Youngkin to give speech on first night of Republican National Convention

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Monday night. Youngkin is expected to speak within the 7 o’clock hour but the timing could be extended.

Other politicians including Republican Senate candidate Hung Cao of Virginia, who has received Trump’s endorsement, will take the stage at the convention, on the heels of a assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. Youngkin’s speech could echo the same sentiment from leaders across the board to call for unity and condemn acts of political violence.

In a recent statement, Youngkin said, “Donald J. Trump showed us strength and courage, and he showed us compassion and gratitude. I thank God for protecting him.”

Youngkin has issued flags at government buildings across the Commonwealth to fly half-staff to honor the former fire chief killed at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

Political experts say although Youngkin isn’t on the short list for Trump’s pick for vice president, his invitation to the RNC stage still holds weight. Questions of whether he would run for president tempered after GOP candidates failed to take full control of the Virginia General Assembly in November’s legislative elections.

However, Youngkin could still make himself a standout this week.

“Youngkin is a rising star in the Republican Party and his polling is still strong,” George Mason University Associate Professor Jeremy Mayer told WUSA9. “Youngkin looks like a vice president. Youngkin's job is to position himself as a natural heir to the Trump movement."

Casey Burgat of the GW Graduate School of Political Management doesn’t believe Youngkin ever had a chance, but his speech could still help if he decides to run for the 2028 presidential election. Burgat said the shooting on Saturday will likely help emphasize the message of toning down the rhetoric this week, but don’t be surprised to see a different message that can ultimately help Trump.

“I'm hoping that the toning down rhetoric message is going to win out, but there's not at all a guarantee knowing this is going to inflame his [Trump] base which we all know can help elections,” Burgat said.