Following a campaign and primary season contentious and controversial – even through the RNC rules vote Monday night – Republicans nominated Donald Trump Tuesday to be their official nominee for president of the United States.
“I will work hard and never let you down!” Trump quickly wrote on Twitter following the roll call vote.
Such a great honor to be the Republican Nominee for President of the United States. I will work hard and never let you down! AMERICA FIRST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2016
CCTV America’s Elizabeth Shell and Nathan King were in the hall as the deciding delegates made Trump the official Republican nominee.
The roll call vote of states gave Trump enough delegates at the Republican National Convention to win the nomination after months of speculation and dissent among the GOP ranks. There was little opposition to the candidate on the floor as delegates cast votes for Trump state by state.
The traditional boisterous roll call featured officials bragging about their states and enthusiastically declaring Trump the winner of their delegates. New York put him over the top in the delegate count.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s name wasn’t formally placed in nomination even though he was closest to Trump in the primaries. Earlier Tuesday, some Republicans were saying Cruz’s supporters wanted to gather enough signatures to allow the Texan to be nominated.
Discord among delegates was on display Monday as aggrieved anti-Trump Republicans protested the adoption of rules aimed at quashing an unlikely effort to block the nomination. Instead of a manicured message of unity, viewers saw the fractured face of a party still coming to grips with the polarizing man of the moment.
Questions on whether discord among Republicans about their nominee will translate to resentment and lower voter turnout is still a big concern for party leaders.
Despite previous criticisms about Trump’s competency and moral character, House Speaker Paul Ryan says he’ll be sharing the rostrum with “President Donald Trump” the next time there’s a State of the Union address on Capitol Hill.
Ryan hesitated for a while before finally endorsing the businessman last month. The Wisconsin lawmaker tells the Republican National Convention that only by electing Trump and running mate Mike Pence does the country “have a chance at a better way.”
He says Hillary Clinton represents a third term of what he’s calling President Barack Obama’s failed presidency.
After Trump was officially nominated, Clinton tweeted: “Donald Trump just became the Republican nominee. Chip in now to make sure he never steps foot in the Oval Office.”
Story compiled with sources from The Associated Press and Twitter.