Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance has given his first major speech since being picked as the Republican vice-presidential candidate
Speaking to the Republican convention in Milwaukee, he described himself as a "working-class boy" and says that Donald Trump's policies will help left-behind voters
Vance took a hard line on immigration, saying America welcomes newcomers but "on our terms"
His mother, a former drug addict whose troubles he described in his best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, received a standing ovation in the hall
He was introduced by his wife Usha Vance, the daughter of Indian immigrants, who acknowledged their different backgrounds
The speech is the first time many Americans are hearing from the 39-year-old from Ohio, the first millennial to join a presidential ticket
Trump's son Donald Trump Jr spoke before Vance, and was joined by his daughter Kai, 17, who praised her grandfather
President Joe Biden has meanwhile paused campaigning after testing positive for Covid, but the White House says he only has mild symptoms
Watch: Moments from JD Vance's first speech as VP candidate
Image source, ReutersThe former president's son has just arrived, entering the arena to cheers as he shakes hands with supporters.
He's flanked by a large security detail.
We'll hear from him later when he gives a speech at the top of the bill.
Trent Conaway - the Mayor of East Palestine in Ohio - just spoke.
A refresher, East Palestine was where a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in Feburary 2023.
Conaway was a vocal critic of President Biden’s response to the disaster, and has tried to frame it as proof that Democrats don’t care about the Midwest.
“In the chaos we witnessed the clear contrast between leadership and incompetence” he says.
“We need a leader who values small town communities as much as big cities, we need a president who values all Americans,” he adds.
Biden visited the site of the toxic spill in early 2024.
Image source, Getty ImagesDoug Burgum was one of the favourites to be named as Donald Trump's running mate, which ultimately went to JD Vance.
But he is here tonight showing his support for Trump and Vance.
He leads the crowd in a chant of "Trump".
The Governor of North Dakota is talking about energy prices and inflation. Both are key topics for voters.
Image source, ReutersThe crowd has been chanting the phrase "send them back", after Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke at length about the US-Mexico border.
Immigration has frequently been a top priority in polls for Republicans, and Abbott is focused on exactly that.
He says Trump will "restore order at the border".
Abbott has made headlines this year for stringing razor wire along miles of the US-Mexico border, prompting an intense standoff with the federal government.
He’s also spent millions of dollars to send illegal migrants to Democratic-led cities - tonight he touted both policies.
Brandon Livesay
Reporting from the convention
I caught up with Anthony D'Esposito earlier today at the convention, and the New York politician said tonight is vital for Trump's running mate - JD Vance.
"JD Vance is not a household name. Tonight he has the opportunity to become one," the congressman and former police officer said - referring to Vance's upcoming speech.
"I want to see him talk to the American people and look them in the eye, people watching from every corner of this country and beyond. It’s his opportunity to get into the living rooms and the kitchen tables.
"The fact that he’s not even 40 yet, that is a demographic that I think the Republicans can do a better job of talking to.
"Tonight you are going to have people all over the country under 40 years old looking into the eyes of JD Vance saying, 'wow, he’s kind of like me.'"
Image source, ReutersThere's a rapidly growing trend among the crowds at the Republican convention - wearing a large white bandage on your ear.
The reference is to Donald Trump's injury to his right ear after he was shot in an assassination attempt at a political rally on Saturday.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, EPA
Image source, Reuters
Gareth Evans
reporting from the convention
Peter Navarro kisses fiancée after prison release
This is some moment, as Republicans give an enormous cheer and standing ovation to Peter Navarro.
He basks in the applause for at least a minute.
A former trade adviser to Donald Trump, he began a four-month jail term for contempt of congress in federal prison in March.
Navarro was convicted last year after ignoring a subpoena from a House committee investigating the Capitol riot.
Remarkably, he walked out of prison just hours ago.
"If they can come for me, they can come for you," he says, before taking aim at the judicial system and the Biden administration.
"They did not break me," he adds.
The Florida congressman just had one of the loudest receptions we've seen here at the convention so far.
He took aim at President Biden, Vice-President Harris and Democratic supporters in Hollywood.
"We ride or die with Donald J Trump 'till the end," he said as his final flourish, prompting a standing ovation.
Catch up on some of the most unexpected moments from the first two days of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Gaetz trolls McCarthy on live TV and other unexpected RNC moments
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from the convention
More people are starting to converge on the Fiserv Forum here in Milwaukee for night three of the Republican convention.
I found myself walking behind former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who was riding a golf cart over to the venue. A group of men, perhaps aides or security, jogged along behind him.
I'll be on the floor of the convention tonight getting reaction to the speeches and speaking with delegates and attendees.
Image source, EPAThe evening session of day three of the Republican convention is kicking off with a short film on the main screen - and it's setting out the theme of the day: foreign policy and the military.
The video shows various reports of US troops dying abroad, as well as news about the influence of countries such as Iran.
The screen then flashes with the theme - Make America Strong Again.
The chair of the RNC hit his gavel to open the session once the film ended, after confirming that JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr would speak.
Mike Wendling
reporting from the convention
Image source, Getty ImagesAs we said, Vance is expected to announce himself to a national audience with his speech here in the main convention hall tonight.
The junior senator from Ohio has rallied support for the Maga movement and become one of former president Donald Trump's most vehement defenders on Capitol Hill and in the media. Now, he will stand by Trump's side as his vice-presidential running mate.
But the pair did not always see eye-to-eye.
Once a self-identified "never-Trumper", the 39-year-old re-fashioned his persona when he ran for the Senate in 2022 with Trump's crucial endorsement.
Vance has a reliably conservative voting record - though a short one with only a year in the Senate - and Republicans hope his Midwestern roots will boost support at the ballot box.
The Yale-educated former venture capitalist is well-known for writing the best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir that followed his blue-collar upbringing and detailed a conservative view of the economic decline of the "rust-belt" Midwest.
We're getting some news from elsewhere on the election campaign trial - President Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19.
The 81-year-old is suffering mild symptoms, the White House says, and he will self-isolate at his home in Delaware.
Mr Biden has cancelled a campaign speech in Las Vegas tonight.
If you missed our coverage of day two on Tuesday, here's a reminder of what happened.
We saw a host of major Republicans lining up to heap praise on Donald Trump.
The two biggest names paying tribute were Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, who spoke one after the other. Mere months ago, both hoped this week would mark their own coronation as the Republican presidential nominee.
But today they threw their support behind Donald Trump, who never entered a debate against his rivals on his way to securing the nomination.
We also heard from Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, who tried to take on Trump in the 2016 race to be Republican nominee and fell short.
The message from the party on Tuesday was clear: they are united behind their candidate, and they are confident.
We also saw more of JD Vance, who walked through the main arena at the convention in preparation for his big speech tonight.
You can read more about Tuesday's RNC developments here.
Gareth Evans
BBC News, reporting from the convention
Image source, Getty ImagesWelcome to day three of the Republican National Convention here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the sun is out and the invited speakers will soon take the stage to get the evening’s proceedings under way.
So far, this convention has underscored just how much the party now belongs to Donald Trump.
On Monday, we had his emotional first appearance since the assassination attempt - which left some of his supporters in tears - and then, last night, several of his defeated challengers for the Republican nomination voiced total support for him in a deliberate display of party unity.
And today, we’re expecting the most highly anticipated speech yet.
Trump’s newly announced running mate, JD Vance, will introduce himself to a national audience with a primetime address. We haven’t heard a great deal from him since he was announced - so this will shed some light on what kind of running mate, and potential vice-president, he intends to be.
Stay with us.