, a lot of attention has been paid to Democrats and their split over whether President Joe Biden should be their nominee.

But while Vance and others extoll the MAGA takeover as a passing of the torch and make the case for unity, a group of exiled Republicans met Wednesday to make a conservative argument against Trump. Many notable GOP officials and figures — think of former President George W. Bush? — aren't anywhere to be found in Milwaukee this week.

At a pub just a few blocks away from the roaring convention, Principles First, a group of disaffected Republicans, held a panel discussion where outspoken conservatives, featuring former RNC Chairman Michael Steele, political commentator Charlie Sykes, former Congressman Joe Walsh and attorney George Conway.

Many described themselves as being politically homeless, and pledged to help keep Trump, who they called a "serial liar" out of power.

"We got to defeat this dictator this November," Walsh said.