Anti-Trump Republicans try to block tycoon’s nomination
THE Republican convention opened to chaotic scenes last night as party whips narrowly blocked an attempt by opponents of Donald Trump to sabotage his selection as the presidential nominee.
Hundreds of party delegates opposed to Mr Trump staged a walkout after they were blocked from holding a vote to change the rules of the convention in such a way that would have allowed them to opt out of voting for the likely nominee.
“Shame! Shame!” the opponents shouted, whilst supporters of the real estate tycoon tried to down them out by chanting “USA, USA!”
A coalition of conservative organisations who have declared themselves Never Trump had been battling behind the scenes to try to block Mr Trump from the nomination.
Most of their efforts failed, but then panic broke among the Republican whips when it emerged late yesterday afternoon that Delegates Unbound, one of the anti-Trump organisations, had enough signatures from enough states to force a floor vote on the convention rules.
Their goal was to free delegates to vote on their “conscience”, rather than cast their votes according to the primary election results in their state.
Mr Trump’s whips struck back. They hit the floor and whipped up delegates to stop the revolt. The number of states backing the rules “roll call” fell to six – well below the necessary number. A “roll call” would have allowed every state to vote on whether to change the rules on nomination – instead, a quick voice vote was held and Mr Trump easily won.
Anti-Trump delegates stormed out in anger. A few remained within the hall, shouting “Roll call! Roll call!”
Dane Waters, the founder of Delegates Unbound, said: “This is the most extreme abuse of power.”
The movement has previously claimed that Mr Trump’s team has used bullying tactics to “scare” delegates into showing their support.
Despite ending in defeat, the rebellion in the convention hall proved problematic for the Trump campaign, casting a shadow over their efforts to show Mr Trump as a unifier of the Republican party.
Mr Trump has sought to position himself as the law-and-order candidate in an echo of Richard Nixon’s successful presidential campaign of 1968.
In an unusual move, the likely presidential nominee is calling upon his family to help convince the country of his national security credentials.
In 2012, Mitt Romney brought known Republican stalwarts such as Condoleezza Rice, the former secretary of state, to testify to his foreign, police and national security credentials.
This year, that responsibility is slated to fall in large part to Melania Trump, the presidential nominee’s Slovenian wife. Last night, Mrs Trump, a jewellery designer and former model, was due to give the headline speech during an evening whose theme is “making America safe again”.