Trump news – live: Trump wants classified documents trial delayed to after 2024 as Georgia grand jury meets

Donald Trump is now seeking to have his federal criminal trial delayed until after the 2024 election.

In a court filing late on Monday, Mr Trump’s lawyers asked the judge for a lengthy delay to his classified documents case, saying that due to the extraordinary nature of the case, it would not be possible to try it before the election.

Mr Trump has been charged with 37 federal counts over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. Judge Aileen Cannon has set 18 July as the date for the first hearing in the case to discuss classified information procedures.

Meanwhile, a Georgia grand jury was slated to meet on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the efforts of the former president and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating Mr Trump after he called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in early 2021 and urged him to “find 11,780 votes” to flip the state in his favour.

As his legal troubles heat up, Mr Trump is lashing out at Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds for staying neutral in the 2024 race.

Key points

• Judge sets date for first classified documents hearing

• Donald Trump wants classified documents trial delayed until after 2024 election

• Georgia grand jury to meet today over Trump efforts to overturn election

• Trump rages at Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds

• New book claims Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides

Watch: Christie says Trump thinks about sound of jail cell door closing every night

22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New Jersey Governor and 2024 Republican Party Candidate Chris Christie appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe today to talk about chief foe Donald Trump.

He told the hosts: “I’m telling you, no matter what he says, no matter how he’s bragging, [Trump] goes to bed every night thinking about the sound of the jail cell door closing behind him...When push comes to shove, I’m not so sure he won’t take the plea.”

Watch the segment below:

Mike Lindell is auctioning off MyPillow equipment

22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans interested in the art of pillow making may be in for a treat this week as MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has had to turn to auctioning off his company’s equipment to make money.

Graeme Massie has the details.

Mike Lindell is auctioning off MyPillow equipment after retailers cut ties

E Jean Carroll legal team release statement after DoJ decision on defamation case

22:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Robbie Kaplan, E Jean Carroll’s attorney released the following statement after the Department of Justice reversed its position and determined former President Donald Trump was not acting within the scope of his office when he made statements that allegedly defamed the New York writer:

“We are grateful that the Department of Justice has reconsidered its position. We have always believed that Donald Trump made his defamatory statements about our client in June 2019 out of personal animus, ill will, and spite, and not as President of the United States. Now that one of the last obstacles has been removed, we look forward to trial in E Jean Carroll’s original case in January 2024.”

Jan 6 rioter who stormed Capitol while free on attempted murder charge sentenced

22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A North Carolina man who stormed the U.S. Capitol while awaiting trial for shooting a teenager in the head was sentenced on Tuesday to more than three years in prison for attacking police officers with a flagpole during the riot.

Read more:

Man who stormed Capitol while free on attempted murder charge gets over 3 years in prison for riot

DoJ will no longer say Trump acted in scope of office when attacking E Jean Carroll

21:54 , Oliver O'Connell

The Justice Department tells a New York judge Lewis Kaplan that it has reversed its position due to legal developments and new facts, and says it has determined former President Donald Trump was not acting within the scope of his office when he made statements that allegedly defamed E Jean Carroll.

Watch: Haley says Trump supporters want the truth so she questions him more

21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Full story: Georgia grand jury sworn in to consider Trump charges over attempts to upend 2020 election

21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A grand jury in Georgia has been sworn in to consider charges against Donald Trump and his allies in their attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state.

The office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has helmed the investigation into the former president and his allies for more than two years, following Mr Trump’s pressure campaign targeting state officials to reject the results.

Alex Woodward reports for The Independent.

Grand jury meeting today could decide if Trump is charged over 2020 election

Blowback after Trump seen taking selfies with police officers

21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump is treading through waves of backlash after a video circulated of him taking selfies with police officers.

Dan Scavino, a senior adviser on Trump’s 2024 campaign and former White House deputy chief of staff, posted the video on Sunday of the former president greeting law enforcement officers at Los Angeles International Airport.

Mr Trump is seen shaking hands and taking selfies with dozens of officers from several law enforcement agencies.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Blowback after Trump seen taking selfies with police officers

Fulton County selects two grand juries including one for Trump case

21:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Fulton County court officials selected two grand juries Tuesday, one of which is expected to decide whether to hand up an indictment against former President Donald Trump and other well-known political and legal figures for alleged criminal interference in the 2020 presidential election.

Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney presided over the hours-long process, addressing a diverse group of about 100 potential jurors sitting in red chairs in a drab but expansive jury assembly room. Among them were a teacher, a former firefighter, an investigator, an illustrator and someone who described himself as an explosion prevention dispatcher.

After instructing news reporters not to photograph the potential jurors, McBurney said the two 23-member panels would meet for two months in secret and would be expected to decide whether to approve criminal charges in hundreds of cases. It is unclear which one will consider the case focusing on Trump and his allies.

GOP gearing up to investigate Hunter Biden — here’s what you need to know

21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Republican chairmen of three key House committees are joining forces to probe the Justice Department’s handling of charges against Hunter Biden after making sweeping claims about misconduct at the agency.

Leaders of the House Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means committees opened a joint investigation into the federal case into President Joe Biden‘s youngest son days after it was announced last month that he will plead guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses as part of an agreement with the Justice Department.

Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky and Jason Smith of Missouri have since issued a series of requests for voluntary testimony from senior officials at the Justice Department, FBI and Internal Revenue Service as they investigate what they claim is improper interference. Republicans have also requested a special counsel review of supposed retaliation against the whistleblowers who came forward with the claims.

The congressional inquiry was launched after the House Ways and Means Committee, led by Smith, voted last month to publicly disclose hundreds of pages of testimony from the IRS employees who worked on the Hunter Biden case.

The transcripts of Greg Shapley and an unidentified agent detail what they called a pattern of “slow-walking investigative steps” and delaying enforcement actions in the months before the 2020 election won by Joe Biden.

The Justice Department has denied the whistleblower claims and said repeatedly that U.S. Attorney David Weiss in Delaware, the federal prosecutor who led the investigation, had “full authority” of the case.

Here’s what to know about the emerging investigation.

Top Republicans are gearing up to investigate the Hunter Biden case. Here's what to know.

Trump implies Hunter Biden should be given death sentence

20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Another day, another ranting Truth Social post concerning Hunter Biden, the current president’s son, by the former president.

Today, Donald Trump posted an angry diatribe against David Weiss, a US attorney in Delaware whom he appointed.

Weiss is a COWARD, a smaller version of Bill Barr, who never had the courage to do what everyone knows should have been done. He gave out a traffic ticket instead of a death sentence. Because of the two Democrat Senators in Delaware, they got to choose and/or approve him. Maybe the judge presiding will have the courage and intellect to break up this cesspool of crime. The collusion and corruption is beyond description. TWO TIERS OF JUSTICE!

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also had things to say about Mr Weiss, claiming he wasn’t credible.

Trump comes out against sending cluster munitions to Ukraine

20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Trump campaign has released a statement voicing former president Donald Trump’s opposition to the Biden administration’s decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions in its ongoing efforts to thwart the attack on its territory by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Joe Biden should not be dragging us further toward World War III by sending cluster munitions to Ukraine—he should be trying to END the war and stop the horrific death and destruction being caused by an incompetent administration. These unexploded cluster munitions will be killing and maiming innocent Ukrainian men, women, and children for decades to come, long after the war—we pray—has ended. If, as Biden inadvertently admitted, the reason for sending cluster bombs now is that the United States is “running out of ammunition” (a great breach of classified information), that only further emphasizes the urgency of immediately deescalating this bloody, dangerous, and out of control conflict. It certainly means we should not be sending Ukraine our last stockpiles at a time when our own arsenals, according to Crooked Joe Biden, are so perilously diminished.

There could be no more vivid proof that Joe Biden’s policy of endless war in Ukraine has tremendously weakened the United States than the humiliating admission that the USA is now out of ammo, something our enemies are undoubtedly salivating over. This “admitted” weakness is an invitation to enemies all over the world. Joe Biden is needlessly and dangerously leading us into World War III, which would be a nightmare beyond imagination—obliteration! We must stop this insanity, immediately end the bloodshed in Ukraine, and return to a focus on America’s vital interests. Most importantly, we must completely rebuild our depleted military so it is once again so strong—like it was just 3 years ago when I rebuilt it—that no nation would even think of threatening our people. We must have “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH” and in a short time, the Presidential election of 2024 will produce that result.

Trump has an idea about how to solve the ‘Cocaine dilemma’

20:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has an idea about how to solve the ‘Cocaine dilemma’ at the White House, by sending Special Counsel Jack Smith in to investigate “Crooked Joe and his wonderful son, Hunter”.

He then calls President Joe Biden a crackhead: “Release the findings, release the tapes. We can’t have a crackhead in charge of our Nuclear Arsenal!!!”

Here’s the full post:

I have an idea. Get Deranged Jack Smith to take just a “tiny” portion of the millions of dollars he is spending illegally “targeting” me, and let him go to the White House with his army of thugs to solve the Cocaine dilemma. I’d bet they already know the answer, but just in case, it could be done in 5 minutes. Is it Crooked Joe and his wonderful son, Hunter? Release the findings, release the tapes. We can’t have a crackhead in charge of our Nuclear Arsenal!!!

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she has been told of ouster from Freedom Caucus

20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene says she still has not been told that she has been kicked out of the House Freedom Caucus and that all the information she has on the matter she found from the press.

“I’m not really concerned about it,” she says. “I don't have time for the drama club.”

However, Rep Ken Buck says that’s because Rep Greene hasn’t been returning their calls to inform her of the decision to remove her...

Trump bashes DeSantis over falling poll numbers

20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

The former president writes:

If they don’t like Ron DeSanctimonious now, they won’t like him any better 6 months from now with the start of “Primary Season.” The more people get to know him, the lower go his polls. He is now in the mid-teens, and falling fast!

Trump endorsed by entire GOP Michigan congressional delegation

20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The entire Republican congressional delegation for the state of Michigan has endorsed former president Donald Trump for the 2024 election.

A statement released by the Trump campaign highlights that he was the first Republican in 28 years to win the state in 2016.

“We’re proud to announce our full endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,” said US Representatives Tim Walberg, Bill Huizenga, John Moolenaar, Jack Bergman, and Lisa McClain.

“Under the Trump presidency, America was prosperous, the economy was strong, the world was a safer place, and Michiganders were better off. President Trump has proven he has the ability to deliver results on Day One and also the ability to win in key battleground states like Michigan, being the only Republican to win a Presidential race here since 1988.”

“Under his leadership, Michigan received increased funding to protect our Great Lakes and a new lock at the Soo Locks, improving one of our most important infrastructure projects in North America. President Trump will rebuild a great American economy, unleash domestic energy, secure our border, and make America safe again.”

US Representative John James added: “President Biden has wrecked our economy, let our position as the sole world power slip, and opened our borders. Biden’s policies have been particularly detrimental to Michigan’s middle class. Under President Trump, on the other hand, inflation was at 2%, the American family was strengthened through the child tax credit and other pro-family policies, and our communities were more secure. In 2024, we need to give hope to Americans who feel like their government is failing them.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene roasted for claiming ‘prayer’ can tackle child sex trafficking

19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was blasted on social media after she defended a movie about child sex trafficking which has been described as “QAnon adjacent.”

Ms Greene, who has previously touted the far-right conspiracy theory, tweeted that a “prayer” could end child sex trafficking, while posting a series of screenshotted headlines about Sound of Freedom, a new movie, that linked the film to QAnon under the words “This is what covering for child sex trafficking looks like”.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene roasted for claiming ‘prayer’ can end child sex trafficking

Georgia grand jury formally sworn in

19:22 , Oliver O'Connell

CNN reports that the Georgia grand jury that is expected to consider charges against Donald Trump and his Republican allies’ efforts to overturn the 2020 election has been formally sworn in for a three-hour selection process in Atlanta this afternoon.

Giuliani blames ‘deep state’ after Washington DC panel recommends he be disbarred

19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Days after a disciplinary committee in Washington DC recommended that Rudy Giuliani be disbarred for his spurious campaign to overturn 2020 election results, the former attorney to Donald Trump suggested that the panel is conspiring to prevent any lawyers from representing the former president in the many cases against him.

Alex Woodward reports from New York.

Giuliani blames ‘deep state’ after Washington DC panel recommends he be disbarred

Poll: Trump surges as Ramaswamy rises to third place

19:08 , Oliver O'Connell

The latest poll from Morning Consult continues to show Donald Trump with a commanding lead (39 points) over the rest of the Republican primary field, with Ron DeSantis a distant second.

Most interestingly from the lower ranks of GOP candidates is Vivek Ramaswamy jumping into third place ahead of Mike Pence.

Happening today: Georgia grand jury could decide if Trump is charged over 2020 election

18:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Jury selection is underway for a grand jury in Georgia that is expected to consider charges against Donald Trump and his allies in their attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state.

The office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has helmed the investigation into the former president and his allies for more than two years, following Mr Trump’s pressure campaign targeting state officials to reject the results.

Alex Woodward reports.

Grand jury meeting today could decide if Trump is charged over 2020 election

...while DeSantis doubles down on Iowa

18:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will not be appearing at Turning Point Action this weekend in his home state and instead will be focusing on Iowa, as a special guess at the “Top Nunn” salute to the troops event hosted by Rep Zach Nunn and his family.

Senator Joni Ernst is also attending the event on Saturday lunchtime, with ticket prices ranging up to $6,600 with a portion donated to a military charity.

Trump to speak at Turning Point Action this weekend

18:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has been confirmed as a speaker at this weekend’s Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida.

He joins a host of right-wing figures who will be speaking over the two-day event, though at present he appears to be one of only a handful of 2024 candidates currently scheduled to speak, the others being Francis Suarez, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Asa Hutchinson.

17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Jack White has lashed out at the celebrities spotted cosying up to Donald Trump at UFC 290 over the weekend.

The former US president was in Las Vegas on Saturday (8 July) night after a volunteer event for his Nevada primary campaign.

While there, the former president attended the mixed martial arts event at the T-Mobile Arena and met celebrities including Mark Wahlberg, American restaurateur Guy Fieri, controversial podcast host Joe Rogan, and Mel Gibson.

Tom Murray reports on what the musician had to say:

Jack White hits out at ‘disgusting’ Mark Wahlberg over Donald Trump meeting

GOP presidential candidates jump to defend Iowa governor from Trump attacks

17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

After Donald Trump launched a public attack on Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, other GOP presidential candidates have come to her defence – just six months before the Iowa caucus is set to take place.

In a Truth Social post, Mr Trump objected to Ms Reynolds’ decision to remain “neutral”, believing he is owed an endorsement because he backed her when she was running for governor.

Ariana Baio reports.

Republican presidential candidates jump to defend Iowa governor from Trump attacks

Comer questions timing of charges against so-called Biden ‘whistleblower’

16:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Four days after he claimed a “very credible witness” had emerged to provide the Justice Department with derogatory information about President Joe Biden and his family, House Oversight Committee chair James Comer questioned the timing of charges that the alleged whistleblower was actually spying for the Chinese government and attempting to broker illegal arms sales to Libya.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest from Washington, DC.

Oversight chair Comer questions timing of charges against so-called‘whistleblower’

Fani Willis: The Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward profiles the district attorney with a long history of targeting organised crime gangs has the former president in her sights.

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Full story: Trump wants classified documents trial delayed until after 2024 election

15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump is now seeking to have his federal criminal trial delayed until after the 2024 election, citing his status as a candidate for president and other legal arguments which experts say lack any grounding in actual law.

In a court filing in Miami late on Monday, Mr Trump’s lawyers asked the judge to indefinitely delay his trial on charges over his handling of classified documents, saying that due to the extraordinary nature of the case, it would not be possible to try it before the presidential election.

Rachel Sharp and Andrew Feinberg have the story.

Donald Trump wants classified documents trial delayed until after 2024 election

DeSantis to meet with major donors next week

15:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is planning to meet with major east coast donors next week at a private gathering in Southampton, New York, Fox Business reports.

The meeting has been arranged to try and answer questions about why his 2024 primary campaign has stalled in the polls as Donald Trump’s lead has grown.

Charles Gasparino reports that the governor is planning to tell donors that he will play the “long game” against the twice-indicted former president.

Here’s the invitation:

Pence shuts down voter who blamed him for 2020 election result

15:20 , Oliver O'Connell

A disgruntled Iowa voter asked former Vice President Mike Pence whether he “ever second-guess[ed]” himself after he certified Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, despite then-President Donald Trump repeatedly urging him to block the transfer of power.

Luann Bertrand, the voter, confronted the former vice president during his campaign stop in Sioux City, Iowa. She falsely claimed that Mr Pence had the power to block the certification.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Pence shuts down voter who blamed him for certifying Biden’s 2020 win

...meanwhile, here’s the reaction on Fox Businss

15:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: ‘Morning Joe’ panel reacts to new turn in Comer’s Biden corruption exposé

14:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge delays Trump hearing until 18 July

14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Aileen Cannon has delayed Friday’s classified information procedures hearing in the Donald Trump criminal case until Tuesday, 18 July. It will take place in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta sought the delay due to his lateness in hiring local counsel. There was no objection from Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Texas governor names second interim attorney general ahead of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial

14:15 , John Bowden

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has picked a longtime aide to serve as the state’s second acting attorney general following Republican Ken Paxton’s historic impeachment on allegations of misconduct and crimes, the governor’s office announced Monday.

Angela Colmenero will step in as the state’s top lawyer on an interim basis starting Friday while Paxton awaits a trial in the state Senate that could result in his permanent removal, the office said. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5.

Read on...

Texas governor names second interim attorney general ahead of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial

Judge refuses to put hold on order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

13:45 , John Bowden

A federal judge in Louisiana refused Monday to put a temporary hold on his own order limiting Biden administration officials contacts with social media companies.

Biden administration attorneys had asked U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe to stay his own order, which was issued last Tuesday, while they pursue an appeal. That order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.

Read on...

Judge refuses to put hold on order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

Trump rages at Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds

13:15 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump lashed out at Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds in a Truth Social post on Tuesday as she has taken a neutral stance in the 2024 race.

“I love Iowa, protected & expanded Ethanol, got 28 Billion Dollars from China for our great Farmers, ended the Estate (Death!) Tax on farms, made the best TRADE deals in history (USMCA, China, & many more), introduced the World to our FARMERS, & kept Iowa’s “First in the Nation” status. I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain “NEUTRAL.” I don’t invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!” he fumed on Truth Social.

Trump leads DeSantis by 20 points in poll of Florida Republicans

12:45 , John Bowden

Gov Ron DeSantis just got some of his worst polling news yet.

A survey of likely Republican primary voters in the Sunshine State by Florida Atlantic University shows him firmly trailing former President Donald Trump, with the pair’s other rivals for the GOP nomination far out in the wilderness.

The poll affirmed two narratives involving the DeSantis campaign: The 2024 Republican primary, at present, is a two-candidate contest. And Mr DeSantis is losing.

Read more:

Trump leads DeSantis by 20 points in poll of Florida Republicans

Georgia grand jury to meet today over Trump efforts to overturn election

12:15 , Rachel Sharp

A Georgia grand jury is slated to meet on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the efforts of the former president and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating Mr Trump after he called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in early 2021 and urged him to “find 11,780 votes” to flip the state in his favour.

The investigation, which has gone on for more than two years, expanded to include an examination of a slate of Republican fake electors, phone calls by Mr Trump and others to Georgia officials in the weeks after the 2020 election and unfounded allegations of widespread election fraud made to state lawmakers.

On Tuesday, a grand jury is being seated Tuesday in Atlanta where the panel will likely consider whether criminal charges are appropriate for Mr Trump and his allies.

DA Willis has suggested that any indictments would likely come in August.

Meta backs down on Donald Trump Jr ‘misinformation’ warning

11:43 , John Bowden

It didn’t take very long for conservatives to pounce on Meta’s new Twitter competitor and accuse it of censoring a prominent conservative, forcing the social media giant to back down.

This time, the controversy is over a warning that Meta apparently attached to Donald Trump Jr’s account, before later removing it and claiming the label to have been a “mistake”.

Read more:

Meta backs down on Donald Trump Jr ‘misinformation’ warning

Donald Trump wants classified documents trial delayed until after 2024 election

11:15 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is now seeking to have his federal criminal trial delayed until after the 2024 election.

In a court filing late on Monday, Mr Trump’s lawyers asked the judge for a lengthy delay to his classified documents case, saying that due to the extraordinary nature of the case it would not be possible to try it before the election.

“Thus, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A), based on the extraordinary nature of this action, there is most assuredly no reason for any expedited trial, and the ends of justice are best served by a continuance,” his attorneys wrote in the filing.

“The Court should, respectfully, before establishing any trial date, allow time for development of further clarity as to the full nature and scope of the motions that will be filed, a better understanding of a realistic discovery and pre-trial timeline, and the completion of the security clearance process.”

Mr Trump has been charged with 37 federal counts over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show is haemorrhaging viewers with 85% drop from first episode, reports say

10:45 , John Bowden

Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show has reportedly suffered a significant drop in viewership since his debut episode of Tucker on Twitter.

Carlson took to the platofrm after being fired by Fox News and making an abrupt exit from the network where he was a primetime star for years.

Read more:

Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show is haemorrhaging viewers, reports says

Trump fundraising doubles to $35m amid growing legal woes, report says

08:45 , John Bowden

Donald Trump’s increasingly serious legal problems are translating into a cash boom for his third presidential campaign, a staffer told Politico this week.

The campaign is due to release official fundraising numbers by the end of the month, per an upcoming Federal Election Commission (FEC) deadline. But a campaign official familiar with the matter provided the eye-popping sum to Politico: $34m, a haul that puts him firmly on top of the GOP primary field, dollars-wise, and depicts a campaign picking up steam as Mr Trump apparently solidifies his support base within the GOP primary voter population.

Read more:

Trump fundraising doubles to $35m amid growing legal woes, report says

Utah governor says he hopes Republican party can ‘turn the page’ on Trump in 2024

07:45 , John Bowden

When CBS News’ Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan asked Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox whether one of the many Republican governors running in the 2024 race could defeat Mr Trump in a primary election, Mr Cox said he hoped his party could move on from the former president.

His words revealed one thing: While GOP voters may have yet to sour on the former president, more and more elected officials are doing so.

Utah governor says he hopes Republican party can ‘turn the page’ on Trump in 2024

Trump inadvertently reveals he’s never been to a Dairy Queen in viral video

06:44 , John Bowden

Former President Donald Trump has inadvertently revealed that he’s not a frequent visitor of the ice cream chain Dairy Queen.

During a stop at a Dairy Queen in Iowa, Trump appeared perplexed by requests for a Blizzard — the most famous item on the ice cream store’s menu.

“Everybody wants a Blizzard. What the hell is a Blizzard?” Trump asked while throwing his hands in the air, prompting laughter from the crowd.

Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides, new book claims

05:54 , John Bowden

Donald Trump wanted to “tap the phones” of White House aides who he suspected of leaking information, according to bombshell claims made by a former Trump administration official.

Miles Taylor, who served as the Department of Homeland Security’s chief of staff under Mr Trump, has claimed in his new book Blowback that the then-president floated the idea “to pursue leakers by tapping phones” at some point in 2018.

The idea was quickly shut down by then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly who warned Mr Trump he would be breaking the law.

Read on...

Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides, new book claims

Violent brawl breaks out at Michigan GOP committee meeting

04:45 , John Bowden

While the scuffles may be verbal as leading Republicans jostle to become the party’s 2024 presidential nominee, down at the state level things have actually turned physical — at least in Michigan, and not for the first time.

Tensions boiled over within the Michigan Republican Party on Saturday resulting in an altercation at a hotel to which the police were called.

It all took place as the GOP’s state committee came together for a meeting at the Doherty Hotel in Clare as members have been feuding over the party’s direction and the leadership approach of the new chairwoman, Kristina Karamo.

Read more:

Violent brawl breaks out at Michigan GOP committee meeting

Trump spreads White House cocaine conspiracy

03:34 , John Bowden

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to comment on the row over a small bag of cocaine discovered at the White House, in a lobby on the West Wing during a period of time when Joe Biden and his family were absent from the residence.

The former president claimed (without evidence) that the president and his son, Hunter Biden, were somehow involved, and further insisted that the Secret Service was covering it up as the agency has apparently been unable to centre in on a suspect in the investigation into who transported the drugs into the building.

“The White House has Security Cameras (far more than Mar-a-Lago!) all over the place, especially the location in question. THEY 100% KNOW WHO IT IS. If they don’t release information, it means they destroyed the tapes & the Cocaine was for use by Hunter, & probably Crooked Joe, in order to give this total disaster of a President a little life and energy!” wrote Mr Trump.

Mike Pence shuts down voter who blamed him for not interfering in 2020 election

02:45 , John Bowden

Former Vice President Mike Pence was in Sioux City this past week when he was asked by a voter about why he didn’t participate in Donald Trump’s efforts to halt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory on 6 January, 2021.

Read what Mr Pence said in response:

Mike Pence changes his tune on whether he would pardon Trump

Trump leaves Iowa Republicans with big bill after no-show at charity event

01:45 , John Bowden

Former president Donald Trump reportedly further strained his relationship with Republican party leadership in Iowa after failing to show up for senator Joni Ernst's annual "Roast and Ride" charity.

Except for Mr Trump, eight of the GOP 2024 presidential election hopefuls were present at the senator's charity event last month – a combination of barbecue-rally and motorcycle rides that kick off a busy summer campaign season heading into the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Things are not going well for the former president as he attempts to maintain his dominance in the state:

Trump leaves Iowa Republicans with big bill after no-show at charity event

Trump’s co-defendant wants to delay routine hearing on classified documents case

Tuesday 11 July 2023 00:45 , John Bowden

Walt Nauta, the aide to Donald Trump who has been charged with helping the disgraced ex-president conceal classified documents from the government he once led, has asked the judge overseeing the criminal case against him and Mr Trump to delay a routine hearing to discuss how the court plans to handle the classified information prosecutors are expected to present in the case.

In a motion to delay a pretrial conference on Classified Information Procedures Act matters scheduled for Friday 14 July, Mr Nauta’s lawyer, Stanley Woodward, writes that the hearing should be postponed because he is unavailable due to a trial commitment in Washington, DC.

The Independent has more:

Trump’s co-defendant wants to delay routine hearing on classified documents case

Trump adviser brands VP-hopeful Kari Lake a ‘shameless, ruthless demagogue’

Monday 10 July 2023 23:30 , John Bowden

Just days after failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said she was considering a Senate run, Donald Trump’s advisers revealed that the former president has become disenchanted with her in recent months.

According to The Daily Beast, the former president specifically found Ms Lake’s attempts to get attention distasteful. “She’s a shameless, ruthless demagogue who wants power and will do whatever she has to do to get it,” a Trump adviser told the publication.

Ms Lake has tried to position herself as a potential contender to become Mr Trump’s pick for vice president—a tactic the former president also apparently did not appreciate.

Read on...

Trump adviser says former president “sees through” VP-hopeful Kari Lake’s strategy

Meta backs down on Donald Trump Jr ‘misinformation’ warning

Monday 10 July 2023 22:42 , John Bowden

It didn’t take very long for conservatives to pounce on Meta’s new Twitter competitor and accuse it of censoring a prominent conservative, forcing the social media giant to back down.

This time, the controversy is over a warning that Meta apparently attached to Donald Trump Jr’s account, before later removing it and claiming the label to have been a “mistake”.

Read more:

Meta backs down on Donald Trump Jr ‘misinformation’ warning

Voices — Let’s fact check Biden’s so-called mental decline

Monday 10 July 2023 21:41 , John Bowden

Noah Berlatsky takes a look at questions about Joe Biden’s mental acuity ahead of 2024:

Let’s fact check Biden’s so-called mental decline

Trump leads DeSantis by 20 points in poll of Florida Republicans

Monday 10 July 2023 21:13 , John Bowden

Gov Ron DeSantis just got some of his worst polling news yet.

A survey of likely Republican primary voters in the Sunshine State by Florida Atlantic University shows him firmly trailing former President Donald Trump, with the pair’s other rivals for the GOP nomination far out in the wilderness.

The poll affirmed two narratives involving the DeSantis campaign: The 2024 Republican primary, at present, is a two-candidate contest. And Mr DeSantis is losing.

Read more:

Trump leads DeSantis by 20 points in poll of Florida Republicans

Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show is haemorrhaging viewers with 85% drop from first episode, reports say

Monday 10 July 2023 20:32 , John Bowden

Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show has reportedly suffered a significant drop in viewership since his debut episode of Tucker on Twitter.

His most recent episode, his eighth, only garnered 3.8m video views, according to Binder. It counts as a “view” if someone watched the video for more than two seconds.

The Independent has more on how Carlson’s latest gambit is turning out:

Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show is haemorrhaging viewers, reports says

Utah governor says he hopes Republican party can ‘turn the page’ on Trump in 2024

Monday 10 July 2023 20:00 , John Bowden

When CBS News’ Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan asked Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox whether one of the many Republican governors running in the 2024 race could defeat Mr Trump in a primary election, Mr Cox said he hoped his party could move on from the former president.

His words revealed one thing: While GOP voters may have yet to sour on the former president, more and more elected officials are doing so.

Utah governor says he hopes Republican party can ‘turn the page’ on Trump in 2024

MSNBC panelist calling Casey DeSantis ‘America’s Karen’ sparks war of words with Fox News

Monday 10 July 2023 19:31 , John Bowden

Remarks made by an MSNBC host about Casey DeSantis, spouse of the 2024 presidential candidate, have sparked a sort of war-of-words between the network and Fox News.

On Saturday, a discussion hosted by MSNBC and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart centred around a new advertisement released by the DeSantis campaign featuring Casey DeSantis stumping for her husband — and whether her persona and character would be found appealing by voters.

A former Republican congressman from Florida, Rep David Jolly, was invited to weigh in on the ad. He dubbed the first lady of Florida “America’s Karen”, and quipped: “It doesn’t matter if it’s presented in heels or boots, the DeSantis doctrine is a losing one.”

The cutting remarks elicited a reponse from Fox’s Brian Kilmeade.

Read on...

MSNBC panelist calling Casey DeSantis ‘America’s Karen’ sparks war of words with Fox

Trump spreads White House cocaine conspiracy

Monday 10 July 2023 18:07 , John Bowden

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to comment on the row over a small bag of cocaine discovered at the White House, in a lobby on the West Wing during a period of time when Joe Biden and his family were absent from the residence.

The former president claimed (without evidence) that the president and his son, Hunter Biden, were somehow involved, and further insisted that the Secret Service was covering it up as the agency has apparently been unable to centre in on a suspect in the investigation into who transported the drugs into the building.

“The White House has Security Cameras (far more than Mar-a-Lago!) all over the place, especially the location in question. THEY 100% KNOW WHO IT IS. If they don’t release information, it means they destroyed the tapes & the Cocaine was for use by Hunter, & probably Crooked Joe, in order to give this total disaster of a President a little life and energy!” wrote Mr Trump.

Violent brawl breaks out at Michigan GOP committee meeting

Monday 10 July 2023 17:33 , John Bowden

While the scuffles may be verbal as leading Republicans jostle to become the party’s 2024 presidential nominee, down at the state level things have actually turned physical — at least in Michigan, and not for the first time.

Tensions boiled over within the Michigan Republican Party on Saturday resulting in an altercation at a hotel to which the police were called.

It all took place as the GOP’s state committee came together for a meeting at the Doherty Hotel in Clare as members have been feuding over the party’s direction and the leadership approach of the new chairwoman, Kristina Karamo.

Read more:

Violent brawl breaks out at Michigan GOP committee meeting

Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides, new book claims

Monday 10 July 2023 16:56 , John Bowden

Donald Trump wanted to “tap the phones” of White House aides who he suspected of leaking information, according to bombshell claims made by a former Trump administration official.

Miles Taylor, who served as the Department of Homeland Security’s chief of staff under Mr Trump, has claimed in his new book Blowback that the then-president floated the idea “to pursue leakers by tapping phones” at some point in 2018.

The idea was quickly shut down by then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly who warned Mr Trump he would be breaking the law.

Read on...

Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides, new book claims

Trump inadvertently reveals he’s never been to a Dairy Queen in viral video

Monday 10 July 2023 16:26 , John Bowden

Former President Donald Trump has inadvertently revealed that he’s not a frequent visitor of the ice cream chain Dairy Queen.

During a stop at a Dairy Queen in Iowa, Trump appeared perplexed by requests for a Blizzard — the most famous item on the ice cream store’s menu.

“Everybody wants a Blizzard. What the hell is a Blizzard?” Trump asked while throwing his hands in the air, prompting laughter from the crowd.

Iowa Republican Party sets date for 2024 caucus

Monday 10 July 2023 15:30 , John Bowden

Iowa Republicans have voted to hold their first-in-the-nation caucuses on 15 January 2024.

This is the earliest start to the presidential nominating process since 2012, when caucusgoers gathered on 3 January.

It also happens to be the third Monday in January, making it the Martin Luther King Day federal holiday.

The Independent has more on the changing 2024 primary calendar:

Iowa Republican Party sets date for 2024 caucus

Ethics board recommends Rudy Giuliani be disbarred for ‘destructive’ attempts to undermine 2020 results

Monday 10 July 2023 15:00 , John Bowden

A disciplinary committee in Washington DC has recommended Rudy Giuliani be disbarred in the nation’s capital for his spurious efforts to overturn the results for the 2020 presidential election on behalf of Donald Trump.

The preliminary report is from a committee with the DC Bar Association, which follows a misconduct hearing in December, is not final; his case will be considered by DC’s Board on Professional Responsibility and by the DC Court of Appeals.

Mr Giuliani – who repeatedly and baselessly asserted that the election was fraudulent while pushing lawsuits to subvert the outcome in states that Mr Trump lost – is facing other professional sanctions, investigations and lawsuits tied to his efforts to overturn election results and sow doubt about the outcome of the 2020 election.

Read on in The Independent...

Disciplinary committee recommends Rudy Giuliani be disbarred

Trump vows to keep ‘communists and markers’ out of the US in latest gaffe

Monday 10 July 2023 14:30 , John Bowden

Donald Trump fumbled his words while speaking at his largest campaign event in Iowa on Friday.

The former president appeared in Council Bluffs in the western part of the state that hosts the first caucus in approximately just over five months.

Speaking about immigration, Mr Trump was relaying a campaign promise to deny entry to leftist ideologues when he accidentally referred to them as “communists and markers” rather than Marxists.

Watch the amusing moment here:

Trump vows to keep ‘communists and markers’ out of the US in latest gaffe

DeSantis nervously laughs when asked about campaign ‘failure to launch’ in Fox News interview

Monday 10 July 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was left laughing and speechless after Fox News‘s Maria Bartiromo pointedly asked him “what happened” to his presidential campaign.

During an interview on her show Sunday Morning Futures, Bartiromo referenced a Politico article titled “Failure to Launch” that highlighted an assessment from a surrogate for Mr DeSantis who admitted “we are way behind” in polling.

“What’s going on with your campaign?” Bartiromo asked. “There was a lot of optimism about you running for president earlier in the year. … What happened?!”

Read the story here:

DeSantis nervously laughs when asked about 2024 ‘failure to launch’ in Fox interview

Utah governor says he hopes Republican party can 'turn the page' on Trump in 2024

Monday 10 July 2023 13:40 , Rachel Sharp

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has said that he hopes the Republican party can “turn the page” on Donald Trump and “try something else” in the 2024 race.

Speaking on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, the Republican governor made it clear that he wants a different candidate for 2024 – and that he believes one of the country’s GOP governors is up to the job.

“There are at least six current or former governors, Republican governors, running for president right now. Can any of them defeat Donald Trump in a primary?” host Margaret Brennan asked him

“I hope so. I like governors. I think governors are great and have real experience. The great thing about governors is we have to get stuff done, right? We can’t just do the performance thing,” he said, adding: “Potholes aren’t partisan. You have to do those kind of things.”

AOC says DeSantis is trying to 'out-Trump' Trump

Monday 10 July 2023 13:20 , Rachel Sharp

AOC has said that Ron DeSantis is trying to “out-Trump” Donald Trump – as she rejected the idea that he is a more level-headed Republican candidate than the former president.

In a clip shown on MSNBC on Sunday, the Squad member was asked about the opinion that Mr Trump would be easier for President Joe Biden to beat than Mr DeSantis.

“I think there’s something to be said about that,” she said before adding that Mr DeSantis “has made some very large, critical errors”.

She explained that “you can’t out-Trump Trump”.

“That’s what he’s been trying to do. His attacks on teachers, on schools, on LGBT Americans. I think it goes way too far in the state of Florida. I think that they are a profound political miscalculation, and an overcompensation,” she said.

“He may be trying to win a base, but that base belongs to Donald Trump. And he has sacrificed, I think, the one thing that others may have thought would make him competitive, which is this idea that he can somehow be more rational than Donald Trump, which, he isn’t.”

Trump says ‘damaged’ DeSantis is ‘desperately trying to get out’ of 2024 race

Monday 10 July 2023 13:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump was back at it again on Truth Social over the weekend.

The ex-president is working to secure his victory in the Republican nominating contest before it even officially begins, swiping at any rival that dares to pull into competitive territory. At present, that largely means gratuitous attacks aimed at Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, who is the only other Republican consistently pulling double-digit poll numbers.

On Saturday, Mr Trump claimed that the Florida governor was now seeking to depart the presidential race after Mr DeSantis’s poll numbers dropped somewhat in the wake of the ex-president being indicted on state and federal charges.

Read more here:

Trump says ‘damaged’ DeSantis is ‘desperately trying to get out’ of 2024 race

Columnist calls Trump a 'big whale in a polo shirt' in clap back at Newsmax host

Monday 10 July 2023 12:40 , Rachel Sharp

Columnist Ellis Henican called Donald Trump a “big whale in a polo shirt” in an expert clapback at a Newsmax host.

Mr Henican appeared on Newsmax over the weekend where host Michael Grimm hit out at President Joe Biden for taking some time out on a Delaware beach.

“So, Ellis, this is your guy on the beach, which, by the way, I want you to know, Ellis, I can’t get that vision out of my head, and I’m I’m I’m screwed up for the rest of the day,” Mr Grimm said.

“Is this the right look ahead of a major international meeting for Biden?”

Mr Henican pushed back – pointing out that there were no complaints when Mr Trump took time off while he was president.

“I can’t believe this is your argument. This is un-American, denying the man a chance to visit the beach. My God,” he said.

“This thing, honestly, Mike, you know, it’s just a test on how hostile you are to the president. You guys didn’t mind it when Trump, looking like a big whale in a polo shirt, was waddling around the golf course.”

He continued: “I guess you all thought that was, I don’t know what, attractive or manly or something. And you just hate it when Biden does it.”

NBA star writes 'Trump won!' on the side of his head at Big 3 game

Monday 10 July 2023 12:20 , Rachel Sharp

NBA star Royce White wrote the phrase “Trump won!” on the side of his head as he competed at the “Big 3” basketball league at the weekend.

The image was shared by Trump’s War Room.

Trump strains relations with Iowa Republicans with no-show at charity event

Monday 10 July 2023 12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Former president Donald Trump reportedly further strained his relationship with Republican party leadership in Iowa after failing to show up for senator Joni Ernst‘s annual “Roast and Ride” charity.

Except for Mr Trump, eight of the GOP 2024 presidential election hopefuls were present at the senator’s charity event last month – a combination of barbecue-rally and motorcycle rides that kick off a busy summer campaign season heading into the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former vice president Mike Pence, US senator Tim Scott, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and other candidates dressed for the occasion in leather and reached out to supporters.

Read the full story:

Trump strains relations with Iowa Republicans with no-show at charity event

WATCH: Trump reveals he’s never been to a Dairy Queen

Monday 10 July 2023 11:50 , Rachel Sharp

Trump wanted to tap phones of White House aides, new book claims

Monday 10 July 2023 11:40 , Rachel Sharp

A former Trump administration official has made shocking new claims about his time in the White House.

In his new book “Blowback”, Miles Taylor claimed that Mr Trump wanted to “tap the phones” of White House aides who he suspected of leaks in 2018.

The then-president “had wanted to pursue leakers by tapping phones, but that Kelly pushed back and never carried it out,” he writes.

The idea as quickly shut down by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly who told the then-president it “would be illegal,” the book claims.

Mr Trump’s camp has denied the claim made in the book, with Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung telling Axios in a statement: “Miles Taylor is a loser and a lying sack of s***. His book either belongs in the discount bin of the fiction section or should be repurposed as toilet paper.”

Trump’s encounter with Guy Fieri at UFC fight sparks mixed reactions

Monday 10 July 2023 11:33 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump’s attendance at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in Las Vegas on Saturday night has sparked controversy after he was spotted chatting to celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Turning Point USA chief creative officer Benny Johnson, a Trump supporter, posted a picture of the two men to Twitter, referring in the caption to Fieri’s catchphrase: “Trump in Flavor Town”.

Trump supporters were thrilled to see the two men together, but critics slammed Fieri for mingling with the twice-impeached former president. “Literally one of the worst cooks out there hang with worst president ever,” one person tweeted.

While Mr Trump enjoyed the UFC event – also attended by podcast host Joe Rogan – a former official made shocking new claims about his time in the White House.

Read the full story:

Trump’s encounter with Guy Fieri at UFC fight sparks mixed reactions