Donald Trump is appearing at a campaign rally at his golf club near Miami on Tuesday evening, as speculation around his vice presidential pick reaches fever pitch with six days to go until the Republican National Convention.
One VP hopeful, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, appeared on stage before the former president, laying into Joe Biden over his disastrous debate performance. Trump meanwhile has remained relatively quiet since going toe-to-toe with with his rival on June 27.
Trump has said he would likely make a decision on who his 2024 running mate will be “a little before” or during the convention, which kicks off on July 15.
It comes as a new poll showed Vice President Kamala Harris has a better shot than President Joe Biden at defeating Trump in the 2024 election. The survey, conducted by the Democratic firm Bendixen & Amandi, shows Biden slightly behind Trump, 42 to 43 per cent, with Harris inching past the former president 42 to 41 per cent.
The eyes of the world are on Biden as he hosts the NATO summit in Washington DC amid concerns about his fitness to contest the election and serve another term in office and fresh calls for him to quit the 2024 race.
Key Points
- Kamala Harris pulls ahead of Joe in Trump matchup, but someone else does better...
- Trump’s VP decision draws near as former president prepares for tonight’s Florida rally
- Trump attacked over ‘preposterous’ attempt to distance himself from Project 2025
- Nato allies ‘not concerned’ by questions over president's mental fitness ahead of major summit
- Trump says ‘Hunter is calling the shots’ and Biden’s ‘ego’ won’t let him quit 2024 race
- Sixth House Democrat calls publicly for president to drop out
In pictures: Trump descend on Doral for rally
00:05
Mike Bedigan
What is Project 2025?
23:50
Oliver O'Connell
A 900-page plan drawn up by former Donald Trump aides and endorsed by a powerful right-wing think tank is giving the former president a roadmap for his second administration.
Project 2025 — a blueprint for Trump’s presidency spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials — is essentially a wishlist for his administration with plans to expand his executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, crush abortion rights and impose an anti-immigrant agenda, among other policies.
But the former president is trying to distance himself from the plan, claiming that he knows “nothing” about it or “who is behind it,” despite its authors coming from Trump’s White House and the GOP’s close ties to the group that launched it.
Alex Woodward looks at the details.
AOC: '[Biden] is in this race, and I support him’
23:20
Oliver O'Connell
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reaffirmed her commitment to President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee on Monday evening amid heightened tensions within the party over his mental fitness.
“Joe Biden is our nominee, he is not leaving this race, he is in this race and I support him,” Ocasio-Cortez told a group of reporters outside of the Capitol.
The New York rep’s assertion comes as Democratic lawmakers scramble to find consensus on whether or not to support Biden, 81, as the presidential nominee.
Ariana Baio reports.
In pictures: Florida Senator Marco Rubio addresses rally in Doral
23:14
Mike Bedigan
What time with the Trump rally in Florida begin?
23:05
Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump is due to host a rally in the Miami suburb of Doral on Tuesday night following several days of relative silence, since going toe-to-toe with Joe Biden on June 27.
The rally is due to kick off at 7pm ET.
Analysis: Trump lied and Biden got tongue tied at the first debate. So why is the world only focusing on one?
22:50
Oliver O'Connell
Kelly Rissman wonders where the scrutiny of Donald Trump is in comparison to that lumped on Joe Biden.
Junior Navy sailor tried to access President Biden’s medical records three times
22:35
Oliver O'Connell
A junior sailor tried to get hold of President Joe Biden’s restricted medical records three times in a single day in February “out of curiosity,” the Navy revealed Tuesday.
The name of the sailor has not been shared, but he was assigned to the Navy’s hospital corps and stationed at the major medical center that is Fort Belvoir in Virginia, a US official told CBS News.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.
Pence: RNC platform ‘profound disappointment’ to pro-life movement
22:20
Oliver O'Connell
Former Vice President Mike Pence is not happy with the Republican Party platform for the 2024 election given its softened language regarding abortion. The platform was quickly pushed through the rules committee and will be voted at next week’s Republican National Convention.
Donald Trump congratulated the rules committee chair Marsha Blackburn and vice chari Mike Waltz for its quick passage.
Here’s in part what Pence had to say...
The RNC platform is a profound disappointment to the millions of pro-life Republicans that have always looked to the Republican Party to stand for life.
Now is not the time to surrender any ground in the fight for the right to life. The 2024 platform removed historic pro-life principles that have long been the foundation of the platform. I urge delegates attending next week’s Republican Convention to restore language to our party’s platform recognizing the sanctity of human life and affirming that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.
The updated platform also cedes this fight to the states, leaving the unborn in California and Illinois to the far-left’s extremist abortion policies. The right to life is not only a state issue; it is a moral issue, and our party must continue to speak with moral clarity and compassion about advancing the cause of life at the federal, state and local level.
He concludes by describing the GOP platform as “retreating” but says the pro-life movement “never will” and then says:
My fellow Republicans, Stand firm for Life. Restore the RNC platform’s historic commitment to the sanctity of human life. Pro-Life Americans and generations born and unborn deserve nothing less.
Trump hits out at NATO as summit commences in Washington, DC
22:00
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has revived his criticism of NATO as the alliance’s summit gets underway in Washington, DC, marking its 75th anniversary.
If it weren’t for me as President, there probably would be no NATO by now. When I became President, I noticed that there were only 7 of the 28 Countries, that were then Members, who were paid up. Most Members were delinquent, some having paid very little, if anything. I found this unacceptable, and insisted that they pay if they wanted the protection of the U.S. Billions of Dollars came pouring in. No other President did anything about these long term delinquencies. The Secretary General of NATO said it was “incredible” what “President Trump had done.” It made NATO viable again. Now we have a similar problem. The U.S. is paying most of the money to help Ukraine fight Russia. Europe should at least EQUALIZE! They owe more than 100 Billion to do so. Crooked Joe has never even asked them to do so.
The former president often accuses member states of not paying up in some form — as he writes above on Truth Social — the reality is that each nation-state member is supposed to spend a minimum of two per cent of their GDP on defense. While most countries are indeed falling short of that amount, what Trump writes below is a mischaracterization.
Per the Associated Press, in response to earlier remarks by Trump on the topic:
NATO members don’t pay to belong and don’t owe the organization anything other than contributions to a largely administrative fund. Trump clearly wasn’t referring to those administrative payments.
His frequent complaint during his presidency, and now, has been how much NATO countries put into their own military budgets.
U.S. presidents before him raised that concern. In fact, it was in 2014, during the Barack Obama administration, that NATO members agreed to move “toward” spending 2% of GDP on national defense by 2024. Stoltenberg also has said members needed to invest more in their militaries.
At their last summit, in Lithuania in July, NATO leaders adjusted that pledge by agreeing to spend at least 2% of GDP on their military budgets. No target date was set for meeting the goal.
The 2% is a benchmark that each member should spend on its own defense in order to be able to contribute to the joint defense of the alliance. However, the goal is voluntary, and there is no debt or “delinquency” involved.
The countries don’t pay the money to NATO but invest it in their own armed forces.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago has given them further impetus to beef up their armies.
Rep Mikie Sherrill joins ranks of Democrats asking Biden not to run
21:55
Oliver O'Connell
New Jersey congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has joined the ranks of Democratic members of the House of Representatives asking Joe Biden not to run for reelection.
Here’s her statement:
I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country.
— Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) July 9, 2024
That's why I am asking that he declare that he won't run for reelection.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/rR2rmZ1ewN
NATO allies not concerned by questions over Biden’s mental fitness, says White House
21:50
Oliver O'Connell
With world leaders converging on Washington for the NATO annual summit, the White House’s top national security spokesperson isn’t aware of any concerns among members regarding President Biden’s capacity to serve amid questions over his performance at last month’s presidential debate.
National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby denied Biden’s condition is even a topic of conversation among NATO members when pressed on the matter on the eve of the alliance’s yearly gathering — one that will mark three-quarters of a century since the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty.
“I think the question presupposes the notion that they need to be reassured of American leadership and President Biden’s commitment, and I don’t believe that’s the case,” he said at a Monday briefing.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump’s oil baron lovefest wins over a Nikki Haley supporter and his cash
21:35
Oliver O'Connell
How does one draw a line between Donald Trump and higher gas prices?
The answer: through a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation — and a former Nikki Haley donor.
John Bowden explains.
NATO summit offers Biden reprieve from campaign pressures
21:20
Oliver O'Connell
World leaders from NATO countries are set to descend on Washington, DC, this week for their annual meeting as President Joe Biden looks to quell fears and move past questions on his future.
Heads of state and government from 32 NATO nations — plus leaders of Ukraine, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea — began arriving at Joint Base Andrews on Monday for the annual gathering. Biden is scheduled to open the confab with a speech marking the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic alliance at 5pm ET.
Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.
Federal judge rules protesters can’t march through RNC security zone
21:00
Oliver O'Connell
A federal judge ruled Monday that protesters can’t march through a security zone at the Republican National Convention, handing a defeat to liberals who had pushed to have closer access to where delegates will be gathering next week in Milwaukee.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 filed a lawsuit last month against the city of Milwaukee, alleging that the city’s plans for protesters violated their free speech rights.
Read on...
What is Project 2025? The ‘dystopian’ manifesto for Trump’s second term
20:40
Oliver O'Connell
A 900-page plan drawn up by former Donald Trump aides and endorsed by a powerful right-wing think tank is giving the former president a roadmap for his second administration.
Project 2025 — a blueprint for Trump’s presidency spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials — is essentially a wishlist for his administration with plans to expand his executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, crush abortion rights and impose an anti-immigrant agenda, among other policies.
But the former president is trying to distance himself from the plan, claiming that he knows “nothing” about it or “who is behind it,” despite its authors coming from Trump’s White House and the GOP’s close ties to the group that launched it.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Trump family and Rubio to attend tonight’s rally in Florida
20:32
Oliver O'Connell
Many of the Trump family will be in attendance at Trump National Doral for this evening’s rally. Jake Traylor of NBC News saw seat assignments for all three sons — Don Jr, Eric, and Barron — amongst others.
Notably, still no Melania Trump.
In attendance at tonight’s Trump rally: Barron, Eric, Don Jr. and more. Notably still no Melania. pic.twitter.com/prd0eN8wO0
— Jake Traylor (@jake__traylor) July 9, 2024
However, potential running mate Senator Marco Rubio is set to attend alongside his wife.
Also in attendance at the Trump rally this evening will be Rubio, his wife, and two Rubio guests. pic.twitter.com/iXBOEq47MO
— Jake Traylor (@jake__traylor) July 9, 2024
Watch: Fox News report on latest polling concerning Kamala Harris that had Trump fuming
20:27
Oliver O'Connell
Trump seems to be mad that Fox News acknowledged a poll showing Kamala Harris beating him https://t.co/02lXrChGzx pic.twitter.com/UO5ZMVTOJo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 9, 2024
The nuclear option Democrats could take to replace Biden: An open convention
20:20
Gustaf Kilander
President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance in Atlanta last month has opened the door in many Democratic minds that the best option might be to find a new nominee during an open convention.
But Biden has so far resolutely refused to even entertain the idea of stepping aside, challenging any possible candidates to take him on at the convention during a recent fiery interview on MSNBC. The White House and the Biden campaign are now scrambling to reassure voters, elected Democrats, donors, and activists that the president is up to the job for another four years.
Meanwhile, a growing number of Democratic members of Congress have publicly called on Biden to step aside and some Senate Democrats reportedly believe that the party needs a new nominee.
So how would that actually happen?
Some House Democrats have rallied round Biden. It’s a different game in the Senate
20:00
Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia writes:
President Joe Biden seemed to stem his bleeding support among some Democrats in the House of Representatives, particularly progressives. Meanwhile, the Senate continues to have lingering questions, following the president’s disastrous debate performance last month.
On Monday, the president sent a letter to congressional Democrats saying he is “firmly committed” to staying in the presidential race against Donald Trump.
During votes on Monday evening, many House Democrats — specifically members of the Congressional Black Caucus — reiterated their support for Biden.
Continue reading...
Trump’s VP decision draws near as former president prepares for tonight’s Florida rally
19:46
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump will get back on the campaign trail this evening in Doral, Florida this evening for the first time in a week as the decision about who will join him on the Republican ticket draws nearer.
The former president has said he would announce his pick for vice president ahead of next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
It is widely believed that the main two contenders are Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who once ran against Trump in the 2016 GOP primary, and Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who was also once not a fan of the former president.
Here’s Rubio backing up Trump’s efforts to distance himself from Project 2025:
And here’s Vance calling Trump “clearly a good husband”:
Democrats in Congress say mood is grim as a ‘funeral’ as Biden refuses to drop out
19:40
Oliver O'Connell
There was very little enthusiasm visible from members of President Joe Biden’s party as they continued to trickle back onto Capitol Hill this week for the return of business in the House and Senate.
Congressional Democrats who emerged from meetings on Tuesday indicated two main sentiments to reporters: that Joe Biden would not be getting out of the race; and that no progress has been made in convincing even some of his own supporters that he is up to the task of running for president and serving another four years in the White House.
Even those who have urged Biden to make the hard choice and withdraw from the race — like ranking Judiciary member Jerry Nadler — admitted to reporters on Tuesday that they were at an impasse.
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.
Repost - Watch LIVE: White House briefing with Karine Jean-Pierre
19:36
Oliver O'Connell
Bit of a late start due to a conversation with the president in the Oval Office concerning Hurricane Beryl in Texas.
Trump hits out at Fox News over polls (again)
19:34
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has once again hit out at Fox News over polls they have shown during their daytime news programming.
The former president wrote on Truth Social:
FoxNews will never take great polls, from reputable pollsters, where I’m beating Crooked Joe, the worst President in history, by a lot, but will take FAKE confidential Democrat polls, that they leaked to Fox, and go up big with them. John Roberts, a real heavyweight, was the “anchor.” I’ll be releasing REAL POLLS shortly!
We wait with bated breath...
Democrat senators call for special counsel probe of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
19:30
Oliver O'Connell
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on federal courts, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland last week requesting the appointment of a special counsel to investigate potential violations of ethics, false statement, and tax laws by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the benefactors who have supplied him with undisclosed gifts.
Whitehouse and Wyden write in their letter that the full pattern of Justice Thomas’s omissions of outside income and luxury gifts from his legally required financial disclosures warrant criminal investigation by the Department of Justice.
Here’s Ariana Baio reporting from June on some of Thomas’s undeclared trips:
Missouri AG candidate tries to out-MAGA his rival by blowing up Trump evidence
19:20
Oliver O'Connell
Clad in a fleece sweater vest, Will Scharf, an attorney for Donald Trump who wants to be Missouri’s next attorney general, fires a grenade launcher at a stack of evidence boxes and indictments in his latest campaign ad.
“Joe Biden and his corrupt allies are wrecking our legal system, doing everything they can to stop President Trump and the MAGA agenda,” he says in the ad. “It’s time for a Missouri attorney general who will return fire.”
He then cocks his firearm, and the stack of boxes explodes.
Alex Woodward reports.
Watch: Nikki Haley releases GOP delegated ahead of convention, but will not attend
19:14
Oliver O'Connell
BREAKING: Nikki Haley is not invited to the 2024 RNC Convention, but has released 97 delegates. pic.twitter.com/gDsi1cy30M
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 9, 2024
Watch LIVE: White House briefing with Karine Jean-Pierre
19:02
Oliver O'Connell
Trump bizarrely claims ‘Hunter is calling the shots'
19:00
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump suggested that Hunter Biden is “calling the shots” behind the scenes, and that the president’s ongoing refusal to drop out of the race for the White House was due to his “ego”.
Speaking to Fox News, the former president said that he was “prepared” to face Biden in November, but that it “wasn’t going to matter” if his rival stepped down or not.
“They cover for him, and they still are sort of covering, but now it’s getting very difficult to do that,” he told Sean Hannity. “I think Jill [Biden] would like to see him stay, she’s having a good time. I noticed she seems to be having a good time, and I’m hearing that Hunter is calling the shots.”
Mike Bedigan reports.
ICYMI: Harris avoids all mention of Biden campaign crisis while wooing Black voters
18:40
Oliver O'Connell
Vice President Kamala Harris barely mentioned her own running mate on Saturday as she spoke to Black voters and talked about the 2024 race at the annual Essence Festival in New Orleans.
The nation’s first Black vice president has been seen by many Democrats as the obvious choice to pick up the mantle of the party’s 2024 nomination should Joe Biden step aside in the coming days — a proposition the president has firmly denied will take place.
But, on Saturday, she clearly appeared ready to take on that role regardless as she hammered former president Donald Trump and sought to lay out the stakes of the election.
John Bowden reports.
AOC backs Biden after speaking with president
18:30
Oliver O'Connell
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reaffirmed her commitment to President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee on Monday evening amid heightened tensions within the party over his mental fitness.
“Joe Biden is our nominee, he is not leaving this race, he is in this race and I support him,” Ocasio-Cortez told a group of reporters outside of the Capitol.
The New York rep’s assertion comes as Democratic lawmakers scramble to find consensus on whether or not to support Biden, 81, as the presidential nominee.
Ariana Baio has the story.
How did late-night hosts react to Biden debate flub?
18:20
Oliver O'Connell
Maira Butt reports on what the big late-night talk show hosts had to say about Joe Biden’s prospects following the disastrous debate performance against “pathological liar” Donald Trump.
Trump wants to distance himself from far-right Project 2025 plan, his PAC has other ideas...
18:05
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump wants to distance himself from Project 2025, the blueprint for his administration drawn up by his former officials and backed by an influential Republican-aligned think tank.
Project 2025’s 900-page manifesto for nearly every detail of a second Trump presidency was drawn up by more than a dozen former Trump administration officials and advisers, who have planned to “integrate” the document into the campaign’s platform in the coming months.
But on Friday, as his Democratic rivals use Project 2025 as shorthand for his agenda, Trump claimed that the proposal is news to him.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Kamala Harris pulls ahead of Joe in Trump matchup, but someone else does better...
17:50
Oliver O'Connell
A new poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris has a better shot than President Joe Biden at defeating Donald Trump in the 2024 election — but someone else has the edge on both of them, as Gustaf Kilander reports.
‘Big boy press conference’?
17:40
Oliver O'Connell
The White House has been roasted for promising President Joe Biden will give a “big boy press conference” as part of the three-day Nato summit of world leaders beginning Tuesday in Washington DC.
In Monday’s White House press briefing, John Kirby, the White House’s national security communications adviser, raised eyebrows with his choice of phrase – coming at a time when the embattled president is facing growing calls to quit the 2024 race.
Joe Sommerlad reports on this completely unforced error as the world questions the physical and mental abilities of the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...
