This archive report was first published on 22 August 2020.
As the 2020 presidential election heats up, US President Donald Trump's Republican party is gearing up for a convention that promises to be a spectacle like no other.
Launching political grenades and real fireworks, the convention will take place from August 24 to 27, with Trump accepting his nomination for a second term on the final day.
But what sets this convention apart from its Democratic counterpart is Trump's decision to hold the event at the White House itself, a move that has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows.
According to Trump, the decision was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the cancellation of plans for a traditional convention with big crowds in North Carolina.
However, critics argue that the move is a brazen attempt to show off Trump's power and disregard for presidential etiquette.
"He's going to be speaking on a world stage," said advisor Kellyanne Conway, in a statement that highlights the significance of the event.
But the convention is not just about Trump's acceptance speech. It will also feature a range of speakers, including First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and family members of the president.
One of the key themes of the convention is expected to be the Democrats' alleged plan to sow anarchy and godlessness across the American heartland.
Republicans will use their guests to accentuate this point, including Patricia and Mark McCloskey, who became rightwing folk heroes when they were filmed waving firearms at a group of protesters marching down their street in St Louis.
Another invitee is Nicholas Sandmann, a recent graduate of the Covington Catholic High School, who became famous in 2019 when he was portrayed by major media outlets as taunting a Native American elder during a school visit to Washington.
