The Republican National convention. Heres lester holt. Good evening, everyone, from cleveland, ohio, where the excitement is building on the floor, as this crowd awaits the woman who could be the next first lady of the United States, Melania Trump. Its been a wild day inside the arena. With us for all of it, chuck todd and savannah guthrie. Were between texas and colorado. We thought there would be fireworks. The stop trump movement, maybe its last gasp. It was, and it was loud. They tried to get a fullfledged roll call, trying to see what they could do. But trump and the rnc gavelled their way out of it. Some delegates tonight who were not part of the never trump how the Trump Campaign and the rnc treated these folks. This could become a problem later in the week, just for how they treated the detractors. I think of a Political Convention as an outreach for the party, to reach people that may not have been paying attention. But savannah, the tone weve heard here over the last couple of hours is more akin to a rally speaking to the believers. So far weve heard a lot of red meat, speaking to the parts base. Thats part of what the convention is about. But its also about the audience sitting at home, and its the mission of the candidate to then expand out that mission to the general electorate. Its early in the convention. Well see if they can do it. By the way, donald trump breaking with tradition tonight, going to be on this stage to introduce his wife melania. Usually we dont see them until the last night of the convention. We expect to see him very quickly. Stay with me, guys. We want to take you to the tarmac earlier this evening when our trump plane moments after the trumps touched down here in cleveland. An exclusive conversation with donald and Melania Trump ahead of her big speech. Here is some of the conversation. You guys have flown in this plane all across the country for the last year or so. Did this flight feel different . Was there a Different Energy on the plane . A little bit. Theres a lot of energy right next to us, right in that hall. Theres a lot of energy going on. Is it surreal to finally be here . Weve talked about this week for so long, mr. Trump. Is it surreal to be here . I think its just a great feeling. Its a great accomplishment. But the real accomplishment, and you know what it is, make America Great again. Thats what im doing it for. Thats why im doing it. Its a lot of work. Its a lot of activity. But i will say, you see that hall, you see the kind of enthusiasm they have. They want to see something happen. Its make America Great and safe again, matt. One part of the Campaign Ends in that hall tonight, another part begins. Your wife is going to get to speak to the delegates about you. Speech with you . Did you practice it on the plane . I read once over it, thats all, because i wrote it, and with a little help. Are you nervous . It would be okay to be nervous. No. Im excited. Its an exciting night. What do you want to tell the delegates, mrs. Trump, about your husband that they havent learned in the last year . Hes amazing. Shes learned a lot from you. That was really good. Hes an amazing guy. And he really wants to bring america to the next level. Matt is going to have much more with donald and Melania Trump tomorrow morning on today. We expect to see her maybe in about ten minutes, theyre running about ten minutes late. Rudy guiliani, former new york mayor, is right now speaking to the crowd. As i look at the numbers, that puts him about ten minutes or so behind. I dont think s i think they want rudy in this 10 00 hour. Guiliani got himself in the 10 00 hour one way or the other. We have hallie jackson, andrea mitchell, and peter alexander. Hallie, who have you been talking to tonight . Hi there, savannah. Were leaving one of the areas near the convention stairs because a protest just erupted outside, were actually being told to move here. What you saw was Donald Trumps convention, night one, interrupted, like so many of his rallies, by a protester, this particular one from code pink. Well show you the vip box, governor pence off to the side, seated next to senator dole, as the Trump Campaign and others here try to show a unified fronted. The family is here too, tiffany trump, along with donald trump jr. And tonight i spoke with donald trump jr. Just moments ago as he was walking out of the vip booth where we finally got back down to now. He said he was unconcerned about the floor today, calling it more of a media creation than anything else. He said he was looking forward to melanias speech tonight and his own speech tomorrow. You just saw the vp nominee, mike pence, chatting with bob dole, one of the imminence grises of the party. What was the shouting match on the floor all about . Do you think this is something that will come back later in the week . I think that potential exists. Were here in ohio. As Rudy Guiliani brings the crowd to its feet, no republicans have won the white house without winning this state. Its home state governor, john kasich, basically taking a series of insults from the Campaign Manager for donald trump and from donald trump himself, saying in effect, his Campaign Manager did, that its an embarrassment what hes the past they were right there at the 50yard line. This time around theyve been exiled to left field. Back to you. Rudy guiliani, a guy who has not necessarily been on the same page with jump, seems to be firing up the crowd. Lets see what hes saying. Its time to make america safe again. Its time to make america one again. One america. What happened to theres no black america, theres no White America there is just america . What happened to it . Where did it go . How has it flown away . I know, i know we can change it, because i did it by changing new york city from the crime capital of america to the safest large city in the United States. [ cheers and applause ] what i did for new york, donald trump will do for america. [ cheers ] i have known donald trump for almost 30 years. And he has created and accomplished great things. In my city and all over the world. But beyond that, is a man with a big heart. Every time new york suffered a tragedy, donald trump was there to help. [ applause ] hes not going to like my telling you this, but he did it anonymously. When Police Officers were shot, when firefighters were hurt, when people were in trouble, he came forward and he helped and he asked not to be mentioned. Well, i am going to break my promise to him. I am going to mention it. This is a man with a big heart who loves people, all people, from the top to the bottom. From the middle to the side. [ applause ] i am telling you this because i am sick and tired of the defamation of donald trump by the media and by the clinton it. This is a good man. [ cheers ] and america should be sick and tired of their vicious, nasty campaign. You deserve to know this about your next president. Hes been a great father. Fatherinlaw, grandfather, and friend to me, my wife judi judith, and my family for now almost 30 years. I know him personally. And this is a very good and decent man. And he will be a great president. Decent protrump speech of the night. Rudy guiliani, former mayor of new york, really playing to the theme, which is make america safe again. I think the line there was, donald trump will do for the United States what i did for new york city. Were also for the first time really hearing a testimonial he just said this is a person i know, ive known him a long time, he has a big part. An endorsement. Its something that has been missing. It struck me, oh, wow, there had been no trump testimonials. Rick perry, former governor of texas, never uttered his name. And its firing up the crowd. Andrea mitchell has her spot at the podium right near where the speakers step off after theyve given their speeches. Andrea, we would be remiss if we didnt say who is not in this convention hall. A lot of establishment figures, a lot of the graybeards of the Republican Party, not here. The only former republican nominee who is here tonight is bob dole. I talked to him extensively about that today. He said that while he supported jeb bush, that he thinks both jeb and george w. Bush, the former president , should have been here out of ec has been good to them. He said he has not missed a Republican Convention since 1964, and that in fact donald trump, whom he doubted could do this, has now proved that hes beginning to moderate his rhetoric, and can be a credible commander in chief, better, he says, than Hillary Clinton. By the way, rudy juliguiliani is right on the theme of the night now, which is law and order and national security. And i covered him when he was briefly running for the senate. He is a tough law and order advocate. And thats, were told, what were going to hear from donald trump thursday night, a speech echoing Richard Nixon in 1968. Savannah . Andrea, thank you so much. Were still waiting for Melania Trump to be introduced by donald trump in a short time. Its go back to rudy julia have this crowd eating out of his hand. Our enemy sees us as weak and vulnerable. Donald trump has said the first step in defeating our enemies is to identify them properly and see the connections between them so we can find them and catch them, to defeat islamic extremist terrorists we must put them on defense. If they are at war against us, which they have declared, we must committee ourselves to unconditional victory against them. [ cheers ] this includes undoing one of the worst deals america ever made, obamas Nuclear Agreement with iran. That will eventually that will eventually let them become a Nuclear Power and that is putting billions of dollars back into a country thats the Worlds Largest supporter of terrori terrorism. We are actually giving them the money that are funding terrorists and killing our allies. We are giving them the money. Are we crazy . Donald trump will make sure that any agreement with iran meets the original goals of the u. N. And our allies. A nonnuclear iran. [ applause ] donald trump is a leader. He will reassert americas position as the nation with the best values to lead the world. It was hil c overthrow of qaddafi and libya. Now libya has in chaos. Hillary clinton is accountable for this and much more. Her dereliction of duty and failure to keep her people safe played a major role, as you heard tonight, in the horrific islamic terrorist murders on september 11th and 12th, 2012, in benghazi, which claimed the lives of four brave americans. Ambassador j. Christopher stevens, Sean Christopher smith, amay they rest in peace. And clinton and the Obama Administration for political lied about the purpose of the attacks, including Hillary Clinton lying directly to the families of the people who were killed, right to their face. [ audience booing ] Hillary Clintons answer to congress about the death of these four brave americans, because of her gross failures as secretary of state, was, quote, what difference at this point does it make . [ audience booing ] what difference does it make . Watch the video yourself and see the arrogant disregard for american lives lost unnecessarily because of her. And then make up your own mind. Anyone who usa usa usa it means were getting to them. It means were getting to them. It means were getting to them. Anyone who can say that it makes no difference how or why people serving america are killed should not be entrusted with the awesome responsibility to protect them and us and should not be allowed to be our commander in chief. [ applause ] who would trust Hillary Clinton to protect them . I wouldnt. Would you . No donald trump will change all of that and more. Following. You know donald trump will secure our borders. His opponent has had her chance to do this and she has failed. Hillary clinton is for open borders. [ audience booing ] she is in favor of even taking Syrian Refugees even though the Islamic State has told us theyre going to put their operatives in with the Syrian Refugees, operatives who are terrorists, who are going to come to western europe and come here and kill us. Theyve told us that. And she still wants to take in those syrians. We cant afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. [ applause ] Hillary Clintons experience is the basi campaign. Hillary clintons experience is exactly the reason she should not be president of the United States. [ applause ] theres no next election. This is it. Theres no more time for us left to revive our great country. No more time to repeat our mistakes of the Clinton Obama years. Rudy guiliani, a former new york mayor with a point by point takedown now of Hillary Clinton after a strong endorsement of donald trump. We are awaiting to see donald trump very shortly. He will be introducing his wife Melania Trump. In the meantime were joined on our panel. Nicole wallace, nbc news political analyst is with us, and former speaker of the house to have you. Great to be here. Things didnt turn out exactly as you were hoping for. Oh, i think im very satisfied with mike pence. I think trump and i spent two and a half hours discussing it last thursday. I think given where hes at, he doesnt need, as i put it at the time, a second pirate on the ship. He needed somebody to balance it and to give him access to the republican regulation and the people who were worried about him. I think pence will be a very effective ambassador. We saw the first signs of im not picking you up at all, by the way. Can you hear me now . Oops. Now we lost your mike. We should note were all in these tricky getups here. Were not used to being Britney Spears here. Hey, nicole, since your mike is on, what do you make of the tone so far . The whole night is really underscoring the anxiety. This is sort of anxiety night, big it into focus. I think conventions are a fourpiece story. Tonights installment is about fear, about everything that donald trump thinks he can win by simply being stronger than his predecessor and his opponent. We heard from those who were contractors in benghazi, we heard the families of those who were killed by undocumented workers, very somber. Very grim. I mean, this is the kind of night you leave needing a stiff drink. This is Donald Trumps cor core message. Im sorry, the soundtrack. This song may only mean one thing. There he is. [ cheers ] this is a for sure. Very rockstarlike. Yes. Wow. Oh, my. Weve never seen this before. I thought bill clintons walk in 2000 was the rock star entrance. This one may top it. Im not picking up anything. Thank you. We love you. Thank you very much. Oh, were going to win. Were going to win so big. Thank you very much. Thank you. [ cheers ] thank you very much. Thank you. Big. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Were going to win so big. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to present the next first lady of the United States, my wife, an amazing mother, an incredible woman, Melania Trump. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. [ cheers ] thank you. You have all been very kind to donald and me, to our young son barron and our whole family. Its a very nice welcome, and we are excited to be with you at this historic convention. [ applause ] i am so proud of your choice for president of the United States, my husband, donald j. Trump. [ cheers ] and i can assure you, hes moved by this great honor. The 2016 republican primaries were fierce and started with many candidates, 17 to be exact. And i know that donald agrees with me when i mention how all of them are. They deserve the respect and gratitude from all of us. [ applause ] however, when it comes to my husband, i will say that im definitely biased, and for a good reason. I have been with donald for 18 years, and i have been aware of his love for this country since we first met. Everyone had a hidden agenda when it comes to his patriotism, because like me, he loves this country very much. [ applause ] i was born in slovenia, a small, beautiful, and thencommunist country in central europe. My sister, an incredible woman and a friend, and i were parents. My elegant and hard working mother introduced me to fashion and beauty. My father installed in my a passion for business and travel. Their integrity, compassion, and intelligence reflects to this day on me. And for my love of family and america. [ applause ] from a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your work is your bond, and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect. They thought and showed me values and more in their daily life. That is the lesson that i continue to pass along to our those lessons on to the many generations to follow, because [ applause ] because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievement is the strength of your drms and your willingness to work for them. [ cheers ] i am fortunate for my heritage but also for where it brought me today. I traveled the world while working hard in the incredible world of fashion. After working in milan and paris, i arrived in new york city 20 years ago, and i saw both the joys and hardships of daily life. On july become citizen of the United States. [ cheers ] the greatest feeling on planet earth. [ cheers ] i cannot or will not take the freedoms this country offers for granted. But these freedoms have come with a price so many times. The sacrifices made by our veterans are reminders to us of this. I would like to take a moment to recognize an amazing veteran, the great senator bob dole. [ cheers ] [ applause ] and let us thank all of our veterans in the arena today and those across our great country. [ applause ] we are all truly blessed to be here. That will never change. I can tell you with certainty that my husband has been concerned about our country for as long as i have known him. With all of my heart, i know that he will make a great and lasting difference. Donald has a great and deep determination and a nevergiveup attitude. [000 29 58;00] project done or even started, and he does not give up. [ applause ] if you want someone to fight for you and your country, i can assure you, hes the guy. He will never, ever give up. And most importantly, he will never, ever let you down. [ applause ] donald is and always has been an amazing leader. Now he will go to work for you. [ applause ] his achievements speak for themselves. And his performance throughout the primary campaign proved that he knows remain focused on improving our country, on keeping it safe and secure. [ applause ] hes tough when he has to be, but hes also kind and fair and caring. This kindness is not always noted. But it is there for all to see. That is one reason i fell in love with him to begin with. [ applause ] donald is intensely loyal to family, friends, employees, countries. He has the utmost want for his parents, mary and fred, to his sisters, mary and elizabeth, to his brother robert, and the memory o his children have been mentor mentored. They are an amazing testament to who he is as a man and as a father. [ cheers ] there is a great deal of love in the trump family. That is our bond and that is our strength. Yes, donald seems big, which is especially important when considering the presidency of the United States. No room for small thinking. No room for small resolve. Donald gets things done. [ applause ] our country is underperforming and needs new leadership. Leadership is also what the world needs. Donald wants our country to move forward in the most Everyone Wants change. Donald is the only one that can deliver it. We should not be satisfied with stagnation. Donald wants prosperity for all americans. [ applause ] we need new programs to help the poor and opportunities to challenge the young. There has to be a path for growth. Only then will our problems resolve. My husbands experience exemplifies growth and successful passage the opportunities to the next generation. His success indicates inclusion rather than division. My husband offers a new direction, welcoming change, prosperity, and greater coopeon nations. Donald intends to represent all the people, not just some of the people. [ cheers ] that includes christians and jews and muslims. It includes hispanics and africanamericans and asians. And the poor and the middle class. [ cheers ] throughout his career, donald has successfully worked with people of many faiths and with many nations. Like no one else, i have seen the talent, the energy, the resourceful mind, and the simple goodness of the heart that god gave to donald trump. Now is the time to use before for purposes far greater than ever. And he will do this better than anyone else can. And it wont even be close. [ applause ] everything depends on it for our cause and for our country. People are counting on him. All the millions of you who have touched us so much with your kindness and your confidence, you have turned this unlikely campaign into a movement that is still gaining in strength and number. [ applause ] the primary season is behind us. Lets all come together in a nationa other. [ cheers ] the race will be hardfought all the way to november. There will be good times and hard times and unexpected turns. It would not be a trump contest without excitement and drama. [ applause ] but throughout it all, my husband will remain focused on only one thing, this beautiful country that he loves so much. [ applause ] if im honored to serve as first lady, i will use that wonderful privilege to try to help people in our country who need it the most. One of the many causes dear to my heart is help women. You judge society by how it treats its citizens. We must do our best to ensure that every child can live in comfort and security with the best possible education. [ applause ] as the citizens of this great nation, it is kindness, love, and compassion for each other that will bring us together and keep us together. [ applause ] these are the values donald and i will bring to the white house. My husband is ready to lead this great nation. Hes ready to fight every day to give our children the Better Future they deserve. Ladies and gentlemen, donald j. Trump is ready to serve and lead this country as the next president of the United States. [ cheers ] thank you, god bless you, and god bless america. [ applause ] donald trump reemerging to greet his wife, giving her the thumbs up. [ cheers ] i know chuck todd is in disbelieve that trump is not going to speak. He couldnt leave the stage, though. He took the curtain call. She delivered the line, it would not be a trump contest without excitement and drama, the understatement of the year. I think if the mission was to look like a possible first lady, i think most viewers would say she did it. Newt gingrich is back with us, former speaker. You can hear me now. I think i can hear you now. It struck me that the applause was warm, tepid at times. I dont think this crowd knows melania theyve done a very good job of keeping her under wraps. Ivanka has done much more speaking than she has. We now know what to measure bill clintons speech against next week. The two first spouses, well see how they do. The other was that anybody who thinks that trump is antiimmigrant per se just had vivid proof that in fact hes very much in favor of legal immigrants, and he just brought one to the stage, who i think knocked it out of the park. Very hard not to think of this as a hugely successful speech. Nicole . I think she was spectacular. The difference between a spouse and a candidate, i remember watching Michelle Obama deliver her speech in 2008, and no matter what your politics are, you always root for the family. They didnt choose this life. Hear here to support the people they love. At times when he was getting beat up over how women viewed him, why wasnt she [000 40 58;00] speech . I think you may see more of her now. That was a home run, a very effective speech. Shes got the poise and the eloquence to be an effective messenger. And the election hinges on his ability to win over married women. I would be surprised if you didnt see more of her. I thought it was very welldone to have her do the bob dole moment, it also lifted her as well. It was all done well. Were going to take a break. Well be back from cleveland. Tom brokaw will join us. See you in a minute. Im in vests and as a vested investor in vests, i invest with e trade, where investors can investigate and invest in vests. Or not in vests. Sign up at etrade. Com and get up to six hundred dollars. And somebodys, smellin around, mmm i smell cookies. I say, oh no, you just smell me. I just got out of work. Thats honey bunches of oats, thats all. And now in delicious chocolate. When you dont get enough and your body aches. Youre not yourself. Tylenol® pm relieves pain and helps you fall fast asleep and stay asleep. We give you a better night. Youre a better you all day. Tylenol®. Cleveland, on the first night of the Republican National convention, with chuck todd and savannah guthrie. Were joined now by tom brokaw, tom, good to see you. The theme tonight is keep america safe. We heard a lot of speakers before we came on prime time talking on issues of national security, benghazi. How important is that in terms of how people glom onto donald trump and his candidacy . A couple of things that are quite obvious. First of all, a lot of Establishment Republicans have been waiting for him to pivot, so to speak, change his style, change his message. Its clear that donald trump is going to stay where he has been successful. He met with a group of Republican Senate leaders recently. They got around to issues. And he said, wait a minute, people show up because i put on a show. And what were seeing here tonight is an extension of what he did during the campaign so successfully. Now, have the rules changed so profoundly . Will this work going into the campaign as well . That we dont know yet. Buto he knows what works for him and how he can be successful with it. The fact of the matter is, however, as you look at this audience and as you look at the message, even with mrs. Trump saying what she said, its a pretty divisive message. There was no attempt to really pull the country together, its pitting one against the other, which worked so successfully for him. All the pollsters say they talk to groups, and they talk about some of the outrageous things hes said and the way hes challenged people even in his own party. They dont care, they like him for who he is, taking on the Convention Way we do business. Can that extend once they leave cleveland . I think theres a very big question, when you look at the two pages of Republican Office holders across this country who are not here tonight, including the governor of ohio who you talked to earlier today who wont have anything to do with him until he changes. I dont think security theme, you and i were talking about yesterday the sense of jitters right now that are really driving this convention. It is. Ill present an alternative theory as to why it feels divisive. I think this is the Trump Campaigns attempt tonight of uniting the Republican Party around something that can rally around, even nontrumpsters. Now, given that that was the goal tonight, they really messed up with the kasich move this morning, as you noted, and of course the mess earlier this afternoon on the floor. But youre right, what unites what trump needs to do to unite the party right now may be a little too divisive down the road. Well, the best thing theyve got going for them, youre hearing from people who are not trump fans, is that we dont want a third obama term. This is not about continuing the status quo, weve got to change, theyre not happy about the agent of change they have now, but they think if they can sell change inor shot going in. But he is the instrument. And based on everything were seeing so far, hes going to carry through with what he did with the campaign, because after all, it did work for him. I think we make too much of the things he does. He makes a thousand more mistakes in any way than most campaigns make during the entire course of a general election. Hes behind, but hes probably only four to seven points behind Hillary Clinton, having introduced his Vice President in a disastrous matter. He came here this morning and his Campaign Manager set up a feud with governor kasich. That played out all day. The fact that hes still in it has more to do with the things beyond peoples control. Its an events, its anxiety, than it does anything hes doning, right or wrong. Were going to play the interview with talks about why hes here and what Donald Trumps chances may be in ohio and why he may have a struggle here. Well be back with that and more from cleveland, after this. The sunll come out tomorrow. For people with Heart Failure, tomorrow is not a given. But entresto is a medicine that helps make more tomorrows possible. Tomorrow, tomorrow. I love ya, tomorrow in the largest Heart Failure study ever. Entresto helped more people stay alive and out of the hospital than a leading Heart Failure medicine. Women who are pregnant must not take entresto. It can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Dont take entresto with an ace inhibitor or aliskiren. If youve had angioedema while taking an ace or arb medicine, dont take entresto. The most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure. Kidney problems, or high potassium in your blood. Tomorrow, tomorrow i love ya, tomorrow. And help make tomorrow possible. Youre only a day away welcome back to cleveland, night one of the Republican National convention. One of the big storylines here, of course, is those who arent here, the conscientious objectors, high profile republicans who have opted out of the convention, including the republican governor of the state, john kasich. Paul manafort, the Trump Campaign chairman, said today he was an embarrassment to his state. We tracked him down for an exclusive interview and the governor talked about why he your failure to go to the convention . The challenge i have is im a person who wants to unite. Ive said i dont like the divisive language weve heard from mr. Trump. And ive held out hope that it would change. Look, i ran a Campaign Based on bringing people together. That wasnt just some bunch of lines i put together. Its what i firmly believe. If donald trump called you right now and said, bygones be bygones he would have to change everything he says. We cant be speaking against muslims and hispanics and shutting down trade. Those are all problems with me. I dont hold any personal animus to donald trump. We just are two companies with different values, directions, and philosophies. Ohio is a battleground state. Can donald trump win in ohio . I think its hard if you dont have a bad economics here. The second time, i pulled every together, because ohio is really a snapshot of america. If you go hard one way or too hard the other, very difficult to win. If youre not a unifier, its a real challenge of i have to also tell you i have been, frankly, a little surprised at the intensity of the opposition to hillary. Ohio is still up for grabs. But that person who can give some hope and some unity and a vision i think is the one that will win in the state of ohio. Its a very tough state to win. I have to ask you, you worked very hard for the nomination. You are essentially host of a party that could have been yours. How do you reconcile that, how do you deal with it . Whats funny about it is, what was so hard when i quit, i thought when i leave, will i miss the crowds, the selfies, all o it. Im as happy as ive ever been. And i just feel great. I dont have any regrets, any bitterness, any sour grapes. Its just fun. The governor told me hes at peace, you saw him meeting with out of state Police Officers helping with security here. By the way, some of the trump folks think this is all about him trying to preserve a chance at another run for the president. I asked him about that, he said hes not ruling anything out, but he said he doesnt know what hes having for dinner tonight, much less whats going to happen in 2020. Theres an off color joke and chuck filled in the blank. Its like sex, you dont do it once. Thats the quote of the night. James carvilles quote, not mine. Exactly. Hallie is with an early supporter of donald trump. Hi, savannah, yes, here when senator jeff sessions, one of trumps earlier supporters, one of closest advisors even now. You were rumored to be until the vp race. Talk to me about melanias speech. Did she do what she needed to do here . I think so. This lady is obviously highly intelligence, has a wonderful personality and a commitment to the country. I thought that was special. One of the issues we saw today was chaos, franchiskly, on the floor with the delegates. How does donald trump overcome that over the next three days . The voters were very strong for donald trump. He got more votes than anybody has gotten in a republican primary by far, a clear majority of the delegates here. But theres usually some excitement at conventions. Im not surprised something would happen. I think it will all blow over. I think the strength he has is the vote totals hes gotten, strength with th thank you, senator sessions. Peter alexander is on the floor. How was Melania Trumps speech received in the room . Youre a pretty good analyst of this sort of thing, what do you think, Melania Trump, how did she purcha perform tonight . I thought it was fantastic, such a greatest that meant to their marriage and commitment to their family. Her comments were spot on, really heartfelt. You can tell shes so proud of her heritage and coming here, coming here and becoming a u. S. Citizen. Do you think it may change minds . You told me youre going to vote for donald trump over Hillary Clinton. But do you think nights like this are exactly what the party needs to do . I do. Its great to see so many people come out and share stories from mothers who have lost soldiers, their children, to hear Rudy Guiliani with such great passion, to talk about important issues facing our country with national its been a pleasure to meet you, thanks so much. Thank you so much. Savannah, lester, back to you. Peter alexander on the floor, thank you. Im curious among the group here, whats the headline going to be tomorrow . I think Melania Trump nails it in an otherwise grim presentation in the first night of the Republican Convention. This is about peoples kids who had died, this was about Illegal Immigrants who had committed crimes. It really was sort of a contrast between griefstricken families, this is a terrible headline, and Melania Trump. Your font is going to be this big on your headline. Theres one positive, the most positive highlight, optimistic highlight, Melania Trump tonight. But everything else, it was a dark theme, and so it wasnt warm and inviting. Then of course the disunity issue. This was supposed to be the beginning of unifying the party and they still have this. On the chairs are empty. They left. They did leave. Theyre boycotting. Im sure well see, but this has got a little bit of fuel. This could be disruptive later in the week. Lets talk about the moment, donald trump walking out, like the opening sequence of the apprentice. They pulled that off very well. To me, the thing im going to watch all week long is, are they making this affirmative case for donald trump . Hillary already has her detractors. Theres already high negatives for her. Trump has to convince the American People he is qualified to hold the position. Thats the work thats cut off for him. Tom, how many people are truly sitting on the fence, how much people are watching this convention and may watch the democrats and say, hmm . My own experience in 50 years of doing this is that in the final week they sit down around the Kitchen Table and kind of talk to each otr and families, in bars and other places, to try to sort it out. The race is surprisingly close given the controversial character of Donald Trumps candidacy. Between of two of them, there are not that many points between them at this point. Whats surprising to me was that they didnt reach out and try to pull the country together. They went back to benghazi again, they had seven investigations of benghazi, it was a terrible tragedy, but they didnt move beyond that, they just wanted to replow it. I think even very conservative people are saying, give me something more than that at this point. And you have new things in the news. There was an opportunity to talk about what happened in nice. Right. There is a very real and current threat of terrorism. I dont even think Rudy Guiliani spent too much time on it. That is going to do it for us on this night one of the Republican National convention. A reminder, matt lauer will have more on donald and Melania Trump tomorrow morning on today, as we showed you earlier he spoke to them as their plane touched down here in cleveland. Coverage continues tomorrow night at 10 00 eastern, 7 00 pacific on nbc. For chuck todd, savannah guthrie, nicole wallace, and tom brokaw, im lester holt saying good night from cleveland. announcer vo at unitedhealth group, were on a mission. To meet the unique health needs of our service members, veterans and their families. By expanding access to highquality care, from enlistment through retirement. Using Data Insights to customize that care, so its responsive to the military experience. And by serving the families of Wounded Service members through innovative partnerships. For those who serve. Unitedhealth group. Built for better health. And these are the lungs. boy sorry. dad dont worry about it. vo at our house, we need things that are built to last. Thats why we got a subaru