CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kentucky will be well-represented at this week’s Republican National Convention in Charlotte as several elected officials and other headline-making members of the GOP are scheduled to speak.
What You Need To Know
- Mitch McConnell speaks Thursday
- Rand Paul speaks Tuesday
- Kentucky Attorney General speaks Tuesday
- Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann scheduled
The four-day convention began Monday, Aug. 24, and the list of speakers scheduled to address supporters and make the case for President Donald Trump’s re-election include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday and Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Covington Catholic High School senior Nicholas Sandmann on Tuesday.
Cameron’s speech takes place at a time when he is under intense scrutiny for not yet making a decision about whether to file charges against the three Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the March shooting death of Breonna Taylor, whose death has made international headlines and continues to be the basis of ongoing protests and demonstrations in Lousiville. He announced on Monday there would be no decision this week.
Sandmann was part of a widely reported confrontation between groups of political demonstrators on Jan. 18, 2019, that took place near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The interaction between Sandmann and Native American activist Nathan Phillips was captured on photos and videos. Sandmann was wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat that has become a symbol synonymous with Trump supporters. Videos released days later showed initial media reactions that triggered outrage throughout the country had misrepresented and omitted critical details of the incident, such as portraying the Catholic students as the aggressors. The students received death threats and the Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Ky., was temporarily closed due to fears for its students' safety.
Covington Catholic students filed a number of multi-million dollar defamation lawsuits against several news agencies and Sandmann, the student featured in most media coverage of the incident, recently received settlements for undisclosed amounts from CNN and The Washington Post.
McConnell is providing a recorded speech. It was initially reported McConnell would not have a speaking role during the convention, but a spokesperson for McConnell’s campaign told USA Today this past Thursday he would provide taped remarks.
McConnell and Trump have worked closely in several areas, such as judicial appointments, but have oftentimes not agreed. The president expressed frustration with McConnell this week over the timing of hearings about the U.S. Postal Service.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence received the Republican nomination for re-election on Monday.
“These Republican leaders are guiding our state and country through unprecedented challenges,” said Mac Brown, chair of the Republican party of Kentucky. “Our team is ready to deliver yet another historic year of victory fr the GOP in Kentucky.
Here is who will speak at the Republican National Convention:
TUESDAY
First Lady Melania Trump
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Sen. Rand Paul
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds
Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi
Abby Johnson, anti-abortion rights activist
Jason Joyce
Myron Lizer, Navajo Nation vice president
Mary Ann Mendoza, mother whose son was killed by an illegal immigrant
Megan Pauley
Cris Peterson
John Peterson
Nicholas Sandmann, student who sued news outlets after confrontation with Native American activist
Eric Trump, son of Mr. Trump
Tiffany Trump, daughter of Mr. Trump
WEDNESDAY
Vice President Mike Pence
Second Lady Karen Pence
Sen. Marsha Blackburn
Sen. Joni Ernst
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem
Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Rep. Elise Stefanik
Rep. Lee Zeldin
Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence
Kellyanne Conway, White House counselor
Keith Kellogg, national security adviser to the vice president
Jack Brewer, former NFL player
Sister Dede Byrne, surgeon and military veteran
Madison Cawthorn, Republican congressional nominee
Scott Dane, executive director, Associated Contract Loggers & Truckers of Minnesota
Clarence Henderson, civil rights activist
Ryan Holets, police officer known for adopting opioid-addicted baby
Michael McHale, National Association of Police Organizations president
Burgess Owens, former NFL player and GOP congressional nominee
Lara Trump, Trump campaign adviser and wife of Eric Trump
THURSDAY
President Trump
HUD Secretary Ben Carson
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell
Sen. Tom Cotton
House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy
Rep. Jeff Van Drew
Ivanka Trump, White House senior adviser
Ja'Ron Smith, White House assistant
Ann Dorn, widow of former police officer killed in St. Louis
Debbie Flood
Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor
Franklin Graham, evangelical leader
Alice Johnson, ex-inmate pardoned by Mr. Trump
Wade Mayfield
Carl and Marsha Mueller, parents of U.S. aid worker killed by ISIS
Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship