Axios

House conservatives see former President Trump's pick of J.D. Vance as his running mate as a chance to solidify support among blue-collar voters.

Why it matters: Support from working-class voters could be pivotal to Trump's success key states like Vance's home state of Ohio and other battlegrounds like Michigan and Wisconsin that President Biden won in 2020.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro identified the victim who was killed in an attempted assassination of former President Trump as Corey Comperatore on Sunday.

Driving the news: Comperatore, the former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company chief, dived on his family members to shield them from the attack, Shapiro said at a press conference after speaking to Comperatore's wife and daughters.

Vance is just eight years removed from vaulting to national prominence with the publication of his bestselling book, "Hillbilly Elegy."

• Below, see his resume in a visual format:

Go deeper. ... More from Axios: Meet Usha Vance

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be given Secret Service protection after the attempted Trump assassination, the Biden administration said today, Axios' Ivana Saric reports.

Zoom in: The Trump shooting spurred a congressional effort to bolster Kennedy's security, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers vowing yesterday to introduce a bill to bolster protection for Kennedy, Trump and Biden.

• Trump weighed in on the matter earlier today, saying it was "imperative" that Kennedy be granted Secret Service protection.

MILWAUKEE — Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said today the party should have more of a conversation about Trump's plan for an aggressive tariff regime during an Axios House event at the Republican National Convention.

Why it matters: Trump has talked about imposing an across-the-board 10% tariff on all imported goods, and a 60% levy on Chinese imports.

• But Daines told Axios' Stef Kight that he would like to "engage in that conversation a little further" when asked if he would support Trump's blanket tariff plan.
• Daines said "unilateral" tariffs are "something you want to be thoughtful about."
• He said he'd be "more inclined to do targeted-type tariffs ... versus something that's just universal."

Sen. J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, at the Republican National Convention today.

In former President Trump's pick of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate, Democrats see their first opening to go on offense since Trump survived an assassination attempt on Saturday.

Why it matters: The shooting prompted Democrats to draw down their rhetoric and campaign activities, but Vance's right-wing views and past Trump criticism have quickly become fodder for the party.

President Biden said it was a "mistake" to tell donors to put Trump in a "bull's-eye" on a private call days before the attempted assassination of former President Trump during an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt.

Driving the news: Several Republican lawmakers pointed to Biden's figurative comment after the attack, which the president has ardently condemned.

If Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is elected Donald Trump's vice president this fall, Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine will be responsible for filling his Senate seat.

Why it matters: That means it would likely remain in Republican hands for two more years before a required special election — an important hold in a closely divided Senate chamber.

President Biden's interview with "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt airs as a primetime special Monday and will be available to stream live.

Why it matters: Biden's interview comes two days after the assassination attempt on former President Trump and coincides with the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Vice President Kamala Harris is "prepared" to debate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who was named former President Trump's running mate on Monday, a Biden campaign official said Monday on a press call.

The big picture: The Biden-Harris campaign in May said it had accepted an invitation for a CBS-hosted vice presidential debate for July or August.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said during an Axios House event Monday that former President Trump will look "far more presidential" than ever before when he accepts the GOP nomination later this week.

Why it matters: Saturday's assassination attempt against Trump has given the often polarizing ex-president a rare opportunity to redefine himself as a unifying figure, Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen reported.

Freshman Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) told Axios' Stef Kight former President Trump has "set the agenda" on the party's approach to abortion legislation during the Republican National Convention at Axios House.

Why it matters: Britt, widely seen as a rising Republican star, has become a leading voice in the GOP on women's and family rights, attempting to strike a delicate balance between advocating for women and maintaining an anti-abortion agenda.

The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday in Milwaukee with former President Trump announcing Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate.

Why it matters: The convention comes two days after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said Monday that the party should have more of a conversation about former President Trump's plan for an aggressive tariff regime during an Axios House event at the Republican National Convention.

Why it matters: Trump has talked about imposing an across-the-board 10% tariff on all imported goods, and a 60% levy on Chinese imports.

MILWAUKEE — Less than 48 hours after surviving an assassination attempt, Donald Trump was gifted a legal ruling that vanquished the classified documents prosecution against him.

Why it matters: You couldn't script a more extraordinary stretch of events to open the Republican National Convention here, where Trump will accept the GOP nomination this week seemingly at the peak of his powers.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said Trump's newly selected running mate, J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), will help Republicans in down-ballot races during an Axios House event at the Republican National Convention on Monday.

Why it matters: As head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Daines is responsible for efforts to deliver a GOP a majority on Nov. 5.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), former President Trump's new running mate, told ABC News in February that he would not have certified the 2020 election on Jan. 6 had he been vice president instead of Mike Pence.

Why it matters: The Biden campaign seized on those comments in its first statement responding to Trump's announcement Monday, suggesting Vance's views on the 2020 election will be a recurring line of attack.

The attempted assassination of former President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally Saturday has placed the Secret Service under intense scrutiny as it faces pressure to explain the apparent security lapse.

Why it matters: Questions remain about how the shooter was able to obtain a line of sight on the former president, who was shot in the ear.

The Biden administration announced Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be given Secret Service protection following the attempted assassination of former President Trump this weekend.

Why it matters: The shooting sparked intense scrutiny of the Secret Service's work and underscored the threats against elected leaders. The long-shot independent presidential candidate had been seeking government protection.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was booed as he spoke on behalf of Kentucky's delegates during Monday's roll call to formally nominate Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention.

Why it matters: McConnell has had an icy relationship with the former president and his MAGA-allies since 2020, when the Republican leader accused Trump of "provoking the events" of Jan. 6.

JD Vance has made an unlikely journey over the past eight years from bestselling author and Trump critic to senator and, now, former President Trump's running mate.

Timeline:

Former President Trump has selected Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee announced Monday.

Why it matters: Vance, a Trump critic-turned-fervent supporter, is one of the former president's closest allies on Capitol Hill and a loyal defender of his domestic and foreign policy.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have each been told they won't be former President Trump's choice as vice presidential nominee, Axios has learned. Trump is expected to unveil his running mate on Monday afternoon.

Why it matters: Rubio was on Trump's shortlist but there were concerns over the two sharing the same state of residency, which would draw constitutional concerns and legal challenges. Trump previously said he was concerned by the severity of a near-total abortion ban that Burgum signed in 2023.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday dismissed former President Trump's federal classified documents case, citing the "unlawful appointment and funding of special counsel Jack Smith."

Why it matters: Trump, the only former president convicted of a felony, has scored a major legal win ahead of Election Day as the other two outstanding criminal cases against him remain on ice.

Former President Trump on Monday said it was "imperative" for the Secret Service to protect long-shot independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The big picture: Kennedy has sought government protection, and more lawmakers have spoken out on his behalf since the deadly Trump rally shooting over the weekend.

Top U.S. CEOs have publicly condemned Saturday's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Why it matters: The attack was bigger than politics — an atypical event that leaders felt no controversy around to speak out, experts tell Axios.

The director of the U.S. Secret Service said her agency will comply with a flurry of congressional investigations into Saturday's assassination attempt against former President Trump.

The big picture: Committees in both the House and Senate are probing what some lawmakers allege are security failures that left the ex-president shot in the ear and a bystander dead.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon made waves Monday by dismissing former President Trump's classified documents case.

Why it matters: Cannon, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2020, handed him a major legal victory on the opening day of the Republican National Convention.

Former President Trump on Monday scored a legal win with the dismissal of his classified documents case — thought to be the strongest criminal case he faced.

Why it matters: This leaves one open criminal case against Trump, which is unlikely to wrap before the election.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is expected to take a proactive role in addressing security issues in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Trump on Saturday.

Why it matters: The shooting at a Pennsylvania rally underscored security concerns for elected leaders and shined a spotlight on the role of the Secret Service in protecting current and former presidents.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn will have a leading role at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week with a primetime speaking slot.

• Blackburn is scheduled to speak Monday evening. A spokesperson for Blackburn confirmed to Axios on Sunday that those plans haven't changed in light of the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

Former President Trump has something rare, precious and definitional: a moment — a fleeting chance to redefine himself, this election, America.

Why it matters: Almost dying rocks perspectives — and people. Yes, Trump has shown little appetite for changing his ways, tone and words. But his advisers tell us Trump plans to seize his moment by toning down his Trumpiness, and dialing up efforts to unite a tinder-box America, when the Republican convention opens Monday in Milwaukee.

America's top CEOs were quick to comment following the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

Why it matters: Corporate America has been reticent to make any statements about the 2024 presidential campaigns until now.

The Mitch McConnell-linked Senate Leadership Fund brought in more than $41 million in the second quarter — smashing its previous all-time record, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Democrats have long trounced Republicans at the fundraising game, but the latest numbers point to fresh energy that's shrinking the money gap between the parties' Senate campaign apparatuses.

The Chuck Schumer-linked Senate Majority PAC raked in more than $44 million in the last three months, Axios has learned, putting it a nose ahead of its Republican counterpart's second-quarter haul.

Why it matters: Senate Democrats are counting on strong fundraising numbers to boost their long-shot bid to retain their majority in November.

Pennsylvania's GOP Senate candidate David McCormick — who was on stage with former President Trump during Saturday's assassination attempt – raised $6.4 million dollars in the second quarter, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: McCormick's haul, which he augmented with another $2 million of his own money, means that he entered July with $8 million cash-on-hand.

President Biden used a short Oval Office address Sunday night to ask Americans to "cool it" on divisive political rhetoric, while insisting he would make the case for "our record" in the coming weeks.

Why it matters: This thread-the-needle goal reflects the huge challenge ahead for Biden's reelection campaign, which has been based partly on attacking Donald Trump as a threat to democracy.

During a call on Sunday, House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) pressed Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle about the security shortcomings during the Pennsylvania campaign rally where the assassination attempt on former President Trump took place.

Why it matters: A slew of House committees, including the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, are slated to look into the assassination attempt, with member security becoming a key topic following the shooting.

Federal authorities have identified the suspect in what the FBI is investigating as both an "assassination attempt" of former President Trump and as potential domestic terrorism.

The big picture: The FBI named Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old Bethel Park, Pennsylvania native, early Sunday as the gunman involved in the attack at a rally that left Trump's face bloodied and killed at least one spectator.

The FBI is investigating the Trump rally shooting as an act of domestic terrorism as well as an assassination attempt on the former president, officials said Sunday.

The big picture: Searches of a vehicle and the Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, home of suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks uncovered "suspicious devices" that were "rendered safe by bomb technicians and are being evaluated at the FBI Laboratory," per an emailed statement from the bureau Sunday night.

Former President Trump said Sunday the shooting at his rally has prompted him to rewrite his Republican National Convention speech so it focuses on bringing the nation together.

The big picture: The presumptive Republican presidential nominee told the Washington Examiner that his RNC speech this Thursday was "going to be a humdinger" mostly targeting President Biden's policies, but it's "going to be a whole different speech now."

President Biden emphasized the need to "lower the temperature in our politics" during an Oval Office address on Sunday evening after the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

Why it matters: Biden said that politics has gotten "very heated," but he urged Americans to ensure that "no matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend to violence."

Congressional Democrats' all-consuming angst over President Biden's candidacy has taken an abrupt backseat in lawmakers' minds in the wake of an assassination attempt against former President Trump.

Why it matters: Democratic lawmakers say their immediate focus is on their personal security and that of their staffs, not on their party's political woes, helping to allow a crucial cooldown period for the embattled president.