Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
The most prominent seats at the 2024 Republican National Convention were the three rows of white chairs in Donald J. Trump's VIP box, where members of the Trump family and prominent guests streamed in and out of the venue to enjoy the show alongside the former president on each of the convention's four nights.
Here are some of the people you'll see in the box every night.
Monday
On the first night of the convention, just two days after being shot in the ear by an assassin, Trump entered the arena in high spirits, flanked by his newly nominated vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, and Rep. Byron Donald of Florida, one of the evening's speakers.
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Also appearing in the box were Trump family members, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who presided over the roll call vote to formally nominate Trump.
Tuesday
Several Senate candidates and House leaders gathered with Trump in the box office Tuesday night, many of whom also spoke on stage, arguing for the handover of control of Congress to Republicans in November.
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
The final speaker of the night was Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and Trump's daughter-in-law. As the first member of the Trump family to speak from the convention stage, she spoke about the assassination attempt on Trump from a personal perspective, focusing on her role as a father and grandfather.
Trump, flanked by Vance and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, responded with applause.
Photo: Haiyun Zhang/The New York Times
Photo: Haiyun Zhang/The New York Times
Wednesday
Trump began his night at the arena sitting next to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was one of Trump's final but ultimately unsuccessful candidates for vice presidential nomination.
Other allies who spoke in that section included former Papal ambassador Callista Gingrich and her husband, former House Speaker and 2012 presidential candidate Newt Gingrich.
Photo: Todd Heisler/The New York Times
Photo: Todd Heisler/The New York Times
Vance closed out the third night of the convention with a roughly hour-long speech introducing himself and his economic vision to the nation. Trump sat next to Vance's wife, lawyer Usha Vance, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, one of Trump's running mates, as he watched on as he ran as vice president.
Several members of Trump's family appeared in the box at the time, including his eldest grandson, Kai Trump, 17, who spoke that night and described Trump as “just a regular grandpa.”
Photo: Jamie Kelter-Davis/The New York Times
Photo: Jamie Kelter-Davis/The New York Times
Thursday
By the time Trump spoke, the box was nearly full of his family, including his daughter Ivanka, who served as a senior adviser during his first term, and her husband, Jared Kushner, who were making their first appearance at the arena on Thursday.
His wife, Melania, also made her first appearance this week, taking a seat in the box just before her husband gave his acceptance speech.
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times
