2020 Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention, held Aug. 24-27, kicked off in Charlotte, North Carolina Monday, with subsequent events to be hosted in Washington, D.C. and virtually, yet another political side effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairs on the ballroom floor were arranged with lots of space between them and convention organizers told participants to wear masks, though adherence to the rule was uneven. Still, the fact an in-person meeting was held at all marked a sharp contrast with Democrats.

The GOP convention will feature remarks from well-known Trump supporters, including members of the Trump family, outspoken conservatives and everyday Americans who campaign officials say have been helped by Trump’s policies.

The four-day event represents a crucial moment for Trump, who is trailing in national and battleground state polls and under intense pressure to turn the race around.

First lady Melania Trump spoke Tuesday from the Rose Garden. Pence will appear from Fort McHenry in Baltimore on Wednesday and Trump will deliver his marquee acceptance speech on Thursday from the South Lawn before a crowd of supporters — blurring the lines between governing and campaigning yet again.