The 2020 Republican National Convention is kicking off tonight, albeit in an unusual way.
After the coronavirus outbreak caused both Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, to bow out as locations for a full-fledged convention, the event is moving forward in an almost entirely digital format — though parts of the event will still be held in Charlotte.
While official schedules for Tuesday and beyond have yet to be released, President Donald Trump will reportedly be featured every night, as will a plethora of conservative activists, authors, and politicians. Here’s what to know about the first day of the event.
When is the convention?
The 2020 Republican National Convention will begin Monday, August 24, and end on Thursday, August 27. Each main program will run from 6 to 8 p.m PT.
How to watch the Republican Convention on cable television
The following channels will be covering the convention:
- C-SPAN
- ABC
- CBS
- NBC
- CNN
- MSNBC
- Fox News
- PBS News
How to watch the Republican Convention without television
The convention will also be streamed on the RNC’s social media pages on Facebook and YouTube. The RNC’s Twitch channel will also stream the event.
Where is the convention taking place?
While the 2020 RNC is now a mostly virtual event, several smaller events and speeches will take place in person. More than 300 Republican delegates will gather in-person at the Charlotte Convention Center on Monday to officially make Trump the 2020 Republican presidential candidate. It is unclear whether Trump will travel to Charlotte for the first night. A majority of the political speeches will take place in and around D.C., including Vice President Mike Pence’s speech at Fort McHenry.
What are the coronavirus guidelines for those attending the convention?
Six delegates from each state and territory — a total of 336 people — will attend the Republican National Convention in person.
All attendees will have to follow health protocols set by the RNC leadership, including social distancing, coronavirus testing before traveling and wearing masks. All delegates will also be tracked daily for symptoms and have their temperatures checked.
Who are the speakers?
While Trump is expected to speak every night of the convention, several key Republican speakers are also expected to appear.
Monday night will see the RNC formally nominate Trump as the 2020 Republican presidential candidate during a roll-call vote. Speakers on Monday include former Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, Donald Trump Jr. and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters near their home, are also due to participate in the convention Monday.
Major themes of the RNC
The major theme of the 2020 RNC is “Honoring the Great American Story.” Within that motif, each day of the convention will have a different American theme tied to the week’s focus. Monday’s will be “Land of Promise.”
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