Even though several prominent Republicans have said they won't attend their party's upcoming national convention, Sean Spicer, the chief strategist and communications director for the Republican National Committee, said Thursday their absences aren't a major issue.
"Neither of the Bushes came last time either," Spicer told Fox News' Martha MacCallum on the
"America's Newsroom" program about former Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush. "Sen. John McCain has a tough race. The media wants to make something of this."
The convention will be, even without some of the party stalwarts, "something we have never seen before. It will be star-studded. It will be themed, a show people want to tune in. They will learn more about the Republican Party and more about Donald Trump, be united coming out of here, understanding what is at stake and why we must beat Hillary Clinton," said Spicer.
He downplayed the line-up the Democratic Party's convention will attract, including President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and the likelihood Vice President Joe Biden will be speaking.
"Look who they're filling it with, the same old status quo," said Spicer. "People have had enough of the Obama-Biden ticket. Enough of the Clintons. Enough of politicians telling them this will be something to believe in."
At the Republican convention, meanwhile, people will hear from those who understand who Trump is, including people who have worked for him for 20 or 30 years and why they're proud to work for him, said Spicer.
"They will hear from his family, people know him well," Spicer said. "People will hear from
celebrities ... it will be star-studded and fun and exciting. Everyone will walk out of here very excited about what happened in Cleveland and be really let down with what Democrats do in Philadelphia."
The RNC, meanwhile, is "100 percent behind" Trump and "fiercely ready to go to battle to defeat Hillary Clinton.
"We've always known that it would be Hillary Clinton," said Spicer. "We'll be prepared. We'll have a phenomenal convention here in Cleveland."
And the list of speakers announced
Thursday morning was just a partial group.
"There will be a lot more people that are involved but there will be a lot of videos," said Spicer. "Marco Rubio will speak by video. Bobby Knight will speak by video. As you mentioned, Tim Tebow will be here. It will be a great mix of celebrities, professional athletes, experts in national security, people who know Mr. Trump very well."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.