Rally With Trump Some Gop Candidates Arent Thrilled About It
Whether he is invited or not, the former president keeps holding rallies in battleground states. It reflects an awkward dance as Republican candidates try to win over general-election voters.
-
Send any friend a story
As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.
Give this article
By Michael C. Bender and Maggie Haberman
Former President Donald J. Trump is preparing to swoop into Ohio on Saturday to rally Republicans behind J.D. Vance in a key Senate race. Two weeks earlier, he did the same for Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania.
Neither candidate invited him.
Instead, aides to the former president simply informed the Senate campaigns that he was coming. Never mind that Mr. Trump, while viewed heroically by many Republicans, remains widely disliked among crucial swing voters.
The question of how to handle Mr. Trump has so bedeviled some Republican candidates for Senate that they have held private meetings about the best way to field the inevitable calls from his team, according to strategists familiar with the discussions.
This awkward state of affairs reflects the contortions many Republican candidates are going through as they leave primary season behind and pivot to the general election, when Democrats are trying to bind them to the former president.
Punching Back At The Department Of Justice
The former president is currently involved in a legal tussle with federal authorities over a cache of classified documents that the FBI seized last month.
Government authorities say Mr Trump improperly took and stored White House documents, including some marked “top secret” at his Florida home – the Mar-a-Lago resort.
Federal prosecutors now say he may have obstructed the investigation into his possession of the documents.
Mr Trump has previously spun investigations and attacks against him as “witch hunts”, and it was no different on Saturday.
He came out swinging, calling the FBI’s search “the shameful raid and break-in on my home in Mar-a-Lago” a “travesty”.
The former president has long built his appeal by casting himself and his supporters as political outsiders and persecuted figures.
Mr Trump linked his personal legal troubles to his supporters’ political frustrations, claiming: “We are being assaulted⦠by the FBI and DOJ.”
“It was not just my home that was raided⦠it was the hopes and dreams of every citizen who I’ve been fighting for since the moment I came down the golden escalator in 2015, wanting to represent the people,” he added, drawing boos from the crowd.
Read More On President Biden
She technically held the power of the Presidency for 85 minutes.
However, if something more serious happened to Biden, Harris would take over as President.
In this scenario, she would then name her successor, who the majority in Congress must vote on.
If something happened to both Biden and Harris, the torch would follow the 25th amendment’s line of succession, which states that the power would go to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Also Check: How Can I Watch The Patriots Game On My Ipad
Where Else Has Trump Campaigned
On June 18, 2022, Trump held his American Freedom Tour event in Memphis, Tennessee.
He was joined on stage by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Dinesh D’Souza, Mark Burns, Sheriff Mark Lamb, and a number of other conservative speakers at Landers Center.
On Saturday, May 28, he made his first-ever appearance at a rally in Casper, Wyoming, where he endorsed GOP congressional candidate Harriet Hageman, who will be challenging Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
Previously, former President Donald Trump headlined the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting in Texas on Friday, May 27.
In a post via Truth Social, Trump said he would be keeping his “longtime commitment” to speak at the event in Houston because the country needs “real solutions and real leadership at this moment.”
The news comes after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas left at least 19 students and two teachers dead.
According to NPR, attendees were not able to carry guns during his address and were searched with magnetometers before entry by Secret Service.
He showed his support for Republican candidate Harriet Hageman, who is campaigning against Liz Cheney.
Over the years, Trump and Cheney have not seen eye-to-eye and have called each other out on several occasions.
In October 2021, Trump went as far as calling her a “smug fool” after she backed a criminal contempt vote against former White House aide Stephen Bannon, The Hill reports.
Former President Trump Rally In Wilkes
The shameful raid and break-in of my home, Mar-a-Lago, was a travesty of justice, said former President Trump about the FBIs search of his residence for classified documents. Heread more
The shameful raid and break-in of my home, Mar-a-Lago, was a travesty of justice, said former President Trump about the FBIs search of his residence for classified documents. He accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Department of Justice and FBI for political ends. Moreover, he claimed that the FBI staged a photoshoot of the documents, which he called disinformation. The former presidents remarks came during a campaign speech for Pennsylvania candidates ahead of the 2022 elections, and he spoke in support of U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz and gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano . He also discussed President Bidens recent speech from Philadelphia about threats to democracy, calling it the most vicious, hateful, and divisive speech ever given by an American president. He also repeated his grievances about the 2020 election and spoke about immigration, crime, education issues, foreign leaders, and problems he sees with Democratic policies. close
Also Check: Did Donald Trump Say Republicans Were Stupid
If Trump Was Still President Ukraine Would Be So Screwed Right Now
Counterfactuals always involve guessing. But one counterfactual proposition that seems increasingly obvious is that if Donald Trump had secured a second term in office, Ukraine would be losing the war right now.
Ukraines successful defense has required several factors, including the bravery and skill of its armed forces and continued Russian bungling. But it has also relied on a unified and energetic response from its western allies, which has included moral solidarity, economic sanctions, intelligence sharing, and a massive infusion of weapons. If Trump still occupied the Oval Office, none of these would be occurring.
A month ago, Trumps close friend and supporter Sean Hannity tried repeatedly to coax him to call Vladimir Putin a bad person or admit his slaughter of civilians was wrong. Trump kept refusing. After Trump declined the first opportunity, Hannity offered another: You came under some fire when you said that Vladimir Putin is very smart. I think I know you a little bit better than most people in the media, and I think you also recognize hes evil, do you not?
After Trump declined again and boasted of his closeness with Putin, Hannity tried suggesting Russia was an enemy Trump was strategically keeping close. Trump declined that opportunity, too, saying, I got along with these people. I got along with them well.
Hannity tries to get Trump to condemn Putin. Trump won’t do it, and instead rants about NATO.
Aaron Rupar
What Is Donald Trump Doing Now
The former president is readjusting to his life as a normal citizen since his presidency ended in January, 2021.
Since then, Trump has made several statements through his office in Florida, The Office of Donald J. Trump.
Trump slammed the “radical left CRAZIES” in an Easter 2021 message as he was spotted getting a standing ovation alongside Melania and Barron.
The full damning statement reads: “Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America.
“Happy Easter to ALL, including the Radical Left CRAZIES who rigged our Presidential Election, and want to destroy our Country!”
It comes after the former President was spotted at Mar-a-Lago in the family’s first appearance together since he left office.
Trump and former First Lady Melania were given a warm welcome as they attended an Easter Sunday church service before heading to Mar-a-Lago for an egg roll.
The couple were issued a rousing round of applause as they stood in the front row of the Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Easter morning.
Onlookers appeared stunned to learn of the Trumps’ presence at the religious event.
In photographs from the service at Christ Fellowship Church, which has seating for about 1,500 people, none of the attendees appear to be wearing masks.
The Trumps also appeared to be freely mingling with other guests and not practising social distancing.
You May Like: San Diego Jet Boat Patriot
He’s An Unpredictable Hothead In A Situation Crying Out For Wisdom And Diplomacy
Whatever you think of President Biden, the fact that he is sitting in the White House and Donald Trump isn’t is the best thing the United States has going for it in this present crisis.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demands a response that is both firm and restrained, a hard balance to achieve because it requires a willingness to punish Vladimir Putin while at the same time not allowing the cycle of escalation to spin out of control. That requires a combination of good judgment and diplomatic skills to execute correctly. Biden hasn’t been perfect, but so far his administration has mostly found the sweet spot. Good for him, and us.
Trump, meanwhile, is out there doing what he always does: Saying provocative, dangerous stuff.
Here he is on Saturday night, speaking to Republican donors in New Orleans:
Maybe he was joking. But presidents, and those who aspire to the presidency, don’t have the luxury of frivolity in matters of war and peace.
It’s the logic of the failed grifter Trump used to be before he became president. The kind of guy who tried to put one over on the suckers only to get buried under a blizzard of lawsuits. Now he’s applied that same awful thinking to an international crisis, offering more proof that this man belongs nowhere near the Oval Office or the nuclear football.
Over the last few weeks, Trump has reminded us of three characteristics that make him unsuitable for national leadership during wartime:
Finally, there’s the nuclear question.
What Did Trump Say About The Covid Vaccines
After President Joe Biden announced his administration would order another 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Trump responded seeking credit for the swift rollout.
The ex-president said in a statement released by his office on March 10: “I hope everyone remembers when theyre getting the COVID-19 Vaccine, that if I wasnt President, you wouldnt be getting that beautiful shot for 5 years, at best.
“And probably wouldnt be getting it at all.
I hope everyone remembers!”
Both Pfizer and Modernas two-dose coronavirus vaccines were developed and authorized for emergency use while Trump was in office.
Moderna received funding for design and testing under Trumps Operation Warp Speed, while Pfizer had an advance-purchase agreement.
J& J, which was authorized for use after Biden took office, also had a pre-existing federal production deal made under the Trump administration.
Read Also: Patriot Lighting 6 White Recessed Led Downlight
Supporters Think Trump Was ‘set Up’
The crowd was on his side when it came to the FBI’s search.
This region supported Mr Trump in the 2020 election, even though Pennsylvania overall slipped from his grasp and chose Mr Biden.
Two supporters had already procured “Defund the FBI” T-shirts to wear to the rally.
Gail McCloskey, from the city of Altoona, nearly a three-hour drive away, told the BBC she thought the FBI visit was “a set up”.
Meanwhile, Kelly Borgogelli, 60, who had driven four hours from Buffalo, New York, to see Mr Trump, said: “They’re just going after him for pure hate.”
Asked if she believed any of the multiple accusations made against Mr Trump over the years – that he incited a violent mob to storm the US Capitol last year, that he improperly pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his political enemies, or that he falsified claims of election fraud in 2020 – Mrs Borgogelli replied she did not.
“They’ve never given us any proof,” she said.
Her companion, Maureen Ewart, 62, said if the justice department actually charged Mr Trump, the country would be “divided”.
“It will be crowded out there, the streets will be full,” Ms Ewart said, emphasising that she did not condone violence – but feared any criminal charges against the former president could spark civil unrest.
At one point, Mr Trump himself claimed that the latest investigation into his possession of government documents was “going to produce a backlash” the likes of which the country had not seen before.
His Visit To Pennsylvania Is A Strategic Choice
Mr Trump’s name might not be on the ballot in Pennsylvania this year, but Trumpism certainly is.
He hand-picked the US Senate candidate, celebrity medical expert Dr Oz, and endorsed the far-right election conspiracy theorist Mr Mastriano for governor after his surprising primary win.
Should his candidates prevail, the Republican Party will see it as a sign of Mr Trump’s continued dominance of their base voters.
Should they lose, however, it could indicate to Mr Trump’s potential 2024 rivals that they may have a chance at the White House after all.
Rallygoers were far more enthused about Mr Mastriano – a candidate more closely forged in the former president’s mould – than they were about Dr Oz.
The crowd roared when Mr Mastriano was brought onstage. However Dr Oz was invited to join Mr Trump onstage well over an hour into the rally.
The celebrity doctor spoke for less than two minutes, and after his remarks, someone in the back of the crowd shouted “he’s a Rino!” or “Republican in name only”, a criticism that Dr Oz is not sufficiently conservative.
Recommended Reading: How Many Seats Did The Republicans Get In The Senate
Trump Calls Biden ‘enemy Of The State’ During 1st Rally Since Mar
It was the former president’s first rally since the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago.
In his first rally since the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago home last month, former President Donald Trump took the stage in Pennsylvania for nearly two hours during which he responded to the raid on his home last month and President Joe Biden’s remarks earlier this week.
“The shameful raid and break-in of my home Mar-a-Lago was a travesty of justice,” Trump said of the search. “The FBI and the Justice Department have become vicious monsters.”
Trump was in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on Saturday campaigning in support of Doug Mastriano, who is running for governor against Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is taking on Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in the U.S. Senate race.
Trump praised both candidates while emphasizing the importance of taking back the House and Senate this November.
“Two months from now the people of Pennsylvania are going to fire the radical left democrats and you are going to elect Doug Mastriano as your next governor, and you are going to send my friend Oz, he is a great guy, to the US Senate,” Trump said. “You’re going to elect an amazing slate of true America first Republicans to Congress.”
And though Saturday’s rally was in support of his Pennsylvania candidates, Trump spent the vast majority of his speech focused on his own issues– mainly with the FBI, the Department of Justice, fellow Republicans and Joe Biden.
Will Trump Do Time What It Would Take To Convict The Former President
Most legal and constitutional experts agree: Given the facts that have come to light about former President Donald Trump‘s role in the mob attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, it is now plausible that he will be charged with crimes, tried and convicted. “It’s no longer premature to say that Trump could end up in prison,” says Michael Conway, a longtime trial lawyer who started his career as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment inquiry into Richard Nixon in 1974 , and who now teaches ethics and the law at Northwestern University. “It’s a winnable case.”
The same experts are quick to point out that no criminal case is a sure thing, and that’s triply true for the prospects of tagging Trump with a crime. For one thing, allegations of misdeeds, including fraud, sexual assault and treason, have dogged Trump from the 1970s through his presidency. He has yet to face a criminal trial, let alone conviction.
As Republicans look to take control of the House in this year’s elections, they are already plotting their revenge for the January 6 inquiry by targeting figures like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for investigation. If the Biden administration files criminal charges against Trump, those efforts will likely go nuclear.
Also Check: How To Listen To The Patriots Game
Will Donald Trump Run For President Again In 2024
Trump has dropped hints about running for President again in 2024.
After the news broke that for at least two years, he released a statement implying his return to the presidency.
He said: Next time Im in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife. It will be all business!
Without giving too much away, Trump has named a number of strong Republican contenders for the 2024 bid, excluding his former presidential right-hand Mike Pence.
Constitutionally, Trump can launch a second White House bid after losing in 2020 – his team has previously hinted that he could seek another term in 2024.
The 22nd Amendment states: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once.”
