Trump news: Pence slams Kenosha protests in RNC speech as photo emerges of Kenosha shooting suspect at Trump rally
Vice President Mike Pence delivered the final remarks at the penultimate night of the 2020 Republican National Convention, where he addressed a crowd in Maryland while promoting false claims about the administration's response to the coronavirus and condemned protests across the US challenging police brutality.
The third night of the convention also included several women from the Trump administration, including Kellyanne Conway, who is set to leave the White House in coming days, as well as Kayleigh McEnany and the vice president's wife Karen Pence.
Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, the vice president national security adviser, also argued the safety of the US depends on the president's re-election – a sharp departure from a statement issued by nearly 80 former national security officials who served under four Republican administrations who have all endorsed Joe Biden.
Donald Trump has demanded his Democratic rival take a drug test before the presidential debates, as the president announced federal law enforcement and National Guard service members will be deployed to Wisconsin ahead of a fourth night of protests in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who has been left paralysed after an officer shot him several times in the back.
NBA and WNBA players began striking in protest on Wednesday, forcing the leagues to cancel games, as law enforcement in Wisconsin confirmed Rusten Sheskey as the officer who fired seven shots at Mr Blake following Sunday's shooting.
A 17-year-old suspect accused of fatally shooting two protesters and injuring another in Kenosha, Wisconsin had reportedly attended one of the president's campaign rallies in January, after his social media pages were discovered to show posts supporting the president and law enforcement.
As the RNC entered its third night, Democrats announced their vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will counter the president's closing night speech on Thursday.
The president is expected to deliver remarks on Thursday to close out the convention, but Hurricane Laura – set to bring devastating storm surges and fierce winds to coastal parts of Louisiana and Texas – could delay the event.
The White House, meanwhile, said that the president is considering executive action to bail out airlines if Congress doesn't reach a new coronavirus stimulus package.
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