Trump praises ‘good friend’ Putin at Iowa campaign event – live

Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump praised his “good friend” Vladimir Putin at a campaign event in Iowa on Saturday.

Mr Trump told an audience in Waterloo that the Russian president would not have invaded Ukraine on his watch, while attacking Joe Biden’s “weak” leadership.

“I said, ‘Vladimir, you and I are friends. We’re good friends. But if you go in, we’re gonna hit real hard’. I can’t tell you what I told him,” Mr Trump said.

“He said ‘no way you would do that there’s no way’. I said ‘way’.”

Earlier, Mr Trump attacked CNN anchor Erin Burnett in an early morning rant hours after she compared his xenophobic remarks about migrants to Adolf Hitler.

Mr Trump had been under fire for saying immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country” in an interview earlier this week.

On CNN’s Outfront on Friday, Ms Burnett said that the reference to “poisoning the blood” was a phrase that was “used repeatedly by Hitler”.

In a 1.40am post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said Ms Burnett was “constantly and very boringly reporting false and semi-inflammatory stories about your favorite President”.

Key Points

Weisselberg concedes Trump Organization did not fulfil obligations to Mazars

17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Solomon asks Weisselberg about his certification to Mazars that the preparation of the Trump financial statements was done in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP.

“Do you believe the Trump Org. fulfilled that responsibility, yes or no?” Solomon asks.

Weisselberg hesitates and looks around the courtroom for his attorney, before eventually conceding, “No.”

Special counsel wants deadline for Trump to declare ‘advice of counsel’ defence in election conspiracy case

17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

In a new court filing, Special Counsel Jack Smith has asked the court to set a deadline for Donald Trump to declare if he will be using an “advice of counsel” defence in his federal 2020 election conspiracy criminal case.

If the former president is going to defend himself in this way, Smith says the prosecution is entitled to additional evidence and discovery. Trump lawyers have indicated in the media that they may pursue this line of defence.

“At least 25 witnesses withheld information, communications, and documents based on assertions of the attorney-client privilege,” the filing states.

Smith wants to keep the case moving swiftly and still wants the trial to begin in May 2024.

Weisselberg pushed on infromation provided to Mazars

17:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Weisselberg is asked about an October 2011 letter from himself to Trump’s Mazars accountants regarding the statement of financial condition for that year. In the letter, Weisselberg essentially certifies that all the information from the Trump Organization is accurate.

Asked about how the company valued assets for that year, Weisselberg responds with the defence team’s main argument: “There are many, many ways of valuing assets.”

Asked if he was obligated to provide Mazars with contradictory information about valuations, Weisselberg begins to launch into a monologue but is interrupted by Solomon who notes that it was a yes or no question.

Weisselberg answers: “Yes.”

Special counsel asks for jury protections in DC election interference case

16:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Special Counsel Jack Smith is asking for jury protections in Donald Trump’s federal election interference case in a new court filing, referencing the former president’s recent outburst in the New York fraud trial that resulted in a gag order in that case.

“There are other good reasons in this case for the Court to impose these restrictions and enforce this District’s standard prohibition against publicizing jurors’ identities,” according to Smith’s filing. “Chief among them is the defendant’s continued use of social media as a weapon of intimidation in court proceedings.”

Read the full filing here.

Judge Scott McAfee in Fulton County, Georgia has also agreed to jury and prospective juror protections after prosecutors warned about threats potentially fueled by Mr Trump’s social media soapbox.

Alex Woodward reported on that order in September:

Georgia juror names in Trump case will be kept secret following security fears

Court resumes

16:41 , Oliver O'Connell

The trial resumes after the morning break and Solomon introduces the result of the efforts of Forbes reporters and editors.

After repeatedly questioning the Trump Organization over the size of the penthouse of Trump Tower, Forbes eventually published an article in May 2017, after Mr Trump became president: “Donald Trump Has Been Lying About The Size Of His Penthouse”.

Judge Engoron admonishes evasisve Weisselberg

16:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Justice Arthur Engoron steps in on multiple occasions during this line of questioning to remind Weisselberg to give straightforward responses to Mr Solomon’s questions.

“You did not answer the question. Please don’t make speeches, just answer the question,” the judge says.

Weisselberg is largely responding that he doesn’t recall most of what he is being asked.

A technical glitch leads the judge to call the mid-morning break.

“Let’s take our 10-minute break over the next 15 minutes, as usual.”

More questions over Trump penthouse square footage

16:03 , Oliver O'Connell

Another email from Forbes reporter Noah Kirsch to Weisselberg also notes the discrepancy between the claimed size of the penthouse and the 1994 declaration and asks if the declaration is up to date.

Weisselberg dodges Solomon’s questions as to whether he took any action to respond to the query about the square footage or asked anyone else to. He says he does not recall.

Trump claims ‘incredible’ Israel attacks wouldn’t have happened if he were president

16:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump has said that the “incredible” attacks on Israel by Hamas wouldn’t have happened if he had been president.

During a campaign speech in New Hampshire on Monday, Mr Trump said: “What happened yesterday was incredible ... so many people killed ... the number was much bigger than they reported even this morning. It’s a very big number, very, very big number”.

The former president went on to call it a “vicious” attack and noted that “young children” were “just slaughtered”.

“It’s terrible what’s going on,” he added.

Mr Trump then quickly segued into a reading of the song The Snake by Al Wilson.

Read more...

Trump claims ‘incredible’ Israel attacks wouldn’t happen under his watch

15:55 , Oliver O'Connell

With Weisselberg having conceded that the square footage of the apartment was incorrect, a document is entered into evidence from 11 October 1994 that lists the actual size of the property as 10,996 sq ft.

Solomon asks about a September 2016 email conversation between Weisselberg and Forbes’s then-assistant managing editor Luisa Kroll regarding the values of various Trump properties.

A year later, Dan Alexander of Forbes told Weisselberg he believed the square footage of the penthouse was the correct figure of 10,996 sq ft. Mr Solomon asks if the then-CFO had ever confirmed to Forbes the correct number or told them their figure was wrong.

Weisselberg says he does not remember.

“I never focused on the triplex, to be honest with you. I looked at the bigger numbers of Jeff [McConney's] spreadsheets,” he says, arguing that the value of the apartment was “de minimis” relative to Mr Trump’s net worth.

Weisselberg questioning turns to Trump Tower triplex valuation

15:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Having established that Weisselberg has approximately 50 years of experience in Manhattan real estate dating back to beginning to work with Fred Trump in 1973, Mr Solomon shows the court the witness’s separation agreement from the Trump Organization.

Weisselberg was placed on leave on 1 October 2022 and he signed the separation document on 9 January 2023 for $2m.

Getting down to the details of the allegations against Donald Trump and his co-defendants, questioning turns to the valuation of the former president’s Manhattan home, the Trump Tower triplex at the top of his Fifth Avenue building.

This valuation was based on a tripling of the actual square footage of the property. Weisselberg testifies that over time he learned his assumption on the size of the apartment was incorrect but claims not to recall when the assumed 30,000 square feet number was found to be wrong.

Alan Weisselberg (left), Donald Trump’s longtime finance chief, sits inside New York Supreme Court, on 10 October 2023 (AP)
Alan Weisselberg (left), Donald Trump’s longtime finance chief, sits inside New York Supreme Court, on 10 October 2023 (AP)

Trump fraud trial resumes in Lower Manhattan

15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s fraud trial resumes in Lower Manhattan with former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg called to the stand by Assistant New York Attorney General Louis Solomon.

Weisselberg’s testimony is expected to last all day and begins with the usual biographical details about background and eduction.

Former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen is also expected to take the stand this week.

Allen Weisselberg expected to testify today at Trump NYC fraud trial

14:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s fraud trial will get back underway in New York City this morning, and it is expected that the next witness will be longtime former CFO of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg.

Mr Weisselberg got out of jail a few months ago after pleading guilty to 15 violations of New York tax law last year. The case against him, prosecutors said, involved a years-long “systemic” fraud scheme and a “sweeping and audacious illegal payment” arrangement in which Trump companies paid him generous benefits – including free rent, luxury car leases, and private school tuition for his grandchildren – that were not reported for tax purposes.

Given his institutional knowledge and close experience with the Trump family’s business empire, his potential testimony and evidence from one of the Trump family’s longest-serving confidants in its sprawling empire could further expose the former president.

Here’s a profile of Mr Weisselberg from his 2022 trial.

Allen Weisselberg: Who is the man who could bring down Donald Trump?

Analysis: RFK Jr has a vision to change America. His family say he’s a crackpot

14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Bevan Hurley writes:

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr took to the stage in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on Monday to unveil his vision for ending hundreds of years of two-party rule, a technical hitch with the teleprompter briefly threatened to derail his big moment.

“I need my speech”, he complained as he disappeared from view, stage right. “It’s upside down.”

In the Netflix sci-fi hit Stranger Things, the “Upside Down” is the name given to a mysterious alternate dimension that exists parallel to the known world. In other words, an apt description for Kennedy’s presidential campaign.

Kennedy is often described as paranoid, delusional and dangerous. And that’s just by his own family.

But in his supporters’ eyes, a Kennedy presidency offers the chance to rewrite the rules in Washington, DC to create a more equitable system for all.

Read more...

RFK Jr has a vision to change America. His family say he’s a crackpot

Trump begins day by attacking Biden and DeSantis

14:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump began his day by hitting out at both President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his usual self-aggrandising way.

He first wrote about the president:

I see that Crooked Joe Biden is working on his documents situation. He moved documents, many classified, all over the place, for years, including to CHINATOWN. He even took documents as a Senator, an absolute no, no! I come under the Presidential Records Act, he doesn’t - A big difference!!! I did nothing wrong, he did, and so did many others!

Turning his attention to Mr DeSantis, he posted:

Ron DeSanctimonious has the Poll numbers of a wounded bird falling from the sky. I am up on him by 57 points, and going higher. He has proven to be a terrible and inept candidate who even fought Social Security and MediCare. He will SOON be out of money and dropping out of the race for President. After having single handidly gotten him elected Governor, with no thanks or glory, it has been a beautiful thing to watch. Good luck Ron!

Will Hurd drops out of 2024 race and endorses Nikki Haley

14:25 , Gustaf Kilander

Former Republican Rep Will Hurd has suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and endorsed former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Mr Hurd, a former undercover CIA operative who spent time in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, entered the race as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump but never managed to get a foothold, failing to qualify for the two debates held so far.

In his announcement that his campaign was ending on Monday, he argued that the Republicans needed to come together and back one candidate to beat President Joe Biden, but also to take out Mr Trump.

Ms Haley now has two strong debate appearances behind her and she has seen a bump in the polls, but all the candidates, including Ms Haley, remain far behind Mr Trump.

Continued...

Ex-GOP congressman Will Hurd drops out of 2024 race and endorses rival

Analysis: Trump’s first week in court can’t stop a trial with his business at stake

14:15 , Alex Woodward

As he left in the middle of the third day of a trial he was voluntarily attending, Donald Trump held another one of his hallway press conferences inside a Manhattan courthouse in front of two rows of cameras staged outside the third-floor courtroom’s door.

“I’m here, stuck here, and I can’t campaign,” he said.

He wasn’t, and he could have, but after stewing in frustration from the defence table for roughly 12 hours across the first three days of a trial on allegations of fraud, he unloaded his grievances and claimed once again that the latest legal threat against him – one that could imperil his business empire – joins a far-reaching political conspiracy to keep him away from the White House.

“I’d rather be right now in Iowa, I’d rather be in New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Ohio, or a lot of other places,” said Mr Trump, referring to a campaign trail ahead of the 2024 Republican nomination. “But I’m stuck here, because I have a corrupt attorney general who communicates with the [US Department of Justice] in Washington to keep me nice and busy, because I’m beating Biden in the polls by a lot.”

After he left, New York Attorney General Letitita James – who sued Mr Trump, his adult sons, chief associates and business entities – told reporters that “the Donald Trump show is over”.

Read the full story.

Recap: Trump’s attempt to halt New York fraud trial denied by appeals judge

13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

An appellate judge at the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan has blocked Donald Trump’s attempt to pause a blockbuster civil trial on fraud allegations while he continues to challenge a judge’s sweeping order that threatens to cancel his business licenses in the state.

The order issued on 6 October rejected the former president’s attempts to halt the trial, which entered its fifth day on Friday, but the judge agreed to stay a ruling that cancels his business certificates, a sanction that came in a surprise order from Judge Arthur Engoron last week finding Mr Trump liable for fraud.

By cancelling business certificates in New York held by the former president and his co-defendants — his sons, associates, and the Trump Organization — Judge Engoron effectively directed that those companies be dissolved by the end of October.

Justice Peter Moulton said at the outset of oral arguments on Friday afternoon that he was unlikely to halt the trial.

Read more...

Trump’s attempt to halt New York fraud trial denied by appeals judge

Former US general reminds GOP attacking Biden of time Trump leaked Israeli intel to Iran ally

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A former US general took to Twitter on Sunday to remind Republicans laying blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades that Donald Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Iran-allied Russia when he was president.

Retired army general Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations the former president told top Russian officials that Israel had successfully hacked Isis computers in order to gain intelligence about bomb plots against the West in a meeting at the White House in 2017.

At the time, the former president’s actions reportedly ignited fears by Israel that Russia could have passed the information to its ally Iran, which has long been a supporter of Hamas.

Read more...

Trump on trial: Is Mar-a-Lago really worth $1bn?

12:30 , AP

How much is Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago worth? That’s been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property’s value when he said it’s worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion.

Siding with New York’s attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago’s worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club’s value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser’s valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million.

But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold.

“Ludicrous,” agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the county’s tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave.

“The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure,” said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens.

“That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. “There is zero chance that it’s going to sell for $40 million or $50 million.”

In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn’t the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud.

Continued...

Is Mar-a-Lago worth $1 billion? Trump's winter home valuations are at the core of his fraud trial

Haley warned over refusal to condemn Trump

11:45 , Alex Woodward

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has refused to say whether Donald Trump should be disqualified for the GOP’s 2024 nomination after his comments suggesting that the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff should be executed for treason.

During NBC’s Meet the Press on 8 October, Ms Haley, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, called his comments “irresponsible” but did not say whether she believes his comments are disqualifying.

“I think any man or woman who served our country deserves our highest respect,” she said. “They sacrifice a lot. Their families sacrifice a lot. And we should honour them every chance we get.”

Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University said Ms Haley’s refusal to outright condemn Mr Trump’s increasingly violent rhetoric offers a grim warning of a growing tolerance for authoritarian violence.

Continued:

Authoritarianism expert has a warning about Nikki Haley’s refusal to condemn Trump

Trump on attacks on Israel: ‘Yesterday was incredible'

11:15 , Rachel Sharp

Jim Jordan gains Mace endorsement after Trump backing

10:45 , Kelly Rissman

South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace endorsed Rep Jim Jordan to become the new House speaker, echoing former President Donald Trump in advocating for the Ohio Republican to replace Kevin McCarthy.

“I am going to be supporting Jim Jordan for speaker,” the South Carolina Republican said on Face the Nation on Sunday.

She applauded Mr Jordan’s “work ethic” and “his ability to just run circles around everyone with regards to policy and pushing forward.”

“We’ve been one of the least productive Congresses inside of 30 years and he’s going to be a workhorse for our country,” she added.

Read the full story.

Ex-Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to testify today in NY fraud trial

10:15 , Rachel Sharp

Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg is expected to testify today in the New York civil fraud trial against Donald Trump.

The former president’s longtime finance chief was jailed for around three months earlier this year for tax evasion at the organisation.

He is now named alongside Mr Trump, his adult sons and other executives in the $250m civil case which could result wipe out the former president’s business empire in the New York.

Allen Weisselberg (AP)
Allen Weisselberg (AP)

GOP lawmaker dismisses possibility of Speaker Trump

09:45 , Martha McHardy

A Republican lawmaker has dismissed the possibility that Donald Trump could replace Kevin McCarthy as House speaker.

Rep Ken Buck, who voted last week to oust Mr McCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives, insisted the former president doesn’t stand a chance of taking the gavel after far-right Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz floated the idea he could be appointed to the role.

When asked on ABC’s “This Week” about some Republicans calling for Mr Trump to become the next speaker, Mr Buck said “that’s not going to happen”.

“It shouldn’t happen, and we have a lot of talent inside the House,” he said.

Republican lawmaker dismisses possibility Trump could be House speaker

Trump mocked over claim he has ‘better body’ than Biden

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has been mocked for taking aim at Joe Biden’s physique and claimed he could beat the President in a fight.

The 77-year-old former leader made the brash comments while addressing a crowd at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday.

“He’s got a consultant somewhere — this is the worst consultant in politics — that thinks he looks good in a bathing suit, right?” Mr Trump began.

“He spends so much time at the beach. I mean, how do you do that?”

Mr Biden, 80, has previously been pictured in swimming trunks while holidaying at his beach house in Delaware.

Mr Trump went on to detail why he doesn’t partake in similar activity despite his body confidence.

Trump mocked for claim he has ‘much better body’ than Biden

Fox reporter suggests military aid to Israel could be affected by Tuberville’s intransigence

07:15 , Mike Bedigan

US military assistance to Israel could be affected by a Republican senator’s ongoing campaign to block hundreds of nominations and promotions for military officers, a Fox News reporter has suggested.

Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville has placed holds on over 300 nominations, blocking the Pentagon’s routine approval process, in response to the agency’s abortion policy.

Among the organisations affected is the US Navy, with a new Chief of Naval Operations still unconfirmed due to Mr Tuberville’s objections. Admiral Lisa Franchetti – who is expected to be confirmed – is among those held up by his stonewalling. In the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel, in which more than 700 people are believed to have died, the senator has said he will not drop his campaign.

Speaking on Fox News at the weekend, the station’s national security correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, said that she would expect some of the $2b of US weaponry caches held in Israel to be released to help replenish Israeli stockpiles, but that the US Senator’s action continued to impact military operations, including those of the navy.

Read the full story.

RFK Jr announces independent 2024 run for White House

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced he will end his run for the White House as a Democrat and instead become an independent 2024 presidential candidate.

“I’m here to declare myself an independent candidate for President of the United States,” the anti-vaxxer scion of America’s most famous political family said on Monday.

“But that’s not all, I’m here to join you and make a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation,” Mr Kennedy added. “We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government.”

Mr Kennedy originally positioned himself to run against Joe Biden, but the Democratic National Committee is not holding debates and is fully supporting the president’s run for a second term in the Oval Office.

Mr Kennedy made the official announcement at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, with campaign signs reading “Declare your Independence”.

Continued:

RFK Jr ends Democratic bid for White House and will run as independent

ICYMI: Trump gets laugh for ‘Wayne’s World’ joke about good friend Putin

04:15 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trump praised his “good friend” Vladimir Putin during a rambling speech at a campaign event in Iowa on Saturday.

Mr Trump repeated one of his favourite stories to the audience in Waterloo, claiming that the Russian president would not have invaded Ukraine on his watch.

“I said, ‘Vladimir, you and I are friends. We’re good friends. But if you go in, we’re gonna hit real hard’,” Mr Trump said.

“He said, ‘No way you would do that, there’s no way’. I said, ‘Way’,” drawing a laugh from the crowd as he appeared to mimic a line from the 1992 Mike Myers comedy Wayne’s World.

Read more:

Trump gets laugh at rally with Wayne’s World joke about his ‘good friend’ Putin

03:15 , AP

Why Mar-a-Lago’s valuation matters

In her lawsuit against Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that Mar-a-Lago was one of multiple assets Trump overvalued in financial statements given to banks and others.

On those statements, Trump valued Mar-a-Lago as high as $739 million — a figure James said ignored deed restrictions requiring the property to be used as a social club — not a private home. Her lawyers have argued that in his financial statements, Trump should have valued Mar-a-Lago the same way the county does, based on its club status.

Trump’s financial statements, the New York lawyers wrote, valued the club “based on the false and misleading premise that it was an unrestricted residential plot of land that could be sold and used as a private home, which was clearly not the case.”

Trump’s lawyers have said no trickery was involved, and that banks probably didn’t rely on his financial statements anyway when determining whether to lend him money.

03:00 , AP

So how did Palm Beach County come up with such a low tax assessment?

The county gives Mar-a-Lago its current value for taxation of $37 million based on its annual net operating income as a club and not on its resale value as a home or its reconstruction cost. It is one of nine private clubs in the county taxed that way.

Becky Robinson, the tax assessor’s spokesperson, said that method is used because private clubs are so rarely sold or built, making it impossible to set their tax rates by comparing them to similar properties. Mar-a-Lago’s property tax bill will be $602,000 this year, county records show.

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a South Florida Democrat, wrote the county saying if Trump claims Mar-a-Lago is worth $1 billion, he should be taxed accordingly. If Mar-a-Lago had a $1 billion assessed value, it’s property tax bill would be approximately $18 million.

Robinson said the county bases its assessments on the law and its formulas, not the value owners claim.

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

So what is Mar-a-Lago worth?

That’s hard to say. The biggest problem is there are no comparable properties. No one builds mansions in Palm Beach like Mar-a-Lago anymore and those that did exist were demolished long ago, broken up or turned into a museum.

Trump, in an April deposition, justified his belief that Mar-a-Lago could be worth $1 billion by comparing it to the price the Mona Lisa or a painting by Renoir would command — the ultra-wealthy will pay a premium to buy something that’s one-of-a-kind.

Eli Beracha, chair of Florida International University’s Hollo School of Real Estate, agreed it’s difficult to assess the value of any unique property. The fact that Trump owned Mar-a-Lago would likely increase its sale price.

“Some people are going to argue that not everyone likes Trump — some people would actually pay less because of that. ... But the high bidder is probably going to be a person who buys it because it belonged to Trump,” Beracha said.

Pulitzer said the rock-bottom price for Mar-a-Lago would be $300 million. Thomson said at least $600 million. If uber-billionaires got into a bidding war, they said, a sale of a billion dollars or more would be possible.

The much smaller Palm Beach compound once owned by the Kennedy political dynasty sold for $70 million three years ago.

02:30 , AP

What is Mar-a-Lago?

The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,810-square-meter) mansion is Trump’s primary home. It is also a club, private beach resort, historical artifact and banquet hall with a ballroom that features gold leaf. It is where Trump stored government documents federal prosecutors say he took illegally after leaving office in 2021.

While Trump has long admitted using “truthful hyperbole” in his business dealings, he is not exaggerating when he calls Mar-a-Lago unique.

Built in 1927 by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, financier E.F. Hutton, she gave the property its name — Spanish for “sea-to-lake” — because its 17 acres (7 hectares) stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Post kept the mansion after the couple’s divorce, using it to host opulent galas. In 1969, Mar-a-Lago was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Post, who died in 1973, bequeathed the property to the U.S. government as a winter get-away for presidents, but Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter never used it. The government, citing the high upkeep costs, returned it to Post’s foundation in 1981.

The property fell into disrepair. Trump bought it in 1985 for about $10 million, the equivalent of $30 million today. He invested heavily in its refurbishment.

By the early 1990s, however, Trump was in financial distress after several of his businesses flopped. He told Palm Beach town officials he couldn’t afford the $3 million annual upkeep, and proposed subdividing the property and building mansions. The town rejected the plan.

Negotiations continued and in 1993 the town agreed he could turn the estate into a private club, giving him cash flow he could use for maintenance. He built the ballroom, but signed away development rights.

The agreement limits the club to 500 members — the initiation fee is $500,000 with annual dues of $20,000.

Trump typically lives at Mar-a-Lago from October to May before summering in New Jersey.

Trump on trial: Is Mar-a-Lago really worth $1bn as former president claims?

02:15 , AP

How much is Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago worth? That’s been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property’s value when he said it’s worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion.

Siding with New York’s attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago’s worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club’s value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser’s valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million.

But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold.

“Ludicrous,” agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the county’s tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave.

“The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure,” said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens.

“That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. “There is zero chance that it’s going to sell for $40 million or $50 million.”

In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn’t the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud.

Haley schooled over false claims tying Hamas attack to $6bn Iran deal

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former UN Ambassador and GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has joined a chorus of Republicans accusing Iran of funding a terror attack against Israel despite there being no evidence to support their claims.

Republicans have been pushing the narrative as a way to tie the attack in Israel to Joe Biden.

Their claim goes like this: Joe Biden gave Iran $6bn to facilitate a prisoner exchange; Iran then used that money to fund Hamas‘s Saturday attack on Israel that left hundreds dead and wounded.

NBC News’ Kristen Welker challenged that narrative during an interview on Sunday with Ms Haley on Meet the Press.

Earlier in the show, Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the public that the money given to Iran in the prisoner swap was frozen, and has remained frozen, until Iran withdraws it for use in humanitarian endeavors.

Read more...

Anchor schools Nikki Haley over false claims tying Hamas attack to $6bn Iran deal

Pence hits out at GOP primary ‘appeasement’ candidates

Tuesday 10 October 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Mike Pence led the charge for the foreign interventionist wing of the 2024 Republican primary against their isolationist rivals this weekend as new hostilities erupted between Israel and the Hamas militants of the occupied Gaza Strip.

It was a banner weekend for that wing of the GOP, whose members among the 2024 primary field spent their hours one-upping each other with rhetoric endorsing an unmitigated Israeli response against the Palestinian militant group that launched attacks across the country.

Mr Pence made his remarks in Iowa, where he is battling for a surprise victory (or at least a decent-enough showing) in the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Calling out Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis by name, he accused them of supporting America’s retreat from a global military, diplomatic and economic footprint he argued was previously responsible for tamping down on unrest around the world.

Read the full story.

JD Vance accused of ‘shameful lies’ after he blamed Biden for Hamas attack

Monday 9 October 2023 23:15 , Bevan Hurley

A White House official has slammed Republican senator JD Vance for spreading “shameful lies” that US taxpayer dollars had funded a wave of unprecedented attacks by Palestinian militants that have claimed at least 200 Israeli lives.

Top Republicans sought to blame the Biden administration for Hamas’ deadly raids by linking it to the $6bn in frozen oil profits that were released to Iran in August for humanitarian purposes in exchange for the release of five Americans who were detained in the country.

Iran has historically provided weapons and funding to Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza and has claimed responsibility for the deadly wave of rocket attacks, killings and kidnappings that sparked a declaration of war by Israel on Saturday.

Mr Vance, a first-term Ohio senator, repeated false claims by Florida governor Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump who claimed without evidence that the US had funded the wave of attacks on Israel.

“As we watch this horrible situation in Israel unfold, Americans must face a stark truth: our tax dollars funded this,” Mr Vance wrote on X/Twitter.

Continued...

White House official accuses JD Vance of ‘shameful lies’ over Hamas attack

Full story: Former US general reminds GOP attacking Biden of time Trump leaked Israeli intel to Iran ally

Monday 9 October 2023 22:15 , Martha McHardy

A former US general took to Twitter on Sunday to remind Republicans laying blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades that Donald Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Iran-allied Russia when he was president.

Retired army general Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations the former president told top Russian officials that Israel had successfully hacked Isis computers in order to gain intelligence about bomb plots against the West in a meeting at the White House in 2017.

At the time, the former president’s actions reportedly ignited fears by Israel that Russia could have passed the information to its ally Iran, which has long been a supporter of Hamas.

Read more...

Former US general reminds GOP Trump leaked Israeli intel to Russians in White House

Haley criticised for calls on Israel to ‘finish’ Hamas

Monday 9 October 2023 21:45 , Graig Graziosi

Former UN Ambassador and GOP presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley has been beating the war drums in the wake of a weekend attack in Israel, and has called for the US ally to “finish” Hamas.

Ms Haley said the incident was “not just an attack on Israel — this was an attack on America,” in a post on X/Twitter.

“Finish them, @Netanyahu,” she wrote. “They should have hell to pay for what they have just done.”

Read the full story.

Mary Trump denounces her ‘maniac’ uncle for ‘likely’ leaking Israeli intel to the Russians

Monday 9 October 2023 21:15 , Kelly Rissman

Mary Trump wrote a scathing post about her uncle, former President Donald Trump, on X, blasting his alleged leaks to foreign leaders.

“This f***ing maniac likely gave Putin (who gave Iran, who gave Hamas) Israel’s national security secrets…” she wrote.

“Plus, he divulged highly classified information about our nuclear subs to an Australian cardboard guy,” Ms Trump added. “Why is he still allowed to roam free?”

Ms Trump appeared to be referring to the alleged sharing of classified information — that was provided by Israel — with Russian officials in May 2017. At the time, he tweeted that he had an “absolute right” to do so. The resurfaced concern comes after Hamas’ attack on Israel over the weekend.

At the time, fears swirled that Mr Trump’s alleged spilling of sensitive information to Russia could damage the nations’ relationships, according to the New York Times. The outlet also posed the possibility that the secrets could be then shared with Iran.

Continued...

Trump’s niece denounces her ‘maniac’ uncle for leaking Israeli intel to the Russians

Full story: RFK Jr ends Democratic bid for White House, will run as independent

Monday 9 October 2023 20:45 , Graeme Massie & Mike Bedigan

Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced he will end his run for the White House as a Democrat and instead become an independent 2024 presidential candidate.

“I’m here to declare myself an independent candidate for President of the United States,” the anti-vaxxer scion of America’s most famous political family said on Monday.

“But that’s not all, I’m here to join you and make a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation,” Mr Kennedy added. “We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government.”

Mr Kennedy originally positioned himself to run against Joe Biden, but the Democratic National Committee is not holding debates and is fully supporting the president’s run for a second term in the Oval Office.

Continued...

RFK Jr ends Democratic bid for White House and will run as independent

Trump rants about CNN anchor and ex-Apprentice colleague Erin Burnett

Monday 9 October 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump attacked CNN anchor Erin Burnett in an early morning rant hours after she compared his xenophobic remarks about migrants to Adolf Hitler.

Mr Trump came under fire for claiming that immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country” in an interview earlier this week, the latest in a series of unhinged statements as he faces a high-profile fraud trial in New York and four criminal indictments.

On CNN’s Outfront on Friday, Ms Burnett, during an interview with Republican Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, said that the reference to “poisoning the blood” was a phrase that was “used repeatedly by Hitler”.

In a 1.40am post on Truth Social, Mr Trump ripped into Ms Burnett for “constantly and very boringly reporting false and semi-inflammatory stories about your favorite President”.

Read the full story.

ICYMI: Trump gets laugh at rally for joke about ‘good friend’ Putin

Monday 9 October 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump praised his “good friend” Vladimir Putin during a rambling speech at a campaign event in Iowa on Saturday.

Mr Trump repeated one of his favourite stories to the audience in Waterloo, claiming that the Russian president would not have invaded Ukraine on his watch.

“I said, ‘Vladimir, you and I are friends. We’re good friends. But if you go in, we’re gonna hit real hard’,” Mr Trump said.

“He said, ‘No way you would do that, there’s no way’. I said, ‘Way’,” drawing a laugh from the crowd as he appeared to mimic a line from the 1992 Mike Myers comedy Wayne’s World.

Read more...

Trump gets laugh at rally with Wayne’s World joke about his ‘good friend’ Putin

Watch: Trump attempts to take credit for rebuilding economy after Covid

Monday 9 October 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Mary Trump unloads on ‘maniac’ uncle for allegedly leaking Israel security secrets

Monday 9 October 2023 18:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s niece, psychologist Mary Trump, did not hold back today when the former president posted on social media about the attack on Israel by Hamas.

Mr Trump earlier posted: “The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers. Are they planning an attack within our Country? Crooked Joe Biden and his BOSS, Barack Hussein Obama, did this to us!”

Ms Trump quoted the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding: “This f***ing maniac likely gave Putin (who gave Iran, who gave Hamas) Israel's national security secrets…”

She added: “Plus, he divulged highly classified information about our nuclear subs to an Australian cardboard guy.”

“Why is he still allowed to roam free?” Ms Trump asked.

Monday 9 October 2023 18:46 , Oliver O'Connell

What happened in the first week of Trump’s New York fraud trial?

Monday 9 October 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward, who was in court in Lower Manhattan as Donald Trump appeared on trial in the civil fraud case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James, recaps what transpired in the first week of what will be a lengthy case.

Trump’s first week in court can’t stop a trial with his business at stake

RNC releases statement on RFK Jr announcement

Monday 9 October 2023 17:47 , Oliver O'Connell

The Republican National Convention has issued a statement following the announcement that Robert F Kennedy Jr is running as an independent in the 2024 presidential election.

“A Democrat in Independent’s clothing is still a Democrat,” the RNC says.

Kennedy family push back on RFK Jr announcement

Monday 9 October 2023 17:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Kerry Kennedy, sister of Robert F Kennedy Jr, has issued a statement alongside other members of the Kennedy family denouncing his candidacy as an independent.

Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Today's announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.

Watch: RFK Jr declares himself an independent candidate for 2024 election

Monday 9 October 2023 17:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Nikki Haley warned about refusal to condemn Trump

Monday 9 October 2023 17:15 , Alex Woodward

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has refused to say whether Donald Trump should be disqualified for the GOP’s 2024 nomination after his comments suggesting that the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff should be executed for treason.

During NBC’s Meet the Press on 8 October, Ms Haley, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, called his comments “irresponsible” but did not say whether she believes his comments are disqualifying.

“I think any man or woman who served our country deserves our highest respect,” she said. “They sacrifice a lot. Their families sacrifice a lot. And we should honour them every chance we get.”

Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University said Ms Haley’s refusal to outright condemn Mr Trump’s increasingly violent rhetoric offers a grim warning of a growing tolerance for authoritarian violence.

Continued...

Authoritarianism expert has a warning about Nikki Haley’s refusal to condemn Trump

About that Forbes post on Truth Social...

Monday 9 October 2023 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump alarms with statement linking southern border to Hamas attack

Monday 9 October 2023 17:05 , Oliver O'Connell

In one of his latest posts to Truth Social, Donald Trump sought to stoke fears regarding the southern border by linking the migrant crisis to the attack on Israel by Hamas.

The former president posted:

The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers. Are they planning an attack within our Country? Crooked Joe Biden and his BOSS, Barack Hussein Obama, did this to us!

White House condemns Republican chairwoman for Hamas attack comments

Monday 9 October 2023 16:57 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House has condemned Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for calling the Hamas attack against Israel a “great opportunity” for the GOP to contrast with President Joe Biden.

“While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a ‘great opportunity,’ most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy,” said deputy press secretary Andrew Bates.

Read the full statement below:

Gustaf Kilander filed the following report:

RNC chair criticised for calling Israel attack a ‘great opportunity’ for GOP

Pence hits out at GOP primary ‘appeasement’ candidates

Monday 9 October 2023 16:45 , John Bowden

Mike Pence led the charge for the foreign interventionist wing of the 2024 Republican primary against their isolationist rivals this weekend as new hostilities erupted between Israel and the Hamas militants of the occupied Gaza Strip.

It was a banner weekend for that wing of the GOP, whose members among the 2024 primary field spent their hours one-upping each other with rhetoric endorsing an unmitigated Israeli response against the Palestinian militant group that launched attacks across the country.

Mr Pence made his remarks in Iowa, where he is battling for a surprise victory (or at least a decent-enough showing) in the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Calling out Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis by name, he accused them of supporting America’s retreat from a global military, diplomatic and economic footprint he argued was previously responsible for tamping down on unrest around the world.

Read the full story...

Special counsel files argument opposing Trump request to delay trial

Monday 9 October 2023 16:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed an argument opposing Donald Trump’s request to delay his May 2024 trial in the classified documents case.

Mr Smith argues that the government has provided the defendants “extensive, prompt, and well-organized unclassified discovery, yielding an exhaustive roadmap of proof of the detailed allegations in the superseding indictment. The vast majority of classified discovery is also available to the defendants”.

Further, the prosecution argues: “The defendants make numerous allegations regarding their access to classified discovery arising from the status of secure facilities, their clearances, and other considerations. Most of the allegations are inaccurate or incomplete; collectively they are misleading.”

Read the full filing here.

Recap: Trump’s attempt to halt New York fraud trial denied by appeals judge

Monday 9 October 2023 16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

An appellate judge at the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan has blocked Donald Trump’s attempt to pause a blockbuster civil trial on fraud allegations while he continues to challenge a judge’s sweeping order that threatens to cancel his business licenses in the state.

The order issued on 6 October rejected the former president’s attempts to halt the trial, which entered its fifth day on Friday, but the judge agreed to stay a ruling that cancels his business certificates, a sanction that came in a surprise order from Judge Arthur Engoron last week finding Mr Trump liable for fraud.

By cancelling business certificates in New York held by the former president and his co-defendants – his sons, associates, and the Trump Organization – Judge Engoron effectively directed that those companies be dissolved by the end of October.

Justice Peter Moulton said at the outset of oral arguments on Friday afternoon that he was unlikely to halt the trial.

Continued...

Trump’s attempt to halt New York fraud trial denied by appeals judge

Trump lashes out at ‘China owned’ Forbes magazine as he falls out of rich list

Monday 9 October 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has lashed out at Forbes in a rambling screed on social media after he fell out of the list of the 400 richest Americans.

The former president posted on Truth Social:

China owned (China Investment Corp, the Country’s Sovereign wealth Fund!), and very badly failing, Forbes “Magazine,” which lost most of its relevance long ago, and which knows less about me than Stormy Daniels (who doesn’t know me at all!) or Rosie O’Donnell, took me off their Fake Forbes 400 list, just by a “whisker,” even though they know that I should be high up on that now very dated and discredited “antique.” They are working with the Racist and highly incompetent, job killing Attorney General of New York, Letitia “Peekaboo” James, who has allowed Murder and Violent Crime in the State to hit epidemic levels. China owned Forbes is a participant in the Election Interference Scam, and after what I have done to China, with hundreds of billions of dollars being paid to the USA, who can blame them? For years Forbes has attacked me with really dumb writers assigned to hit me hard, and I am now up 60 Points on the Republicans, and beating Crooked Joe by a lot. So much for Forbes!

Gustaf Kilander filed this report on Mr Trump’s removal from the list last week:

Trump removed from Forbes list of richest Americans as Truth Social proves a drag

Rep Nancy Mace joins Trump with Jim Jordan endorsement

Monday 9 October 2023 15:45 , Kelly Rissman

South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace endorsed Rep Jim Jordan to become the new House speaker, echoing former President Donald Trump in advocating for the Ohio Republican to replace Kevin McCarthy.

“I am going to be supporting Jim Jordan for speaker,” the South Carolina Republican said on Face the Nation on Sunday.

She applauded Mr Jordan’s “work ethic” and “his ability to just run circles around everyone with regards to policy and pushing forward.”

“We’ve been one of the least productive Congresses inside of 30 years and he’s going to be a workhorse for our country,” she added.

“I want a speaker who will keep their word and who will get the job done,” Rep Mace said.

Continued...

Nancy Mace joins Trump in endorsing Jim Jordan for speaker

What to watch for this week in Trump legal news

Monday 9 October 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former US Attorney Joyce Vance, who served in the Northern DIstrict of Alabama from 2009 to 2017 and is a regular commentator for NBC News, lays out what to expect this week in Trump legal developments.

First, in Fulton County, Georgia for the election interference case:

1/ In Trump legal news this week, two things to look for: Today, defendants Kenneth Chesebro & Sidney Powell & prosecutors must submit questions they want propounded to jurors in a written questionnaire the first group of 450 will respond to under oath in court on Oct. 20.

2/ Individual questioning in court begins on Oct 23 & an additional group of 450 potential jurors have been subpoenaed to appear Oct. 27 in case a jury can’t be struck from the 1st group. Georgia law requires questions about preconceived views be asked, but the parties can go beyond that.

3/ Each trial juror must be able to set aside any preconceived notions & decide the case based solely on the evidence in court & the law the judge explains to them. Each juror will have to make that commitment under oath. It could be a long process.

Then in Florida for the classified documents case:

Then, Thursday afternoon Judge Cannon, in Florida, will hold separate Garcia (lawyer conflict of interest) hearings for Trump’s co-defendants Walt Nauta & Carlos De Oliveira.

You can read Vance’s full thread on X here.

GOP lawmaker dismisses possibility Trump could be House speaker

Monday 9 October 2023 14:45 , Martha McHardy

A Republican lawmaker has dismissed the possibility that Donald Trump could replace Kevin McCarthy as House speaker.

Rep Ken Buck, who voted last week to oust Mr McCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives, insisted the former president doesn’t stand a chance of taking the gavel after far-right Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz floated the idea he could be appointed to the role.

When asked on ABC’s “This Week” about some Republicans calling for Mr Trump to become the next speaker, Mr Buck said “that’s not going to happen”.

“It shouldn’t happen, and we have a lot of talent inside the House,” he said.

“We’ll settle this inside the House Republican conference, and we will elect someone who’ll have the unity and the backing of the full conference.”

Read more...

Republican lawmaker dismisses possibility Trump could be House speaker

Trump mocked for claiming he has a ‘much better body’ than Biden

Monday 9 October 2023 14:14 , Oliver O'Connell

No, really...

Holly Hales reports:

Donald Trump has been mocked for taking aim at Joe Biden’s physique and claiming he could beat the President in a fight.

The 77-year-old former leader made the brash comments while addressing a crowd at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday.

“He’s got a consultant somewhere — this is the worst consultant in politics — that thinks he looks good in a bathing suit, right?” Mr Trump began.

“He spends so much time at the beach. I mean, how do you do that?”

Mr Biden, 80, has previously been pictured in swimming trunks while holidaying at his beach house in Delaware.

Mr Trump went on to detail why he doesn’t partake in similar activity despite his body confidence.

Continued...

He’s ‘lost the zip’ on his fastball: DeSantis takes dig at Trump’s age

Monday 9 October 2023 13:00 , Bevan Hurley

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday took a swing at Donald Trump’s age and stamina, saying we don’t need “any more presidents” who have “lost the zip on their fastball.”

At a campaign event in his own state, the Florida governor blamed the former president for his defeat in by Joe Biden 2020 and suggested Mr Trump lacked the energy to lead the country again.

“We don’t need any more presidents that have lost the zip on their fastball,” Mr DeSantis said.

He added that the party’s nomination contest shouldn’t be a coronation, especially for “anybody that couldn’t even stop Joe Biden.”

He’s ‘lost the zip’ on his fastball: DeSantis takes dig at Trump’s age

Trump endorses Jim Jordan for House speaker

Monday 9 October 2023 12:00 , Bevan Hurley

Former president Donald Trump is officially backing Ohio representative Jim Jordan to succeed Kevin McCarthy as House speaker after hinting that he could accept the role for himself “if necessary”.

Mr Trump announced his support for the House judiciary committee chairman and his ally on Truth Socialon Friday at midnight, stating that he had his “complete and total endorsement”.

Read more:

Trump gets laugh at rally with Wayne’s World joke about his ‘good friend’ Putin

Cassidy Hutchinson reveals Trump’s ‘very potent fear of being poisoned’

Monday 9 October 2023 11:00 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trump liked to be served Heinz ketchup from a small glass bottle due to a “very potent fear of being poisoned”, a former White House aide has claimed.

Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as an aide to Mr Trump’s Chief of StaffMark Meadows, said the former president would “launch” food or crockery at the walls “once or twice a week” or following a bad news story.

It comes following the publication of Ms Hutchinson’s bombshell new book Enough, in which she has disclosed many shocking details about her time in the Trump administration.

Full story below.

Cassidy Hutchinson reveals Trump’s ‘very potent fear of being poisoned’

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