Donald Trump seals Republican nomination

Donald Trump has officially clinched the Republican nomination for the November US presidential elections as speakers hammered Democrat Hillary Clinton on day two of the Republican National Convention.

Trump is expected to accept the nomination on Thursday after state delegates formally selected him.

The theme of Tuesday in Cleveland was "Make America Work Again". However, the speakers focused almost exclusively on attacking Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a former prosecutor, held a mock trial for Clinton as the crowd chanted "lock her up".

The billionaire businessman had been expected to cruise past the 1,237 delegates needed on Tuesday to seal the deal on the first ballot. 

Later, a giant image of of the nominee was beamed into the arena, live via satellite link from Trump Tower in New York City. “I am so proud to be your nominee for president of the United States,” Trump said. “With your vote today, this stage of the presidential process has come to a close.

“Together we have received historic results, with the largest vote total in the history of the Republican party. This is a movement and we have to go all the way.”

In the three-minute address, Trump anticipated his big convention speech, rattling through a list of policies such as strengthening the border, “getting rid” of Isis, and “restoring law and order”.

“I’ll be discussing all that on Thursday night,” he said. “But together, most importantly, we’re going to make America great again.”