RNC 2024 Day 2 updates: Trump rivals take center stage along with divine intervention

The theme of Tuesday's session is "Make America Safe Again."

ByMeredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, Tal Axelrod, Chris Boccia, and Alexandra Hutzler
Last Updated: July 16, 2024, 11:35 PM EDT

The second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee ended Tuesday with appearances from some of former President Donald Trump's former rivals: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy -- all calling for Republican Party unity.

They were joined by some of Trump's longest allies including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Ben Carson in bashing the Democrats over what they claimed were harmful and failed policies.

The program focused on law and order with a theme of making the country "safe again."

Trump, with a bandage on his ear, made an appearance again Tuesday evening -- just days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Several speakers touched on that God spared Trump in the shooting, saving him for a divine plan for the presidency.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Jul 16, 2024, 10:44 PM EDT

'Not even an assassin's bullet could stop him': Sarah Huckabee Sanders

The governor of Arkansas served as White House press secretary under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019.
11:35
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders: 'God Almighty' saved TrumpThe governor of Arkansas served as White House press secretary under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019.
ABCNews.com

Arkansas governor and Trump's former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the crowd that she had not been prouder to stand with the former president.

"Not even an assassin's bullet could stop him. God almighty intervened because America is one nation, under God and he is certainly not finished with President Trump," she said.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks on stage on the second day of the Republican National Convention, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Ahead of her speech, aides to the governor told ABC News that this was going to be an emotional speech by the first-time governor and long-time defender of Trump.

Sanders criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their policies on the economy and crime.

She claimed that the left "did not care about empowering women," and repeated a line said by others that they "can't even tell you what a woman is."

In this July 16, 2024, file photo, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appears on stage on the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE

She again touted how Trump was resilient even after the assassination attempt over the weekend.

"We can't get him back in the White House fast enough," she said, prompting the crowd to cheer.

-ABC News' John Santucci

Jul 16, 2024, 10:29 PM EDT

Brother of Rachel Morin addresses RNC

The brother of Rachel Morin, a mother of five who was murdered while hiking through a Maryland trail last summer, addressed the crowd at the RNC Tuesday night.

The suspect in her murder allegedly entered the U.S. illegally last year from El Salvador, where he was wanted for murdering a woman, according to authorities.

"Open borders are often portrayed as compassionate and virtuous. But there is nothing compassionate about allowing violent criminals into our country and robbing children of their mother," he said. "My sister's death was preventable."

The brother of Rachel Morin, a mother of five who was murdered while hiking through a Maryland trail last summer, addressed the crowd at the RNC Tuesday night.
4:38
Brother of Rachel Morin addresses RNCThe brother of Rachel Morin, a mother of five who was murdered while hiking through a Maryland trail last summer, addressed the crowd at the RNC Tuesday night.
ABCNews.com

Jul 16, 2024, 10:23 PM EDT

'Trump Trump Baby' artist on hearing his song at the RNC

Rapper Forgiato Blow attends the first day of the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Musicians Forgiato Blow and Amber Rose collaborated on a song and music video in support of Trump that aired at the RNC.

A play on the iconic song "Ice Ice Baby," their version's chorus is "We're voting Donald Trump baby, America needs saving."

Fergiato Blow told ABC News Digital it was "pretty cool seeing everyone singing the song."

On the convention overall, he said it's been "amazing."

"We found out who the VP is, Vance. I'm excited for that. It's a lot of people coming around showing Donald Trump a lot of support after what happened last Saturday, we all know it was pretty tragic. So I think it was big, I think it was emotional seeing him walk in there last night."

-ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler

Jul 16, 2024, 10:08 PM EDT

Sen. Tom Cotton defends Trump-era border policies

The Arkansas senator spoke on the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
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Sen. Tom Cotton defends Trump-era border policiesThe Arkansas senator spoke on the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
ABCNews.com

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas defended Trump-era border policies in a speech focusing on immigration.

"Donald Trump said you can't have a nation without borders and he defended those borders," Cotton said.

"Joe Biden thinks borders are racist," Cotton falsely claimed.

"Donald Trump will secure our border once again," he continued while referring to Biden's policies as ones of "open borders, amnesty and chaos."

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 16, 2024.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

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