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Who’s Speaking at the Republican Convention?

RNC releases partial list of who will be onstage in Cleveland

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who appeared with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, is being considered for the No. 2 spot on Trump's ticket but isn't on the convention speakers list. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who appeared with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, is being considered for the No. 2 spot on Trump's ticket but isn't on the convention speakers list. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Republican leaders, members of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s family, entertainers, athletes, and others who revolve around Trump World are on the list of speakers who will address the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next week.  

Rep. Kevin McCarthy:  The House majority leader confirmed to Roll Call on Wednesday that he will address the convention to promote the House Republicans’ “A Better Way” agenda.  

Speaker Paul D. Ryan: The Wisconsin Republican confirmed on Monday that he will give a 10-minute speech on the House GOP agenda and party unity.  

A Ryan aide said the speech will show “the sharp contrast between Republican ideas and four more years of Obama-like progressive policies; and the need for conservatives to unite around Republican candidates in advance of a critical election.”  

Sen. Tom Cotton: The Arkansas Republican said Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” “I look forward to talking about our military and our veterans and what we need to do to make sure that we’re serving them so they can serve us.”  

Sen. Mitch McConnell: The Senate majority leader confirmed on Tuesday that he will be speaking in Cleveland.  

McConnell, who will serve as a delegate for his home state of Kentucky, has been tepid in his support for Trump.  

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McConnell Joins Speaker Lineup for GOP Convention

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Sen. Ted Cruz: The Texas senator was one of Trump’s longest running opponents during the Republican primaries and has been nonncommittal about endorsing him. On Thursday, Cruz said he “had a positive and productive meeting” with Trump when the billionaire mogul met with congressional Republicans last week. “Donald asked me to speak at the Republican convention, and I told him I’d be happy to do so,” he said. “There was no discussion of any endorsement.”  

Sen. Joni Ernst:
The New York Times reported that the freshman senator from Iowa will speak at the convention and could be given a prime slot. Ernst was believed to be on Trump’s VP short list but appeared to take herself off it.  

Gov. Scott Walker: The Wisconsin governor told a La Crosse, Wisconsin, TV station that the party must unify so they can defeat Hillary Clinton. “A vote for anyone other than Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is a vote for Hillary Clinton,” he said.  

Walker was considered a favorite going into the Republican primaries but dropped out early as Trump vaulted to the top of polls. At the time, Walker encouraged others in the large field to drop out, “so that the voters can focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive, conservative alternative to the current front-runner,” he said, referring to Trump.  

Rep. Marsha Blackburn: The Tennessee Republican has been one of Trump’s staunchest defenders and told Politico that she will be speaking in Cleveland.  

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette: The Detroit Free Press reported that Schuette said he will speak at the convention. The two-term attorney general was a Jeb Bush supporter during the primaries but he has since said he will support the GOP nominee, even though he has been critical of Trump’s controversial comments.  

“I’m a Republican, I ride for the brand,” Schuette said.  

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich: The former Republican Speaker of the House is one of the final contenders to be Trump’s choice for running mate and has been a loyal supporter through the campaign.  

Pastor Mark Burns: The South Carolina preacher who is the co-founder and CEO of The NOW Television Network and has been a regular speaker at Donald Trump events.  

Phil Ruffin: A casino and real estate billionaire.  

Rep. Ryan Zinke: The Republican at-large House member from Montana. His seat is seen as a vulnerable and he is a target for Democrats in November.  

Pat Smith: A fierce critic of Hillary Clinton whose son Sean Smith was one of the four Americans killed in the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.  

Mark Geist: The former Marine was one of those at the Benghazi compound when it was attacked. His story is told in the book “13 Hours.”
John Tiegen: One of the Marines who was protecting the Benghazi compound when it was attacked. Tiegen and Geist both endorsed Trump in February .  

Rep. Michael McCaul: McCaul has represented Texas’ 1oth District since 2005.  

Sheriff David Clarke: The sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Clarke has been critical of President Barack Obama’s handling of police shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement.  

Rep. Sean Duffy: The Republican congressman is from Wisconsin’s 7th district.  

Darryl Glenn: An El Paso County, Colorado, commissioner who is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.  

Karen Vaughn: The mother of Navy SEAL Aaron Carson, who was killed in action in August 2011.  

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: A former presidential rival, Huckabee dropped out of the Republican primaries and endorsed Trump in May .  

Rudy Giuliani: The former Republican mayor of New York City and Republican presidential candidate who calls Trump “a friend.” Giuliani made some controversial remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement , which he called “inherently racist.”  

Melania Trump: A model and the third wife of Donald Trump  

Kathryn Gates-Skipper:
A former Marine who is the co-chair of the Florida Veterans for Donald Trump.  

Marcus Luttrell: A retired Navy SEAL who became famous for “Lone Survivor .” The book recounts Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.  

Dana White: President of the mixed martial arts organization UFC, which was recently sold for $4 billion dollars.  

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson: Hutchinson endorsed Rubio in the primaries but switched allegiance to Trump after Rubio dropped out.  

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge: A delegate on the platform committee.  

Michael Mukasey: The former Attorney General in the last two years of the George W. Bush administration.

Andy Wist: The biggest question after the list was released was “Who is Andy Wist?” The Washington Post found Wist, president of Standard Waterproofing in the Bronx, or at least one of his employees. 
 

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama: Sessions was the first Senator to endorse Donald Trump and was considered a contender to be Trump’s running mate.  

Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn: Flynn was floated as a possible running mate for Trump, but is no longer in consideration because of his comments on “This Week,” when he seemed to support abortion rights. He is the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under Obama.  

Alex Smith: The National Chair of the College Republican National Committee.  

Kerry Woolard: She is the General Manager of Trump Winery .  

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: The junior senator from West Virginia was first elected to the Senate in 2014  

Dr. Ben Carson: The retired neurosurgeon who was a one-time front-runner for the nomination but later dropped out and endorsed Trump .  

Sharon Day:
Co-chair of the Republican National Committee since 2011.  

Natalie Gulbis: LGPA golfer since 2002. In June, she wrote the story “The Donald Trump I Know.”  

Kimberlin Brown: Soap opera actress on “The Young and The Restless.”  

Antonio Sabato, Jr.: Actor and model who used to be on the soap opera “General Hospital.”  

Peter Thiel: A German-American venture capitalist who was the first outside investor of Facebook and he financed a lawsuit against Gawker in retaliation for revealing that he was gay.  

Eileen Collins: ;A former NASA astronaut who was the first female pilot and commander of a space shuttle.  

Michelle Van Etten: She organized business leaders for Trump in Florida.  

Lynne Patton:
Vice President of The Eric Trump Foundation .  

Eric Trump: Third-oldest child of Donald Trump and is executive vice president of The Trump Organization and founder of The Eric Trump Foundation .  

Harold Hamm: Billionaire oil and gas tycoon.  

Rep. Chris Collins, R-New York: Was one of the first member of Congress to endorse Trump for president.  

Brock Mealer: Paralyzed from the waist down in a car wreck in 2007, Mealer learned to walk again and led the Michigan Wolverines onto the football field in 2010.  

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin: Speculation that she was being vetted as a potential running mate swirled around Fallin after she met with Trump in New York but she later said she wasn’t being considered.  

Darrell Scott: Pastor Scott leads a large evangelical congregation in Cleveland and was prominent in the awkward meeting between Trump and black ministers, which the campaign initially said would be an endorsement.  

Lisa Shin: The Los Alamos, New Mexico, optometrist started Korean-Americans for Trump and advises the National Diversity Council for Trump.  

Florida Gov. Rick Scott: Scott endorsed Trump the day after Florida’s primary rather than choose between Trump and favorite son Sen. Marco Rubio.  

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus: Once a Trump critic, he now finds himself trying to tamp down any anti-Trump insurrections in the convention.  

Tom Barrack: A global real estate investor and executive chairman of Colony Capital, Barrack started the super PAC Rebuilding America Now to support Trump.  

Ivanka Trump: She’s the leading voice in her father’s inner circle and advises her father on the campaign and the Trump brand.  

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi: Bondi endorsed Trump the day before the state’s March primary. She has taken heat for not pursuing complaints against Trump University filed in her state.  

Jerry Falwell Jr.: The president of Liberty University and Christian leader endorsed Trump in January.  

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein: The prominent Manhattan rabbi converted Ivanka Trump to Judaism.  

Chris Cox: The founder of Bikers for Trump, who estimates that thousands of his members will be in Cleveland for the convention.  

Tiffany Trump: An internet celebrity, model and singer, Tiffany Trump was raised by her mother, Marla Maples.  

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: Trump’s one-time rival for the presidential nomination endorsed him shortly after dropping out. He has been a leading surrogate on the campaign trail and is believed to be a finalist for Trump’s running mate.  

Donald J. Trump Jr.: Trump’s son plays a fixer and troubleshooter role in the campaign. He told reporters he was involved in the decision to fire campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.  


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