The RNC has come to a close after four exciting days for Donald Trump ultra fans and delegates and a worrisome slew of speeches for the rest of the country.
After reportedly calling Milwaukee 'a horrible city’ behind closed doors, Donald Trump brought his entire delegation to the Midwest city, promising economic gains for the businesses around. The dozen residents Mirror reporter Yelena Mandenberg interviewed were merely tolerating the event in hopes of some extra cash as Milwaukee is one of the most liberal cities - surrounded by more conservative rural counties.
But the iron gate went up around the downtown area before Sunday, leaving the usually-bustling area desolate. Meanwhile, delegates from 50 states swarmed the city, with big bright hats, crazy outfits, banners, American flags printed on every piece of clothing imaginable- some you could never guess - and a quiet move to adopt strict conservative principles to the platform from the Heritage Foundation.
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Project 25 quietly kicked off the convention
Republican parties and delegations gather at the RNC not just to nominate candidates but to decide the platform for the entire potential future presidency. Considering Donald Trump has been leading in the polls since Joe Biden's debate debacle, combined with the attempted assassination - this might be the platform you'll hear for the next four years.
The Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025 , and one of the biggest co-sponsors of the Republican National Convention, kicked off the event by hosting "Policyfest," a day-long extravaganza full of Republican rhetoric that was blatantly anti-LGBTQ+, anti-DEI, and anti-immigrant, sets the tone for the party. However, Trump has tried to distance his campaign from the leaked papers, though he has sometimes spoken warmly about it. Project 25, as it's become known, involved plenty of Trump's old staffers.
So if Democrats are busy trying to figure out if President Joe Biden, or any candidate, can salvage these next four years for us - the party has to make its mind up quick, because one thing learned at the RNC is that they're unified, and organized - something missing from the center and left-of-center parties.
Some of the project’s recommendations include increasing taxes on tips , which conflict with some of Trump's promises on the campaign trail. It also proposes changes to Medicare, a program Trump has promised to protect. Trump’s campaign has stressed that he will make decisions on what he does if he returns to office. And of course, strict anti-abortion sentiments were echoed by speakers.
But that's the quiet part of the convention. The speeches, the glitter, the outfits, are all there to distract you as many conservative leaders, if not Trump, will likely be adopting some of these policies.
Deserted streets, empty businesses, angry locals
Residents of Milwaukee, though, were not easily taken. They were afraid of exactly that - insidiousness behind the theatrics. Driving me through the nearly empty streets of Milwaukee, one Uber driver, Alen, said it reminded him of the Covid-19 pandemic when everything shut down. Keysha, another driver, said she likes hanging out at the downtown area and that all the good spots are blocked off .
The rest of downtown Milwaukee, outside the ‘red zone’ that required you to show passes and get scanned, “like at the airport,” had open shops and restaurants. Walking into some of the local businesses like Mader’s, the town's famous German-style restaurant, I noticed that it wasn’t as full as you’d expect, being right outside the RNC hub..
The local bars a block down were empty in the evenings, save for a Brother’s Bar minutes away, which was filled with locals. It turns out that Milwaukee extended its bar hours until 4 a.m. in anticipation of the RNC, but it doesn't seem like delegates were into the idea.
Milwaukee was an amazing choice to host the RNC
Despite Trump’s comments, Milwaukeeans were gracious hosts to myself and all the delegates. In a city known for cheese and beer, the food everywhere I ate was amazing - and the cheese pull on sandwiches is something to travel the world over for (the grilled cheese at West Allis Cheese and Sausage shop, shout out).
And every Bloody Mary comes with a tiny beer chaser and usually a beef stick. It’s quickly become one of my favorite places, but not just for the food. From my neighbor Jesse, who had a career in newspaperin’ himself, ready to greet me every night and hear all my stories from the floor, to my ride share drivers, waitresses, bartenders, and random locals on the street. Every resident I spoke to was incredibly helpful, couldn’t wait to recommend their favorite places, and stayed courteous, checking with my political beliefs before we could bond.
Many of them stayed open minded for everyone, they reported, and were curious to work with the delegates - but also a little cautious. Milwaukee is a diverse city and after all, had just been insulted by the head of the delegation - entirely undeserved. Highly recommended to anyone who loves to eat, drink, or just wants to prove Donald Trump wrong.
Fact-checkers across the US debunk lies
Crowds cheered for every speaker selling debunked lies: everyone from Nikki Haley , Kari Lake, Tom Cotton, Rick Scott, Donald Jr., Eric Trump, and of course, Donald himself, who told so many lies during his 90-minute long speech, it reportedly overwhelmed CNN's fact-checker .
Having to take myself off the floor so I could mutter without ruining anyone else's time, this reporter found solace in the media room, where many were wide-eyed, murmuring, and gesturing at the screens set up for us in the back of the stage.
The MAGA crowd in the audience took no notice; they cheered for each untruth with their whole hearts. Tears on their faces, there was nothing Trump could say or do to dissuade them in their fanaticism. Enraptured, Trump didn't even need to speak as quietly as he did, he had the room, hook, line, and sinker - and this group is prepared to dominate the rest of the country and defend their leader against all.
RNC reminds us all: America is still a Christian country
Many of the speakers at the RNC, despite their political records, reported that they don't care what color, race, creed, religion, or sexual orientation people are, they just care that they vote for Trump. The RNC featured Sikh Republican Harmeet Dhillon leading in a prayer, and mentioned the Jewish people - mostly Israel, though. Senate candidate Leora Levy (part of the Republican Jewish Coalition), said a prayer for Jerusalem but, to be inclusive, "all the children of Abraham."
However, frequent intervals included benedictions, declarations that America is a Christian nation, and a fervent declaration from Rep. Tim Scott of North Carolina, who reminded us all that America "still believes in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega," remembering that America has religious freedom, no one mentioned the separation of church and state at the RNC.
Concerned Women for America parked a pink prayer van right outside the start of convention fest, so all visitors passed by them and their frequent evangelical praying. They also hosted the parents of Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American hostage held in Gaza. Orna and Ronen Neutra also spoke at the convention, leading in chants of 'Bring Them Home,' though more Christian prayers followed them.
But even the large pink van parked, which listed some of the group's (not at all good for women) values, the 'Support Israel' plastered on the side included a large note from someone attending: 'Christ is King' - reminding us all that though the right tolerates us, we are pawns in their political game, and the era of Christian dominance will continue under conservative leadership.
By days three and four of the RNC, I found solace at Chabad, which had a tent at the convention and shared a new book with me, and at the Chabad tent, located blocks away, available to anyone who needs a break from Jesus and some coffee and nosh.
Wild outfits & hats and many smiles as guests share conservative beliefs
Milwaukeeans reported that generally, all of the delegates they ran into were absolutely lovely. Reporting on the ground, this Mirror reporter found the same. In the belly of the RNC beast, the Fiserv Forum, Panther Stadium, and at Convention Fest (tents set up outside with food, merch, and various groups), every individual I spoke to was happy to chat, excited to be there, and wanted to know about me as much as I wanted to know about them.
Women in custom-made dresses dominated and were happy to post for photographs with their very creative outfits. One woman, with her friends, wore a bride-to-be sash and admitted she did a little bachelorette partying with her friends at the RNC. An older African-American gentleman in a Lincoln hat stopped to tell me that Lincoln was his favorite president - followed by Trump.
If it weren't for the strange mix of press, delegates, and politicians, there's a chance none of these people would have ever spoken to me in person. I got to meet a shockingly diverse crowd, all crazy about Trump.
I had a lovely conversation with a gentleman from Oregon who was suing the government for vaccine mandates, a handful of women who wholeheartedly believe that despite numerous investigations, ballots at the 2020 election were 'fake,' conservative evangelical merch salespeople - but we found common ground in wishing for less extremism (for them it's until Trump comes on stage). It turns out that many Americans are tired of polarization and ineffective leadership. Not shocking for anyone.
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