Kayla Epstein
Reporting from the convention

Byron Donalds, who has risen to be a top Trump surrogate this year, enjoyed one of the warmest welcomes so far this evening.

I’m standing by the Texas and Illinois delegations, where members remained on their feet as the Florida congressman walked out on stage.

He came out slowly, with confidence, as if savouring the crowd’s approval. It’s a sign of how much his profile has grown as VP rumors swirled around him.

“Byron! Byron! Byron!” the delegates chant.

“He is a principled guy,” says Illinois delegate Adrian Wright of Donalds.

“No-nonsense, he knows what his state needs.”

Brandon Livesay
Reporting from the convention

We’ve been hearing from Bobby Bartels, who is part of a steamfitters union based in New York.

He tells the crowd a story about Trump once paying for his crew to get sandwiches on a hot day.

He says he was then a lifelong Democrat, but is now going to vote for Trump. This gets one of the loudest cheers so far.

Next up is Byron Donalds, a congressman from Florida and a staunch Trump ally.

He talks about his family and upbringing, and particularly about his teachers and his education.

These speakers are carefully curated and each is hitting on specific topics to appeal to different cross-sections of the audience.

Image source, Getty Images

Vance tells Fox News that Democrats should have been attempting to replace Biden far earlier than last month's poor debate performance.

He claims Biden is senile, and that this has been obvious for years.

He goes on to say Americans elected an "empty vessel" in 2020.

Voters in November can "either reward or punish that behaviour", he says.

Vance argues that the Democrats lied about Biden's health, "saddling [America] with an incapacitated president".

The only solution, he says, is "vote them out of office on every level in November".

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking on Fox News just now, JD Vance says it's amazing that Donald Trump wasn't seriously hurt two days ago.

"Why was there a shooter 150 yards from the US president? It doesn't make an ounce of sense," says the former US Marine.

On the economy, he says the number one priority is to "unleash American energy".

"Joe Biden would rather buy it from Iran than from Pennsylvania," he says, adding that America "is sitting on a Saudi Arabia of natural gas".

On foreign policy, Fox host Sean Hannity begins his question saying: "I won't call it the Vance doctrine; it'll be the Trump doctrine.”

Vance agrees: "It'll be the Trump doctrine.”

Vance says Trump defeated Islamic State, while Biden has only authorised "weak little bombing runs”, a reference to the campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

"If you're gonna punch the Iranians, punch them hard," Vance says, praising Trump for authorising the 2020 assassination of a top Iranian general.

He goes on to call for Israel to eliminate Hamas and predicts Trump will bring peace to Ukraine.

It's a sea of red, white and blue as thousands of delegates have descended on the Republican National Convention.

The BBC's Nada Tawfik, in Milwaukee, says attendees seem more with Trump now than ever, in the wake of the assassination attempt against him.

Ione Wells
Reporting from the convention

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is attending the RNC, too.

Truss lost her seat in the UK election on 4 July and has spent some time mingling with conservatives across the pond since she resigned as prime minister after six weeks.

She’s openly endorsed Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States, saying he offers the "leadership the West needs".

I understand she’s not just expected to watch the convention, but participate, too - by attending a variety of fringe events and receptions, and joining a couple of panels.

She has previously said she shares Donald Trump’s values in opposing the left and what she has described as people "pushing their woke agenda".

But some of their policies when in office differed - for example, whereas Trump advocated for greater trade protectionism, Truss pursued more free market economic and trade policies.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke about the economy in his address to the convention.

He said Trump would restore "roaring" prosperity after the "inflation unleashed by Joe Biden and Kamala [Harris]".

"America, the land of opportunity, just doesn't feel like that anymore," he said.

Youngkin told the crowd the choice in November is simple: "It's common sense versus chaos. It's strength versus weakness."

"Sixty six per cent of Americans now live pay cheque to pay cheque. Moms and dads worry can they buy new shoes for their kids going back to school."

Brandon Livesay
Reporting from the convention

Image source, Getty Images

Here in the arena, which is home to the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, the vibe is like a halftime show at a basketball game.

A band is playing 80s rock songs and an impromptu mosh pit of middle-aged women holding Trump signs are dancing.

People are wearing cowboy hats and are adorned with American flags.

The bars in the concourse are packed, and there are merchandise stands selling shirts with Trump's mugshot plastered across the front. After a few songs play, we hear from the next speaker.

The crowd at the Fiserv Forum - which has a capacity of over 17,000 - clearly hangs on every word and erupt into cheers when Trump's name is mentioned.

Trump is not expected to give a speech at the convention tonight, but his presence at the venue only two days after an attempt on his life will be an inspiring sight to his supporters.

Image source, Getty Images

Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has also spoken at the Republican National Convention.

"Evil came for the man we admire and love so much," she says, referring to Saturday's assassination attempt. "I thank God that His hand was on President Trump."

She says the ruling establishment has sold out the American people, including through "open borders" and funding Ukraine while saying a US border wall is too expensive.

"They promised unity and delivered division," she says. "They promised peace and brought war!"

The crowd cheers as she adds: "And let me state this clearly: there are only two genders!"

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, previously a potential vice-presidential pick for Trump, bounced up to the podium with a big grin.

"Are you ready for four more years of Donald Trump?" he asked the crowd.

"If you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now."

The crowd erupted in applause.

"On Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania with a rifle, but an American lion got back up on his feet and he roared."

He pivoted to criticise Democrats.

"Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel, and we're headed over a cliff," said Scott.

By the end of his speech, he and the crowd were chanting "four more years", a rallying cry for Trump fans.

Vance's relationship with Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again movement is long and complicated.

But in just a few years, he's gone from a Trump critic to one of his strongest supporters in the US Senate.

See how his political career has unfolded...

Alex Lederman
Reporting from the convention

I recently spoke with Joe Mullins, a delegate from Florida.

Mullins tells me he can’t stop thinking about the assassination attempt on the former president.

“Saturday scared me,” he said. “We’d be in a whole different world if not for half an inch. I had tears in my eyes, and I haven’t cried like that since I lost my mother.”

He compared the assassination attempt to Abraham Lincoln with a key difference.

“He will be the president again,” Mullins said of Donald Trump.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier today, reports came out that Donald Trump had sat down privately with Robert F Kennedy Jr - who is running for president as an independent.

Kennedy has now cleared the air on X, external, saying: "Lots of rumours going around about my meeting this morning with President Trump.

"Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well. No, I am not dropping out of the race."

It was announced earlier that Kennedy would be receiving Secret Service protection in the wake of the attempted assassination on Trump. Joe Biden ordered the protection.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from the convention

There is some truly eye-popping merchandise available at the Republican National Convention so far.

And there's more on the way.

Anthony Montgomery, who sells Trump-themed t-shirts, buttons, and hats at rallies around the country, had already ordered a shirt featuring new vice presidential nominee JD Vance and should have them tomorrow.

Right now, the best-selling shirt was one that declared "I'm voting for the felon," in reference to Trump's conviction in the New York hush money case in May.

But the one he predicts will be the new best-seller is an upcoming shirt he designed with a photo of Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents after a shooter fired on the rally.

"He's got the blood on his ear, with the American flag. Fight, fight, fight," Montgomery said. He did not want to divulge the specific design because he worried other vendors would copy him.

The images were taken by news wire services, which usually charge for usage rights, but Montgomery says he was not worried about copyright issues.

Christal Hayes
US reporter

In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt , externalthat follows an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, President Biden rejects the idea that he uses language that "could incite people who are not balanced".

"I've not engaged in that rhetoric," Biden says firmly. "Now, my opponent is engaged in that rhetoric."

Biden mentions various examples of Trump's rhetoric that he deems dangerous, including the jokes the former president made after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was nearly killed by a man who broke into her home.

Biden says it is challenging because he believes that is necessary to highlight his view that his predecessor poses a "threat to democracy".

"How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?" Biden says. "Do you just not say anything, because it may incite somebody?"

We'll bring you more from the pair's sit down when it airs later this evening.

Christal Hayes
US reporter

Away from the Republican convention - President Biden, in his first sit-down interview since Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt, has told NBC's Lester Holt, external that it was a "mistake" to have said we need to put "Trump in the bullseye" during a recent donor call.

Biden says he meant Democrats needed to focus more on Trump's policies and rhetoric as well as the false statements he made during the first debate.

Days after Biden made the remarks, Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

"It was a mistake to use the word. I didn't mean it - I didn't say cross hairs. I meant bullseye. I meant focus on him. Focus on what he's doing," Biden tells Holt in a clip of the interview.

We'll bring you more from the pair's sit down when it airs later this evening.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from the convention

Some of the Republican attendees here are still rattled by the shooting that took place at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Cindy Warner, a Wisconsin delegate, was at home when she learned of the shooting and watched it unfold from her living room.

“I turned on the TV and instantly started praying," she said. "When Trump got up, it was grace. God's grace."

She felt that this was a moment to celebrate the former president.

When Wisconsin pledged its delegates to Trump this afternoon, “I felt proud,” she said.

“I felt that we will have a fighter that will get back into the fight.”

Brandon Livesay
Reporting from the convention

Image source, Reuters

We've just had a few updates on the FBI's investigation into the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Before we pivot our live coverage back to the Republican convention here in Milwaukee, let's look back at some of the event's key moments so far.

• The convention kicked off earlier today - with jubilant (and dressed up) Republicans inside the high-security area, and protesters on the street outside

• Former president Donald Trump has officially been nominated as the Republican presidential candidate

• Trump also announced that JD Vance will be his running mate, meaning Vance will be the next vice president if Trump wins the election in November

Remember, you can watch the action for yourself by clicking the watch live button at the top of this page. In the meantime, here are some images from today:

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Bethel Park

Citing three law enforcement sources, CBS - the BBC’s US partner - has now reported that Matthew Thomas Crooks’ father called police after the shooting at Trump's Butler rally took place.

The nature of the call and its exact time remains unclear. The Crooks family has been cooperating with investigators.

Crooks’ motivation continues to be a mystery to investigators, and a confusing portrait has so far emerged about the 20-year-old suspect.

Earlier this afternoon, the Community College of Allegheny County, or CCAC, confirmed to the BBC that he graduated with high honours on 16 May.

A school administrator told me that a preliminary review of his records has unearthed no disciplinary, student conduct or security-related incidents involving him.

Over the course of two separate visits to CCAC’s south campus in the nearby town of West Mifflin, the BBC was unable to find any students who knew him.

Staff at Angelo’s Pizza, a restaurant in Bethel Park, told the BBC they were familiar with Crooks.

The restaurant’s owner, Sara Petko, said that staff members – some of whom were his classmates – thought he was a “loner” but that they were having trouble understanding how an otherwise quiet young man turned to violence.

“It’s just crazy, and too close for comfort,” she said. “To think that someone at basically the start of his life could do this.”

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Bethel Park

We've just had another update from the FBI about its investigation into the Butler shooting.

According to the bureau, technical specialists have gained access to attacker Thomas Matthew Crooks' phone.

They hope that the phone, along with other digital evidence, could provide clues to his motivation.

The FBI has also so far conducted more than 100 interviews with witnesses to the shooting, including police officers and event attendees.

So far, however, investigators have not been able to pinpoint a motive in the shooting.

A few minutes ago, I visited the Crooks' residence in Bethel Park.

Yellow police tape is still visible on the street directly in front, with investigators seen leaving the residence. A solitary police officer is blocking access to the street with his car.

I also had a clear view of the rear of the residence, although I could see no movement outside.

Unlike yesterday, it's a quiet scene. Aside from me and the police officer only people outside were a Finnish journalist, her photographer, along with a US TV journalist and a dog walker.

"Didn't know him, didn't know them," the dog walker told me.