RNC opens in chaos as #NeverTrump delegates demand nomination be put to roll-call vote
July 18, 2016
The conservative #NeverTrump faction made itself heard despite the wishes of Republican officials as the party's national convention began on Monday.
According to Kendal Unruh, one of the movement's leaders, delegates from 10 states submitted the paperwork necessary to implement a roll-call vote on the nomination of Donald Trump as the Republican presidential candidate. Footage posted from the event captured loud calls for the vote, as seen below:
Chaos in Cleveland. #RNCinCLEpic.twitter.com/8N7CrSx9GS
— Breaking News Feed (@pzf) July 18, 2016
VIDEO: Virginia delegates shout "hold the vote! Hold the vote!" pic.twitter.com/xKj7lfeeLc
— Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) July 18, 2016
"In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it." Like hell they do. This is insane. This video is the "no's." pic.twitter.com/SwqYAPqJWz
— AnonymousDelegate (@UnknownDelegate) July 18, 2016
However, the Washington Post reported that they were not recognized, effectively stifling any hopes that Donald Trump could be removed from consideration as the party's presidential nominee on a procedural basis.
VIDEO: Colorado GOP delegation calls for roll call vote. They were not recognized pic.twitter.com/vVvBYUVsA4
— Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) July 18, 2016
Some pro-Trump delegates countered the "roll call vote" chant by either chanting the candidate's last name in response, or "U-S-A," more commonly used to drown out protesters at Republican events. At one point, as seen below, supporters of the real estate mogul raised a banner in his honor:
According to Commentary magazine's Noah Rothman, delegates from Iowa and Colorado left the floor at one point during the uproar.
Watch more footage of the protests, as posted online, below.