With help from Ella Creamer, Rishika Dugyala, Gigi Ewing, Brittany Gibson and Teresa Wiltz

What’s up, mi gente! Donald Trump picks J.D. Vance as his running mate, a federal judge dismisses the former president’s documents case and both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warn of more election violence in the wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt on the former president. But today, we’re digging into the happenings at the RNC, which kicked off last night… 

Puerto Rican Republicans are rallying around Donald Trump after the attempt on his life, with the former president receiving their full support at the Republican National Convention — despite the territory’s status not being part of the party platform.

Jenniffer González-Colón, the territory’s non-voting member of Congress, says it is “unacceptable that an attempt is made on the life of any candidate, for the mere fact of having ideological differences” in a statement.

In an emailed statement, Angel M. Cintrón-Garcia, Puerto Rico’s GOP state chair, says, “an Act of Violence can never be an alternative in our democracy.”

González-Colón, who could become the archipelago’s third woman to serve as governor after defeating current Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia last month for the pro-statehood New Progressive Party’s nomination, is heading to the RNC this week.

Puerto Rico’s GOP pledged all 23 of its delegates to Trump as he officially became the Republican nominee for president on Monday.

Not that it matters much. Puerto Rico has no electoral votes for the presidency.

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But González-Colón’s pro-statehood stance is now out of step with the official RNC platform, which notably omits any specific reference to addressing the political status of Puerto Rico or the other U.S. territories. In its 2016 platform, the GOP said it supported “the right of the United States citizens of Puerto Rico to be admitted to the Union as a fully sovereign state.”

What a difference 8 years makes. The 2024 platform makes no mention of statehood, only noting that the U.S. territories “are of vital importance to our National Security, and we welcome their greater participation in all aspects of the political process.”

Julio López Varona, co-chief of campaigns for the Center for Popular Democracy, says via email the omission from the platform was not surprising given the RNC’s “aggressive turn towards xenophobic and anti-immigrant policies.”

But George Laws García, executive director of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council, tells The Recast the GOP platform keeps the door open to statehood for Puerto Rico.

“For Puerto Rico, the only means for greater political participation in the national political process beyond what we already have is through statehood,” he says via email. The council "is encouraged that the RNC is also preparing for the likelihood that Puerto Rico will become a state by explicitly outlining rules for how the party will apportion delegates if the island becomes the 51st state before the next RNC Convention."

Trump’s view of Puerto Rico’s status has shifted since his 2016 presidential campaign. He pledged at the time to support the right of Puerto Ricans to determine their political status for themselves and make sure Congress followed through on the chosen path, including statehood.

But Trump’s relationship with the territory deteriorated significantly after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, ultimately leading to nearly 3,000 deaths. The image of Trump throwing paper towels into a crowd during his post-storm visit is seared into the minds of residents of Puerto Rico.

González-Colón and Trump have at times been each other’s biggest fans. She once praised Trump for his post-Maria treatment of Puerto Rico and he has responded in kind, declaring that she is a “great representative of the people.”

But in a potential second Trump presidency, what would that previously warm relationship mean for Puerto Rico? After all, it was only under the Biden administration that the pace of the territory’s recovery and rebuilding after Maria quickened.

Critics are skeptical.

González-Colón’s “unconditional support for Trump is extremely shameful, taking into consideration the contemptuous and unserious way in which Trump addressed the crisis in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, limiting access to federal aid and throwing paper towels in press conferences while our people were dying,” López Varona says.

Puerto Ricans, who can vote in the presidential primaries but not in the general election, will have another chance to weigh in on the territory’s future status themselves come Election Day. Pierluisi earlier this month announced a non-binding plebiscite with three options: statehood, independence, or independence with free association. Noticeably absent from those options: Puerto Rico’s current territory status.

Will the vote make much of a difference? López Varona has his doubts. “Puerto Rico will be spending millions on a farce to deceive and activate members of the PNP party in an effort to stop the threat of electoral defeat,” he says. “The PNP has been promoting plebiscites for decades that offer no education on the possible status options, have no support from Congress and ultimately do nothing for Puerto Rico.”

But ultimately, Congress would have to act for Puerto Rico’s status to change, with Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) pushing legislation to hold a federal plebiscite with those three options.

As Pierluisi notes on X, Congress has “nearly absolute power” over the territory.

“Puerto Rico’s colonial status … negatively impacts the life of every Puerto Rican living on our island,” Pierluisi says.

As always, we’ll be watching to see how things play out.

All the best,
The Recast Team

WAXING NOSTALGIC AT THE RNC

The Republican Party’s most prominent Black leaders took the stage on the first day of the Republican National Convention, promising a return of the American Dream in a second Donald Trump term. Their pitch, reports POLITICO’S Brittany Gibson: “America is not a racist country.”

“All Americans deserve a shot at the American Dream, but under Joe Biden’s debilitating economic policies for far too many Americans that dream has slipped away,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said, in accordance with the first day theme to “Make America Wealthy Once Again.”

“The disastrous results of the Biden-Harris agenda transcend race, religion or income. But under President Trump all of this will change,” Donalds continued.

Donalds, who later flanked Trump on the convention floor, took the opportunity to use his own experience switching from public to private school as a parable for a future Trump administration. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) highlighted his military experience as a veteran and West Point graduate. And seizing on recent attention on the Southern border, Rep. John James (R-Mich.), who represents a swing seat, attacked Democrats as an obstacle for Black Americans.

“Illegals are getting better help from Democrats in four days than Black people have had in four hundred years,” James said.

Former presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who endorsed Trump after ending his campaign, echoed a similar message of nostalgia for the American Dream with a promise that its future is tied to the GOP.

“If you’re looking for racism today you find it in cities run by Democrats,” Scott said, telling people to look to the South Side of Chicago, a favorite Republican talking point, for proof. “But there’s good news. It’s conservative values that restores hope. It’s Republican policies that lift people up.”

The GOP has made gains with Black voters in recent election cycles — a trend following the end of former President Barack Obama’s tenure — and organizing efforts in 2024 are ongoing. Though the RNC has halted its community center outreach strategy, the Trump campaign is making efforts to expand his appeal with voters of color with tailored, and sometimes viral, campaign stops, like Trump’s visit to Chick-Fil-A in Atlanta.

In Milwaukee this week, there will also be a reception to celebrate Black delegates and alternates at the convention hosted by the Black Republican Mayors Association and the Georgia Republican Party. Additionally, the Black Conservative Federation, which is working on Black voter outreach this cycle, is hosting a “Kicks and Cocktails” party off-campus.

ICYMI @ POLITICO

From "Never Trumper" to the Trump-Vance Ticket — How J.D. Vance won Trump's favor after calling the former president “unfit for our nation’s highest office,” via POLITICO's Meridith McGraw.

“The Main Concern Is for U.S. Democracy” — Foreign diplomats are expressing worries that the U.S. is entering an era of political violence. Several officials told POLITICO's Nahal Toosi that they believe the apparent assassination attempt on Saturday is likely to clinch Trump's victory in November, and conveyed concerns that the attack could lead to more violence.

Menendez Guilty — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was found guilty in his corruption trial on Tuesday, marking the culmination of a trial that all but ended his political career. Daniel Han and Ry Rivard have more.

On Alert — The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are concerned about "retaliatory acts of violence" after the attempted assassination of Trump, according to a joint bulletin obtained by POLITICO. Erin Banco and Eric Bazail-Eimil have the story.

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In “Dandelion”, KiKi Layne plays the eponymous Midwestern musician who is struggling to break through when she meets a Scottish singer, Casey. It’s a beautifully shot, tender romance with a breathtaking soundtrack, in theaters now.

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