What happens at US party conventions and why are they important?

In brief…

• An expected 50,000 people are filing into downtown venues across the city of Milwaukee for the Republican Party convention on 15-18 July.
• As well as Donald Trump’s formal nomination, there have been speeches and the announcement of his vice president should he win the election
• But it comes just days after an assassination attempt on the former president’s life, which could change the whole mood of the event

The time has finally come.

While it has long been certain Trump will be the presidential candidate for the Republican Party, he was formally nominated on the first night of the Milwaukee Convention.

It's been just one of the proceedings at the event, which has also included Trump naming Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. This means Vance will be vice president if Trump wins the election.

Meanwhile, the Democrats have been at loggerheads over formally nominating Joe Biden after the 81-year-old’s disastrous performance in the first TV debate of the campaign. Whether he is replaced or not will all be made clear at the Democrats National Party Convention in August.

But what else will go down at these events as the dust settles following the assassination attempt on Trump?

What’s the mood on the ground this year? Here’s what the News Agents say

Jon Sopel says: “These things are normally joyous, a time to hooplah and put on a big show.”

But with the backdrop of the shooting of Trump, Sopel says there is likely to be a more “sombre atmosphere” this year.

They are normally a "red meat place with people getting angry and shouty, passionate and furious", says Emily Maitlis, who is at the event in Milwaukee this week.

Maitlis remembers the Republican Convention eight years ago when Rudy Giuliani got the crowd to chant the phrase about Hillary Clinton "lock her up".

"They were banging their feet. They were clapping. They were slapping the chairs. They wanted them riled up and angry and passionate.”, Maitlis recalls.

She adds that this has been the language that "Trump's MAGA crowd have used very effectively for eight years.”

Whether or not Trump continues with that approach in Milwaukee or tries to appeal to a more Conservative part of society remains to be seen, says Matilis.

What actually happens at these events?

From 15-18 July, an expected 50,000 people will be filing into downtown venues across the city of Milwaukee.

The 2,429 delegates representing states and territories across the US officially cast their votes and have now formally nominated Trump at the Convention.

Trump is not expected to speak until Thursday night, but he told the Washington Examiner the attempt on his life has prompted him to completely change what he will say when he addresses the convention later this week.

He said: “The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger. Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches [aimed at Biden]

“Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now.”

All eyes on Biden next month

The Democratic convention is set to take place in Chicago next month and it does give the Democrats an opportunity to get rid of him.

However, large support for the president inside the Democratic Party remains, with only a handful of senators and congresspeople speaking publicly against Biden's decision.

Lewis Goodall says: “If the Democrats were serious about having a new candidate or having a candidate who is not Biden, they really don't have much time to do it, because their own convention and the processes which nominate Biden for that are just around the corner.”

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents now: Has the assassination attempt helped both Trump and Biden?