'I Stand Here Humbled': JD Vance Officially Accepts Nomination to Be Trump's Running Mate | Excerpts

RNC Day 3 Highlights: The third day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) concluded on Wednesday, July 17, at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum. Among the speakers were Donald Trump Jr, Kai Trump, JD Vance and his wife Usha. Speaking at the convention, the eldest son of the former US President, Trump Jr said "All hell has broken loose in America,' leaning into inflammatory rhetoric. Furthermore, JD Vance officially accepted Donald Trump's nomination for vice president. Vance took a swipe at the Biden administration saying that people who govern this country have failed and failed again. Scroll to take a look at the highlights of the Convention: 

• Vance Outlines the Trump Platform

Vance summed up what the Republican ticket stands for - and the themes are clear:

"We’ll commit to the working man," he said.

"We’ll fight for American citizens."

"We won’t buy energy from countries that hate us."

"We’ll stamp every product [with] Made in the USA."

"We will build factories again."

His speech is defining the "America First" platform Trump has long represented, showing just how much Vance is on message with the former president of the US.

• Vace's Appeals to the Working Class

In a clear theme speech delivered by JD Vance, he appealed to the working-class voters to reject the Democratic Party and back Donald Trump.

"For decades, that divide between the few, with their power and comfort in Washington, and the rest of us only widened."

He called on for the return of a  country “where a working-class boy, born far from the halls of power, can stand on this stage.”

• 'I Will Give You Everything I Have to Serve You': Vance's Promise to US

After formally accepting his nomination and recitation of what he believes is best for America, Vance said, "The only thing that we need to do right now, the most important thing that we can do for those people, for that American nation that we all love, is to reelect Donald J Trump president of the United States."

Further calling Trump as President, he added, "Mr President, I will never take for granted the trust you have put in me and what an honour it is to help achieve the extraordinary vision that you have for this country. Now, I pledge to every American, no matter your party, I will give you everything I have to serve you and to make this country a place where every dream you have for yourself, your family and your country will be possible once again."

• 'People Who Govern This Country Have Failed and Failed Again': Vance on US Recession

Speaking to Republicans, JD Vance argued that repeated administrations had failed it – until Donald Trump came along.

"My friends, things did not work out well for a lot of kids I grew up with. Every now and then, I will get a call from a relative back home, who asks, did you know so and so? And I’ll remember a face from years ago, and then I’ll hear they died of an overdose," he said.

"As always, America’s ruling class wrote the checks, communities like mine paid the price. For decades that divide between the few with their power and comfort in Washington and the rest of us only widened. From Iraq to Afghanistan, from the financial crisis to the Great Recession, from open borders to stagnating wages, the people who govern this country have failed and failed again"

Praising Trump, Vance said, "That is, of course, until a guy named Donald J Trump came along. President Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again."

• 'I'm Overwhelmed': Vance Accepts Donald Trump's Nomination

Speaking further during his speech, JD Vance officially accepted his nomination as Trump's running mate, saying, "Shouldn’t we be governed by a party that is unafraid to debate ideas and come to the best solution? That’s the Republican party of the next four years, united in our love for this country and committed to free speech and the open exchange of ideas. And so, tonight, Mr Chairman, I stand here humbled, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to say I officially accept your nomination to be vice president of the United States of America."

• 'Go and Watch the Video...': Vance Recalls Assassination Attempt on Trump

Speaking of Trump, the Ohio senator said, "Prior to running for president, he was one of the most successful businessmen in the world. He had everything anyone could ever want in a life. And yet, instead of choosing the easy path, he chose to endure abuse, slander and persecution, and he did it because he loves this country."

"I want all Americans to go and watch the video of a would-be assassin coming a quarter of an inch from taking his life,” Vance said. “Consider the lies they told you about Donald Trump, and then look at that photo of him defiant, fist in the air. When Donald Trump rose to his feet in that Pennsylvania field, all of America stood with him," he added.

• JD Vance Takes Stage at RNC

Ohio Senator JD Vance made his first speech since Donald Trump picked him up as his running mate. Introduced by his wife, Usha, he said, “As we meet tonight, we cannot forget that this evening could have been so much different. Instead of a day of celebration, this could have been a day of heartache and mourning.”

• Remember Build Back Better? Trump Jr Takes a Sharp Swipe at Joe Biden

Trump Jr is back at spitting venom, something he is famous for, by saying, "Remember Build Back Better?" indicating to Joe Biden’s proposed overhaul of US social services.

"Bridges are collapsing, our credibility is crumbling, and our money is worth less and less every single day. It was just one giant bait and switch, and normal Americans are the ones left holding the bag. Housing costs, gasoline prices, grocery bills just keep going up, wave after wave of illegal aliens, deadly drugs keep pouring across our border."

He further added, "Meanwhile, pro-crime district attorneys have turned our cities into giant crime zones. They’ve turned criminals into victims, prosecutors into criminal defense attorneys and police into public enemies. Leftwing activists are pretending to be educators, teaching our kids that there are 57 genders, but they can’t even define what a woman is."

Further leaning into inflammatory rhetoric, casting the Democratic Party and the media as collaborators who have teamed up to dupe the American people on issues like crime, immigration and democracy.

"The lies, oh yeah the lies," Trump Jr said, denouncing the press for lying "nonstop about my father."

• 'All Hell Has Broken Loose in America': Donald Trump Jr at RNC

Donald Trump Jr is back at spitting venom, something he is well known for at the RNC day 3, recalling on how close his father came to assassination at his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

"My father came under literal fire as an incredible, patriotic rally turned into a tragedy on a field in Butler, Pennsylvania."

"A brave firefighter died, others were injured, and as those bullets rained down, we came millimeters away from one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history. But we did lose an American hero that day. We wish that he were with us tonight, but his memory will live on forever in the hearts of his family, his community and the nation that he loved," he said.

• 'He'll Fight Every Day to Make America Great Again': Kai Trump

As soon as Donald Trump Jr took the stage he said, "Before I begin my remarks, I’m going to do something a little uncharacteristic: a Trump is going to give up the microphone."

Then came his daughter Kai Madison trump who described her grandfather, Trump as a normal grandpa who will fight every day to make America great again.

"To me...he is a normal grandpa."

"He gets us candy and soda when our parents aren’t looking. He always wants to know how we’re doing in school. When I made the high honor roll, he printed it out to show his friends how proud he was of me,” Madison Trump said.

"The media makes my grandpa seem like a different person, but I know him for who he is. He’s very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country, and he will fight every single day to make America great again," she added.

• 'We Need a President Who Values All Americans': Trent Conaway

Speaking during the third day of the Republican National Convention (RNC), Trent Conaway- the Mayor of East Palestine in Ohio said that President Joe Biden's response to the incident where a train with hazardous materials derailed in February 2023 came as proof that 'Democrats don’t care about the Midwest.'

"In the chaos we witnessed the clear contrast between leadership and incompetence."

"We need a leader who values small town communities as much as big cities, we need a president who values all Americans," he added. 

• North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum Talks About Energy Prices

One of Donald Trump's favourites, Doug showed a huge support for the Republican presidential candidate.

He leads the crowd with the chants of Trump.

"Serving as a governor with President Trump was like having a beautiful breeze at our back. He cut taxes, and cut red tape," he said.

During his speech, Doug talked about energy prices and rising inflation in the US.

"Serving as a governor under Joe Biden has been like a gale force wind in our face. Biden’s war on energy hurts every American because the cost of energy is in everything we use or touch every day," Doug added further.

Describing Trump as a person who cares for everyone, the North Dakota governor said, "President Trump cares deeply about every American, rig workers, truck drivers, roughnecks and yes, America’s great farmers and ranchers, President Trump cares deeply about you. We know that he’ll fight for us. He’ll fight for our families."

• 'He Will Restore Order at the Border': Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Speaking to the crowd chanting "send them back," Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke about the length of the US-Mexico border.

He said that Donald Trump would restore order at the border.

• Who's speaking?

Among the speakers remaining this week are some of Trump's family members, including his two older sons, along with his son Donald Jr.'s fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Trump's vice presidential candidate JD Vance will also be speaking.

Furthermore, Tucker Carlson is also slated to speak.

• What's on the Agenda?

In this four-day convention, each day features a theme that plays off of Trump's "Make America Great Again" tagline. Wednesday's theme is "Make America Strong Once Again."

The theme is a nod to foreign policy and the US position on the world stage.