CLEVELAND — For the next four days at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Donald Trump and his allies will bash Hillary Clinton, tout his plans to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall and beef up the U.S. military, and try to bring the country together.
He’ll be surrounded by the typical cadre of politicians — including several of his 2016 primary rivals. But he’s also invited several wealthy, business-leader friends, and his four grown children will have prime slots.
Here’s what to expect over the next four days:
Monday
The convention will kick off at noon CT with a day focused on two issues: Benghazi and illegal immigration.
The day’s headliner is Melania Trump — with her husband planning to make an appearance and might even introduce his wife.
Speakers include Jamiel Shaw, whose son was killed by an undocumented immigrant, and Cotton. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa — the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate — will also speak, as will Rep. Ryan Zinke, a former Navy Seal. Benghazi attack survivors Mark Geist and John Tiegen will also speak at the convention Monday night. A late Monday speaking addition is Pastor Mark Burns, a prominent African American evangelical leader, Bloomberg reported Sunday.
Tuesday
On the second night, speakers will emphasize the economy. There’s a major piece of business that Republicans will address Tuesday: Officially nominating Trump for president and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for vice president.
The nomination — after the day’s program kicks off at 4:30 p.m. CT — takes place on a day otherwise focused on the economy.
Perhaps capturing the most attention from political insiders will be House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Endangered Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, one of the few Republicans facing tough re-election match-ups to embrace Trump, will speak, as will New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who just lost out in the vice presidential sweepstakes.
Two of Trump’s children are also on the calendar to speak Tuesday night. Tiffany Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are among the headliners.
Trump is also bringing his own employees onto the stage. Kerry Woolard, the general manager of Trump Winery, will discuss her work alongside the presumptive Republican nominee in a prime-time speaking slot.
The night will also feature a broad range of non-political speakers — including UFC president Dana White, golfer Natalie Gulbis and actress Kimberlin Brown.
Wednesday
The third night will feature Indiana Gov. Pence, as he’s officially nominated for vice president. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — running mate finalist through the end of last week — is also slated that evening. So is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ted Cruz, the GOP primary runner-up to Trump, who has yet to endorse the nominee-to-be. Also speaking Wednesday night will be Eileen Collins, a pioneering woman astronaut, and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was thrust into the national spotlight following the Orlando terror attacks.
An additional prominent Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio, will speak on Wednesday night. After a bruising primary fight against Trump, including a bevy of attacks questioning the front-runner’s physical attributes, Rubio later decided to seek re-election to his Senate seat. It was unclear until late this weekend whether Rubio would be on the convention speaker’s list.
Trump himself will speak on the fourth and final night. RNC Chair Reince Priebus, business leaders such as Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal, who caused a stir in May when he revealed that he financed several lawsuits, including the one brought by Hulk Hogan, against Gawker. While much of the journalism community bemoaned the thought of a billionaire suing a news outlet into oblivion — Gawker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June and will be sold in an auction next month — others celebrated Thiel’s secret legal battle, which he described as “specific deterrence.”
It appears Trump may support Thiel’s efforts. The GOP nominee said earlier this year that he intends to “open up” libel laws, making it easier to sue news organizations. But after a Florida jury awarded Hogan $140.1 million in his case against Gawker, Trump signaled that such reform might not be necessary.
“I might not have to, based on Gawker. Right?” he said.
A number of other Republican lawmakers, business leaders, and celebrities are also slated to appear. That includes actor and director Scott Baio, best known for his roles on “Happy Days” and “Charles in Charge”; Willie Robertson, star of “Duck Dynasty”; and former Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, among others.
Notably, many Republican leaders have also said they will skip the convention, a list that includes former President Bush 41 and 43, former GOP presidential nominees Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney, and several current GOP lawmakers.
One name also conspicuously missing from the list — Heisman-winning quarterback Tim Tebow. The convention released an official program “partial list” Thursday that included Tebow. A Trump adviser told CNN Tebow would be speaking, but the former Denver Bronco later posted a Facebook video saying it was only a “rumor.”
“I wake up this morning to find out that I’m speaking at the Republican National Convention,” Tebow said. “It’s amazing how fast rumors fly and that’s exactly what it is — a rumor.”
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