How to watch Trump’s convention speech

Former President Trump will take center stage at the Republican National Convention on Thursday in a prime-time speech formally accepting his party’s nomination — less than a week after surviving an assassination attempt that sent shockwaves through the nation.

The highly anticipated address will mark the third time Trump has accepted his party’s nomination, solidifying his spot as the party’s leader.

It comes less than four years after many in his party denounced him after his refusal to accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election inspired a violent mob of his supporters to carry out a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Here’s how to watch Thursday’s prime-time address.

When will he speak?

Trump’s speech is slated to begin at 10:30 p.m. EDT.

His remarks will conclude the four-day convention. He’s appeared at the first three days of convention with a bandage over the side of his head where a bullet grazed him.

What might he say?

Trump is expected to formally accept the party’s presidential nomination during his speech.

It is the first time the public will hear from the former president since he was cut off midsentence by a gunman who opened fire during a campaign event Saturday. He was promptly rushed off stage after a bullet grazed his ear, leaving the former president’s face bloodied.

Trump and those close to him have said repeatedly after Saturday’s shooting that he ripped up his original speech and will instead give a completely different address.

“This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago,” he told the Washington Examiner.

Will Melania Trump introduce him?

Former first lady Melania Trump has been absent so far from the convention, but she is expected to make her debut Thursday night, in a show of support for her husband.  

The former first lady, who has been largely absent from the campaign trail this cycle, spoke at the previous two conventions but is not expected to speak this year. Her 2016 convention speech drew scrutiny for similarities to a Michelle Obama speech.

Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump also will make her convention debut Thursday. She introduced her father at the 2016 and 2020 conventions and served as a senior adviser in his White House. After her father announced his 2024 campaign, however, she said she would not be involved in his political efforts.

Where will the speech be streaming?

The speech will be available to stream via The Hill. It will also be available on the GOP convention’s YouTube channel and on the social platform X.

C-SPAN provides coverage on its network channel, C-SPAN.org and the C-SPAN Now App.

What channels will carry the convention?

Most network and cable channels are expected to carry the prime-time event live.

CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS News, ABC News and NBC News have all announced special coverage plans to cover the convention this week.

NewsNation will also present special coverage of the convention, titled “Decision Desk 2024: The Republican National Convention,” starting at 7 p.m. EDT. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.