Who will and won’t be at the RNC — and why
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Donald Trump is a controversial candidate. Although he found a significant support base in primary voters across the country, he has still failed to convince the Republican establishment. Trump’s angry populism threatens elected Republicans because it reveals a schism between Republican voters and politicians. Republican voters are angry and scared and don’t care about conservative theory or the complex explanations for the status quo, and they’re enticed by Trump’s seemingly simple solutions.
Considering that Trump has openly attacked many senior Republican and has criticised the recent work of the party, it is perhaps unsurprising that attendance by major figures is expected to be at a record low.
First of all, the three political Bush family members — both former presidents and Jeb(!) — will not be in attendance. This is unsurprising considering that Trump has harshly criticised W’s foreign policy, and utterly dismantled the “low energy” Jeb(!) in the primary debates. Bush 43’s VP Dick Cheney — responsible for many of the disastrous foreign policy decisions of the administration — will not attend either. The fact that no Bush will be present also means that no living former Republican president will be at the convention. While this appears as a condemnation, it probably isn’t especially significant considering what Trump got away during the primary.
Others who competed against the insult-prone Trump in the primary will also be avoiding the convention. Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Lindsay Graham will all be licking their wounds elsewhere. Even John Kasich, whose state is hosting the convention and who has confirmed that he will be in Cleveland, won’t be going to the convention. Depending on the success of Trump, it may be wise for some of the younger politicians to keep their distance and bide their time until the GOP awakes from this nightmare and they can run for president again.
Mitt Romney, the man who was in Trump’s position this time four years ago, has voiced his strong disapproval of Trump and will not be attending. Neither will his predecessor from 2008, John McCain. In fact, the only previous Republican nominee to be in attendance is Bob Dole.
Many Republicans running for office are also staying away from the convention out of fear that association with Trump could hurt their chances. This is especially true of politicians in close races such as Toomey (PA), Ayotte (NH), and Kirk (IL).
Despite early rumours, football player and fervent evangelical Tim Tebow will not be speaking or attending the convention. Neither will Sarah Palin, because Alaska is “a long ways away” from the convention in Cleveland.
Traditionally, the conventions are meant to allow future presidential hopefuls to try their hand at addressing their party while the country watches on. Famously, Obama stole the show in 2004 with his speech, and it certainly contributed to his nomination four years later. This year, many aspiring candidates won’t be attending the convention because they don’t want to be affiliated with Trump. This is one of the greatest issues with Trump and his convention: his legacy is so uncertain, and has potential to be so terrible a candidate and president that many believe that mere association with him is politically toxic. This may stunt the upcoming generation of Republican presidential nominees, who will lose out on access to the proving ground.
The grab-bag of those who will be in attendance and those who will speak is also interesting. They range from those who are related by blood to the candidate to those who are incredibly reluctant to even discuss him.
Five trump family members — other than the man himself — will speak at the convention. The first night will see his wife, Melania speak. In the past, she’s shared such reassuring sentiments as “he’s not Hitler”. Through the week we will also hear from Tiffany, Donald Jr., and Eric Trump before speeches on Thursday by Ivanka and the nominee, Donald. Another speaker will be the general manager of Trump Winery — surely someone chosen for their credentials, and not simply because they work for the nominee.
It’s not clear exactly what it means that six Trumps will be speaking. I’m inclined to believe that it is due to trouble finding willing speakers, and I believe this for a few reasons. First, simply by looking at the list of those who are boycotting the event it becomes clear that most of the big names in the GOP are off the table. Next is that problem of the undesirability of associating with Trump for more junior politicians. Finally, a suspicious number of speakers were suggested as potential VPs, meaning that they might have promised to speak in return for consideration.
Newt Gingrich, reportedly a VP possibility, will be speaking on Wednesday on the day’s theme ‘Make America First Again’. This is not to be confused with the more grammatically straightforward ‘Make America One Again’, which is the following day. One of the few candidates who escaped Trump’s vitriol during the primary, Ben Carson, will speak. So will Trump’s manservant, McDonalds delivery man, and VP consideration Chris Christie. Tea Party darling Senator Joni Ernst — who was also apparently a potential VP pick — will also be speaking, as will obstructionist Senator Tom Cotton and the similarly reprehensible Senator from Alabama, Jeff Sessions. Nigel Farage, a visitor from a foreign land who is only slightly less deplorable, will attend but not speak.
Those who reside in the ‘dislike Trump but attending nonetheless’ camp include Senator Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan. Both have made their qualms about Trump known, and Cruz has yet to endorse Donald so his speech will be interesting.
Overall, the lineup is sparse and the big names won’t be there — but none of this will matter to the runaway train of a nominee. He will continue on, ploughing through barriers which would stop a more reasonable man. This is because the convention is political kabuki which Trump’s base don’t care about. The convention is a vestige of the era of political elites who Trump has torn down. I can only hope that this ramshackle convention isn’t a presage to a similar presidency.
