A look inside the RNC: Photos from Milwaukee

By ANDREW ADAMS 
Capitol News Illinois
aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com

MILWAUKEE – The Republican National Convention officially wrapped up Thursday night with Donald Trump accepting the GOP nomination for president in 2024. 

Throughout the week, Capitol News Illinois’ Andrew Adams was photographing the action, catching moments from the Illinois delegation and other attendees as well as key speeches. 

Representatives of the Illinois Republican Party met each day for breakfast and to hear speeches from state leaders and invited guests, such as former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin and sitting Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson. 

Incoming Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi receives applause at the Illinois delegation's breakfast.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie speaks at the Illinois delegation's Wednesday breakfast, flanked by a cheese statue of Donald Trump.  

U.S. Rep. Darin. LaHood, Illinois' National Committeman Richard Porter and Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno converse at the Illinois delegation's Thursday breakfast.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, speaks to Illinois delegates.  

Darren Bailey, Republicans’ most recent gubernatorial candidate, speaks with state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, at a breakfast meeting of Illinois delegates. 

Regan Deering sits at a breakfast meeting of the Illinois delegation. Deering is expected to take a seat in the Illinois House – currently held by the retiring Rep. Dan Caulkins – after winning the Republican primary earlier this year.  

Don Tracy, the outgoing chair of the Illinois Republican Party, accepts a lifetime achievement award from the organization he led on his final day as its head.

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, speaks to reporters in a rare media availability outside the hotel hosting the Illinois delegation’s breakfast programming. 

Photos from the floor

At the convention, delegates from Illinois and other states spent hours on the convention floor – a cramped collection of delegates, guests and media from around the world. 

Illinois delegate Susan Sweeney dances with a delegate from the nearby Texas delegation, which was notable for its coordinated hats.

A man in the Florida delegation pumps his fist in excitement during a speech at the RNC.

Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, speaks to another Illinois delegate on the convention floor.

Aaron Del Mar, an Illinois delegate and former candidate for lieutenant governor, shows off his sneakers – a limited-edition pair of Trump-themed shoes.

Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie is pictured on the convention floor.  

Members of the Illinois delegation are pictured on the convention floor.  

Illinois delegate William Graff speaks to a reporter on the RNC floor. 

During a prayer from Chicago pastor Corey Brooks, members of the Florida delegation hold up their hands.  

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R- Murphysboro, watches a speech on the Republican National Convention floor. He’s wearing an American flag-themed ear covering – made by an Illinois delegate – in solidarity with Donald Trump, who wore a bandage on his ear throughout the week after his assassination attempt.

Donald Trump holds up a fist during a speech at the Republican National Convention.

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland watches during Donald Trump's speech. Miller is the chair of the Illinois Freedom Caucus, a right-wing group of state lawmakers who are closely aligned with Trump's policy goals.

Former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters and delegates on the floor.

Photos of the speakers

Several nationally prominent Republicans as well as allies of Donald Trump delivered remarks to the crowd throughout the week. 

Donald Trump delivers his keynote address.

Vice-presidential candidate and U.S. Senator from Ohio J.D. Vance delivers a Wednesday address.

Chicago pastor Corey Brooks, who made a name for himself sleeping on rooftops to raise awareness to homelessness issues, offers an impassioned prayer at the end of the second day of the Republican National Convention.

Conservative journalist, author and provocateur Tucker Carlson speaks on the final night of the RNC. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers an address. 

After Donald Trump Jr.’s daughter Kai gave her first public speech on live television at the Republican National Convention, she and her father hug.  

Kid Rock, country and rap rock musician, performs a Trump-themed song shortly before Donald Trump gives his speech to conclude the Republican National Convention.

Outside the arena

Outside the walls of the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, attendees, members of the media and others explored the tightly locked-down secure area. 

After Donald Trump’s final speech and the balloon drop on the final day of the RNC, convention attendees begin heading home.

Longtime attendee of Chicago City Council meetings George Blakemore speaks to reporters outside the Fiserv Forum at the Republican National Convention. Blakemore is known for lengthy and often fiery speeches during public comment portions of meetings. 

Several Illinois State Police troopers stand along a walking path within the highly policed “hard perimeter” of the Republican National Convention.

A convention attendee plays a lawn game – called either bags or cornhole depending on who you ask – outside the Fiserv Forum.

The final night

On the final night of the convention, delegates were met with speeches and performances from high-energy entertainers, including a shirt-ripping from former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and a Trump-themed rap rock song from Kid Rock. At the end of the night, as with many political conventions, thousands of balloons fell on the crowd, igniting a celebration among delegates, including several lighthearted balloon fights among Illinois’ delegation. 

One of the last speakers was former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, who ripped off his shirt to reveal a “Trump Vance” tank top to a roar of applause.

An oversized, branded balloon is held up by someone in the Texas section of the Republican National Convention.

Congresswoman Mary Miller, R-Oakland, stares up at falling balloons while shouting and laughing with delight. 

State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, pulls back the tail of a balloon to shoot it toward other delegates and attendees. 

Several younger convention attendees lean over the barricades.

Republican campaign operative and Illinois delegate Joe Alexander winds up to hit a falling balloon. As they fell, he jumped up on a chair to hit as many as he could.

Illinois delegate Bob Kelsey Jr. Gets ready to throw a balloon toward another delegate. 

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.