What happened at Day 1 of RNC and when to see the Perseid meteor shower: Morning Rundown

A bandaged Donald Trump makes an appearance at the Republican National Convention. Pennsylvania police warned Secret Service about a suspicious person at Trump’s rally, a U.S. official says. And find out the best day to see the Perseid meteor shower. 

Here’s what to know today.

Trump, with a bandaged ear, fires up RNC in first appearance since rally shooting

Former President Donald Trump made his first appearance since the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally two days ago, entering the Republican convention hall to roaring applause, his right ear bandaged and with a fist held high. Singer Lee Greenwood played “God Bless the U.S.A.” as the now-official Republican presidential nominee waved to supporters. 

The appearance capped an eventful first day of the Republican National Convention. Earlier, Trump announced he had chosen Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his vice presidential running mate. 

An evening of speeches touched on the attempt on Trump’s life. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia declared “evil came for the man we admire and love so much.” Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said “the devil” showed up in Pennsylvania, “but the American lion got back up on his feet and roared.” 

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Trump did not speak during last night’s appearance, other than mouthing “thank you” to attendees. A source said he believed Trump’s brush with death would work its way into his speech later this week. Read more about Trump’s appearance.

Trump has called for unity in the aftermath of the shooting, but last evening’s convention speakers sometimes contradicted that call. Otherwise, the economy was the main focus of the night, as speakers lamented the cost of gas and groceries. Others took aim at the Democratic Party, LGBTQ rights and more. Read more takeaways from the RNC.

More convention coverage: 

• Follow our live blog for the real-time updates from Day 2 of the Republican convention.
• When Trump recently had a private discussion about who he wanted as his running mate, “Don Jr. and Eric went bat---- crazy,” a GOP operative said. It was one factor that influenced Trump’s ultimate decision. Here’s the inside story of how Trump landed on Vance.
• JD Vance’s positions on abortion, the 2020 election, Ukraine and more.
• What the JD Vance pick means for Trump, the GOP and the future, according to NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd.
• Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric played a prominent role in the first night of the RNC.

Police warned Secret Service of suspicious person before gunman opened fire at Trump rally

Before a would-be assassin took aim at Trump, local police officers notified the former president's Secret Service detail that they were looking for a suspicious person in the area, a U.S. official told NBC News.

Rallygoers at Saturday’s event near Pittsburgh first flagged local police about a suspicious person, later identified as 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks, pacing and behaving strangely near the magnetometers, four officials said. Local police began pursuing Crooks on foot, the officials said. During that time, police told the Secret Service they were looking for a suspicious person. 

But key questions remain. It’s not clear when the Secret Service was notified and whether it was before Trump took the stage. The timing also raises questions about whether other measures could have been taken to stop Crooks.

There’s also growing evidence that at least half a dozen people who attended the rally were pointing to the gunman while he was on the roof getting in position to shoot, trying to alert law enforcement and fellow rallygoers of the imminent danger. 

Read the exclusive story here.

More coverage of the assassination attempt on Trump:  

• Law enforcement officials offered new details about their investigation of Crooks, saying the FBI accessed his phone but were unable to find anything pointing to a motive. Meanwhile, family members and former classmates said they’re shocked and baffled at his actions.
• How the Trump assassination attempt unfolded, in videos and maps.

Back in campaign mode, Biden defends his age and goes after Trump’s rhetoric

In an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt, President Joe Biden defended his decision to stay in the presidential race amid calls for him to drop out. "I'm old," Biden said. "But I'm only three years older than Trump, No. 1. And No 2., my mental acuity's been pretty damn good." More on Biden’s defense of his age.

The interview signaled Biden's plunge back into campaign mode after having tempered attacks on Trump following the attempt on his life. Some Trump allies alleged Biden and other Democrats fomented hostility toward Trump that they claim contributed to the shooting, but Biden said Trump is the one who has made violent rhetoric mainstream. "I'm not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election," he said. More on Biden’s focus on Trump.

Holt also asked the president for his reaction to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's decision to dismiss the classified documents case against Trump. Biden said he wasn't surprised by the ruling and suggested it was inspired by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. More on Biden’s critique of the ruling.

Watch Joe Biden’s full interview with Lester Holt here.

One of the most dramatic meteor showers of the year is here

Grab your telescope and head outside. The annual Perseid meteor shower is underway, and people will have until late August to catch the celestial show, with the shower set to peak on the night of Aug. 12, into the early morning of Aug. 13. Read more for the best time of night to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower.

Right now, Earth is passing through a cloud of dust particles and leftover debris from a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle — thus, the annual meteor shower. Streaks of light are created as the pieces hit the atmosphere and vaporize, leaving behind bright trails as they disintegrate.

Paris 2024: Ukraine’s Olympians will compete in Paris for more than medals

When the Olympic Games open in Paris, 139 Ukrainian athletes will compete for more than gold, silver or bronze. They’ll perform to uplift a war-weary nation. And some will harness the fury of competing alongside a small number of Russian and Belarusian athletes allowed by the International Olympic Committee to participate under neutral status, without a national flag or anthem.

“If you talk about the Olympic Games, it’s about peace. How can we talk about peace if Russia invades my country in the center of Europe? It’s crazy,” said Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who recently set a new world record.

Mahuchikh and Bogdan Iadov, a judoka, opened up about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has altered their Olympic journeys — from agonizing family separations to training amid air-raid sirens and the specter of attacks. 

Politics in Brief 

Case dismissed: Trump’s classified documents case in Florida was dismissed after Cannon said that special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was “unlawful” and unconditional. The decision “surprised” Trump, a source said. And Smith’s team indicated that it would appeal. 

Housing costs: The White House plans to unveil new actions to lower the cost of housing. Biden plans to call on Congress to pass a law that would ensure landlords cap rent increases at 5%, and the administration is looking to sell extra federal land to be repurposed into affordable housing.

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Staff Pick: The simple solution to saving money on iced coffee

In a bid to save money, I've recently doubled down on my efforts to make a satisfying cup of iced coffee at home. (My secret: add cinnamon.) It turns out I'm not alone. With the average price of a regular cup of coffee up to $3.08, and more than $5 for a cold brew or a latte, many people are opting to spend less to get their caffeine fix at home. Companies such as Keurig and Nestlé are paying attention and coming out with new products, while one Florida coffee shop is offering classes on latte art and the science of coffee brewing. NBC News producer Haley Messenger dives into an evolution in coffee that has been brewing for years.  — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Amazon Prime Day, the summer’s biggest shopping holiday, has officially started. The flood of deals during the 48-hour sale can be overwhelming, so here are some ways to shop smart:

• Not all deals are good deals so NBC Select’s shopping editors screen thousands of discounts to determine which sales are actually worthwhile. Check out their picks for the best deals across categories such as wellness, tech, home and kitchen, pets and more.
• There are always new discounts popping up, including limited-time Lightning Deals. NBC Select editors will update the deals in real time throughout both Prime Days, so keep coming back to see the latest. 
• Want to know how editors choose which deals to feature? Follow @nbcselect on Instagram to get a behind-the-scenes look at the work our editors put into finding the best Prime Day deals.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.