Trump calls Jan. 6 a “beautiful day” during CNN town hall
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According to a report, the National Archives found a trove of records showing that Donald Trump and his advisers knew they were breaking the rules by taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago.
The agency sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr. Trump this week in which he disclosed that it had found 16 records that showed he and his top advisers were aware of the proper declassification process when he was president.
“The 16 records in question reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, about whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records,” Archivist Debra Steidel Wall wrote.
Those records will be turned over to Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the criminal investigation into Mr. trump
The revelation comes as Mr Trump continues to attack Ron DeSantis, as the Florida governor prepares to launch his 2024 campaign next week.
“After campaigning for five months and going nowhere but down, it looks like Ron DeSanctimonious will soon enter the race. He has ZERO chance, and MAGA will never forget!” Mr Trump raved on Truth Social on Thursday night.
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Trump encourages Republicans not to seek common ground in debt ceiling talks
Donald Trump gave some advice to Republicans in Congress on Friday (May 19) when it comes to negotiating the debt ceiling with President Joe Biden.
“REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO DO A DEBT LIMIT DEAL UNLESS THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT (including the ‘kitchen sink’). THIS IS HOW THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALWAYS TREATED US. DON’T BEND!!!” Mr Trump he wrote on Social Truth.
The advice comes as Republicans try to find middle ground with the president and other Democrats when talking about budgets.
The US is expected to start defaulting in June if lawmakers do not reach a deal.
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 9:00 p.m
Republican Senator Tim Scott is running for president in 2024
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has officially declared himself a presidential candidate in next year’s Republican primary election.
According to a statement of candidacy filed Friday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Scott has designated his official campaign committee as “Tim Scott for America,” with a campaign address in the state capital, Charleston.
Scott, who has served as South Carolina’s junior senator since 2013, was first nominated to his Senate seat by one of his main presidential opponents, then-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. He filled a vacancy left by the resignation of Jim DeMint, who left the Senate to run the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Scott, whose campaign website made a “special announcement” on May 22, joins a GOP primary field that includes Ms. Haley, former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are also expected to officially enter the GOP presidential field in the coming days.
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 8:00 p.m
Tim Robbins has been forced to clarify that he did not meet with “Trump’s favorite author”
Actor Tim Robbins clarified on Twitter that he was not “dating” self-proclaimed “Alpha Male” and “Donald Trump’s favorite author” Nick Adams.
Nick Adams, an Australian man and Trump enthusiast who often posts absurd claims about his “alpha male” status, posted a photo of himself with the actor, claiming the two were “hanging out.”
Robbins cited the photo and added some necessary context.
“Not ‘hanging out.’ Friend asked for photo. I obliged. Off he went,” the actor wrote.
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 7:10 p.m
DeSantis shares privately that Trump cannot win the election, according to the report
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is confident in his abilities to win the 2024 presidential election, according to statements he made in a call heard by The New York Times.
On Thursday, DeSantis called donors and supporters to unofficially declare his campaign.
In the call, Mr DeSantis allegedly said: “Right now you basically have three people who are credible on this whole issue, Biden, Trump and me.”
“And I think out of those three, two have a chance to be elected president: Biden and I, based on all the swing state data, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because the people won’t change. their view of him,” DeSantis added.
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 7:00 p.m
Trump campaign slams DeSantis over Disney’s canceled Florida expansion
Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign wasted no time in slamming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over news that Disney was canceling a billion-dollar plan to expand its business in Florida.
The campaign to bring the former president back to the White House sent out a fundraising email on May 18 after news broke of the planned relocation of thousands of staff to the Orlando area. .
Entitled: “President Trump is always right,” the email included an April 18 Truth Social post by Mr. Trump.
Oliver O’Connell i Alex Woodward report:
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 6:00 p.m
Former Playboy model who allegedly had “affairs” with Trump says she would work for DeSantis
Former Playboy model Karen McDougal, 52, claims she was at one point in a “loving” relationship with Donald Trump and offered details of their relationship on Friday.
McDougal described Trump as “fat and vulgar” but said he had “kind moments” during an interview with The Daily Mail.
Ms. McDougal has voted Republican all her life and voted for Trump in 2016. It is reported that she will not do so again in the Republican primary.
“I’m waiting [Florida Governor Ron] DeSantis is coming in,” he told the paper. “I would be willing to work for his campaign.”
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 5:03 p.m
Trump’s White House lawyer predicts he’ll end up in jail as Mar-a-Lago probe heats up
Donald Trump’s former lawyer has boldly predicted the former president will go to prison as the criminal investigation into the trove of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago continues to escalate.
Ty Cobb, who worked as a White House counsel for the Trump administration from July 2017 to May 2018, told CNN he believes the evidence against Trump will lead to a conviction and sentence of prison
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 4:00 p.m
Trump’s ally could be forced to testify against him
One of former President Donald Trump’s loyal allies and former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg could be forced to testify against Trump or face jail time.
New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg could ask Mr. Weisselberg, who was recently released from prison after pleading guilty to tax fraud, to testify or face an alleged perjury charge, according to a The New York Times report.
Weisselberg, a longtime Trump associate, may have information Bragg could use against the former president related to his recent impeachment.
Should Mr. Weisselberg choose not to testify, as he has so far, Bragg could make a false statement that Weisselberg allegedly made under oath in an interview with New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020.
It is unclear what the statement was or whether Weisselberg intentionally made a false statement.
Graig GraziosiMay 20, 2023 3:00 p.m
Who is running for president in 2024?
Ariana BaioMay 20, 2023 2:00 p.m
Trump releases an ad reminding DeSantis of the old alliance
Donald Trump posted a political ad video on his Truth Social account Friday, reminding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of their old camaraderie while DeSantis was campaigning for governor.
DeSantis was elected governor of the state of Florida in 2018, thanks in part to the former president’s endorsement.
The ad reminds DeSantis of his poll before Trump endorsed him and shows old photos of the two Republican politicians smiling together.
“Instead of being grateful, DeSantis is now attacking the very thing that saved his career,” says the political ad’s voiceover.
DeSantis is expected to announce his candidacy for president next week, putting himself in direct competition with Trump.
The ad ends by playing footage from one of Mr. DeSantis where he uses Trumpisms like “build the wall” and “you’re fired” to show his support.
Ariana BaioMay 20, 2023 1:00 p.m
