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Report: GOP Senators Snub Trump Convention Invite

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Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Some Senate Republicans Are still keeping Donald Trump at arms length.

Four Senate GOP members in that mold — Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Todd Young (Ind.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) — told The Hill they do not plan on traveling to the Republican National Convention in July to celebrate what will be a “coronation” of the ex-president. Five others — Sens. Mike Rounds (S.D.), Susan Collins (Maine), Bill Cassidy (La.), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) — indicated they have not decided whether to go at this point.

“Everybody’s got to make their own call about it, but it’s part of our political life,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said. “The conventions have been going on for a long time, and I think the parties are tasked with trying to pull people together and make the decisions that are important to the leadership of our country.

“I understand if there are people for whom it is not a big priority,” Thune added. 

Murkowski and Young both said they both have travel plans that week but did not divulge what they were. Romney was never expected to go, given the mutual disdain between him and Trump, whom he twice voted to convict in impeachment trials. 

Tillis said in a brief interview that while he hasn’t finalized his plans, he is “likely not going to go.” 

“I’m just not a convention-goer, quite honestly. Back in the state, we have races to run. We’ll be represented,” Tillis said of the convention, noting that he cannot be a delegate. “There’s other competing priorities that week that I have to sort out before I make a decision.” 

Collins said that she has not made a decision and needs to go over her schedule. Cassidy told The Hill to ask him closer to the convention and indicated he has not decided either.

Rounds indicated that while he has no plans to attend, he still could be swayed if Trump selects someone he approves of as his running mate. 

“Yeah, it might,” Rounds said when asked if Trump selecting Scott could sway him to show up in Milwaukee. “If we could go and support his candidacy, that would be something I would really take a hard look at. … I haven’t got any hotel rooms yet, but that doesn’t mean I might not in the future.”

Deep Red State’s Latest Poll Reports Big Trouble for Trump’s 2024 Campaign

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Gage Skidmore Flickr

Is Donald Trump starting to feel a twinge of buyer’s remorse for announcing his 2024 campaign so early? The latest results from a poll based in deep-red Utah point to yes.

Trump came in a distant third place in the Deseret News-Hinckley Institute of Politics‘ poll of possible GOP contenders for the 2024 presidential race. However, whats even more shocking than Trump’s No. 3 position is the fact that respondents were warmer toward outgoing Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis decisively led the poll in a hypothetical Republican presidential primary, at 24.2 percent, followed by Cheney with 16.4 percent. Trump came in third place with 14.6 percent, nearly 2 points below Cheney

Trump was more popular than Cheney among self-identified Republicans, earning 21.1 percent to Cheney’s 10 percent, but DeSantis still emerged ahead in that group with 33.1 percent. 

However, more Utah voters said they didn’t know which candidate they’d cast their ballot for (20.7 percent) than backed either Trump or Cheney. 

The survey’s results are the latest sign Trump’s popularity among conservatives is fading. Last month, Trump officially announced his 2024 presidential campaign from his Mar-a-Lago resort but so far has received a tepid response from high-profile Republican lawmakers and donors who backed his previous presidential pursuits.

Trump’s numerous legal hurdles coupled with his bombastic personality have been contributing factors to many Republicans opting to look elsewhere for a candidate to defeat Joe Biden in the next election. In many polls, DeSantis has been seen closing the national gap with the former president but so far he’s remained tight-lipped over any potential campaigns for the White House.

Cheney, a harsh critic of the former President who lost her primary to a pro-Trump challenger, has floated a presidential campaign before. The outgoing Wyoming Congresswoman has told reporters before that she would do anything necessary to keep Trump out of the White House- including running against him.

DeSantis Commits to First GOP Presidential Primary Debate

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Florida Governor and presidential contender Ron DeSantis is refusing to stand in the shadow of Donald Trump.

DeSantis plans to participate in the first Republican presidential nomination debate “regardless” of whether former President Donald Trump takes the stage at the August showdown. 

“I’ll be there regardless. I hope everybody who’s eligible comes. I think it’s an important part of the process and I look forward to being able to be on the stage and introducing our candidacy and our vision and our leadership to a wide audience,” DeSantis said Thursday on “Fox News Tonight.”

Trump, who’s the commanding front-runner in the latest GOP presidential primary polls, has indicated that he may skip the debate. However, Trump campaign officials say the former president has yet to make a final decision on his participation. Trump’s aides have also been looking into options for an alternative event should the former president skip the debate, according to Fox News.

The debate is scheduled for August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and will be hosted by Fox News.

The Republican National Committee (RNC), which is organizing all the GOP presidential nominating debates, is requiring a high donor threshold as well as polling thresholds for candidates to make the stage. 

The RNC is also mandating that candidates that meet the thresholds sign a loyalty pledge to back the eventual 2024 GOP nominee, in order to participate in the debate.

The state of Florida is adding a similar loyalty requirement for candidates to be included on the state’s ballot, according to POLITICO.

The new oath, which includes a promise to “endorse” the GOP nominee and requires a candidate to pledge not to run as an independent or third-party candidate, mirrors language adopted by the Republican National Committee for its first debate.

“We were trying to be consistent with what the debate was requiring,” said Evan Power, vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida, who said that campaigns were notified about the changes. “I don’t think this will come as a surprise.”

Trump Plans to Bring Michael Flynn Back if He Wins 2024

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Susan A. Romano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Donald Trump says he wants to bring former national security adviser Michael Flynn back if he wins the 2024 presidential election.

“I will say, General Flynn, he’s some general. He’s some man. He took abuse like nobody could have handled, and he came out bigger, better, stronger than ever before,” Trump said via phone to the “ReAwaken America” rally at Trump National Doral Miami, according to a Rolling Stone report.

“He’s a leader, and you just stay wealthy and healthy and well, and everything. I want you to have great lives and, General, you just have to stay healthy because we’re bringing you back. We’re gonna bring you back,” the former president said. 

Trump fired Flynn early in his administration. The former adviser pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about speaking with the Russian ambassador before ultimately withdrawing his plea.

Trump Eyeing Elon Musk For Potential Cabinet Role

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Former President Donald Trump recently expressed his willingness to consider Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for a Cabinet position if he wins the White House in the upcoming election. Trump praised Musk, calling him a “brilliant guy” and adding, “He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would.”

Trump also hinted at potentially reversing the $7,500 tax credit currently available to Americans who purchase electric vehicles. The Biden administration has been promoting these incentives as part of its broader climate change agenda. Trump, however, commented, “Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing,” following a campaign event on Monday in York, Pennsylvania.

Musk’s Response: Willingness to Serve

Musk responded later that day with a late-night tweet that featured a photo of himself standing at what appeared to be a podium with the acronym “D.O.G.E.,” an acronym for the ficitious “Department of Government Efficiency.” In his tweet, Musk stated, “I am willing to serve.”

Just last week, Trump and Musk engaged in a viral two-hour conversation on X, during which Musk expressed interest in participating in a government role. He specifically mentioned his interest in serving on a commission focused on analyzing national debt and reassessing congressional spending, though the idea of a Cabinet role was not directly addressed. Musk said, “I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that looks at these things to make sure taxpayer money is spent in a good way. I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.”

Musk has publicly thrown his support behind Trump in the presidential race, endorsing him immediately after the July 13 assassination attempt and backing a super PAC supporting Trump’s campaign.

During his campaign event in York, Trump also accused Vice President Kamala Harris of being aware of substantial foreign funds allegedly accumulated by the Biden family during Joe Biden’s vice presidency.

He referenced a report by House Republicans accusing Biden of committing impeachable offenses, including “abuse of power” and “obstruction of justice or obstruction of Congress,” by allegedly facilitating and concealing a $27 million “influence-peddling racket” dating back to his time as vice president.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

Report: Nikki Haley Snags over 150K votes in Battleground State After Dropping Out

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The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley received more than 150,000 votes in the Pennsylvania GOP primary on Tuesday despite having dropped out of the race weeks ago. 

The Hill reported the most recent election returns, from just after 9 a.m. Wednesday, show Haley with nearly 157,000 votes, enough for 16.6 percent of the total, with 90 percent of votes cast counted.

Former President Trump still easily won the primary, with more than 80 percent of the vote as of the latest count, and he will win all of Pennsylvania’s delegates in the winner-take-all primary. But Haley’s total is still a significant amount for a candidate who has not been in the race since early last month. 

Despite Haley’s popularity among Republicans the former South Carolina Governor, she was unable to take a commanding lead over Trump.

Still, Haley on Tuesday appears to have reached or came close to 20 percent in several counties. Her showing may not have significantly impacted Trump taking the state on his way to officially becoming the Republican nominee, especially as he became the presumptive nominee last month after clinching enough delegates. 

But it could indicate a reason for concern in the general election, in which Pennsylvania is one of the key battleground states that could determine the winner of the race. The polling average of the state from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill has Trump ahead of President Biden in the state by just 0.4 percent, meaning every vote may have added importance there compared to other states in November. 

Haley has seen continued support over recent weeks in other states. She received more than 77,000 votes in the Georgia GOP primary in March a few days after she dropped out, more than 150,000 votes, or almost 20 percent, in the Washington Republican primary and more than 110,000 votes in the Arizona GOP primary.

Trump Campaign Responds To Oprah’s Surprise DNC Appearance

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

The Trump campaign had a hilarious response to Orpah Winfrey’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) speech.

On Wednesday night, popular talkshow host Oprah Winfrey took the DNC stage in Chicago to criticize Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance 24 years after she suggested he would make a good president.

“We know all the old tricks and tropes that are designed to distract us from what actually matters,” Winfrey told the crowd at the United Center. “But we are beyond ridiculous tweets and lies and foolery. These are complicated times, people, and they require adult conversation. And I welcome those conversations because civilized debate is vital to democracy, and it is the best of America.”

In another veiled shot at Trump, Winfrey said, “Now, there’s a certain candidate that says if we just go to the polls this one time, that we’ll never have to do it again. Well, you know what? You’re looking at a registered independent who’s proud to vote again and again and again because I’m an American. And that’s what Americans do. Voting is the best of America.”

Shortly after Winfrey criticized him, the Trump campaign posted a thank-you letter Winfrey wrote in 2000 suggesting that he would be a good president.

“Too bad we’re not running for office,” Winfrey wrote. “What a team!”

“I might have thought it back then,” Winfrey said in a 2023 interview. “I might have thought it 23 years ago.”

GOP Lt. Governor Suggests Removing Biden From Texas Ballot

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Joe Biden via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Republicans want revenge…

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick floated removing President Biden from the state’s primary ballot as a response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s shock ruling.

“Seeing what happened in Colorado tonight … makes me think — except we believe in democracy in Texas — maybe we should take Joe Biden off the ballot in Texas for allowing 8 million people to cross the border since he’s been president, disrupting our state far more than anything anyone else has done in recent history,” Patrick said in an interview with Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham.

On Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 state ballot, citing the 14th Amendment’s so-called insurrection clause. (RELATED: Colorado Supreme Court Bans Trump From Ballot)

The 4-3 ruling cited the 14th Amendment and argued Trump was involved in an insurrection by prompting false claims of election fraud and directing his supporters to go toward the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump’s campaign has vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Trump Returns To Twitter – Now X

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Photo via Pixabay images

Former President Donald Trump’s official X account is back…for now.

The first ad, posted at 2:54 am, included a voiceover from Ronald Reagan and was captioned, “Are you better off now than you were when I was president? Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. We’re a nation in decline. Make the American Dream AFFORDABLE again. Make America SAFE again. Make America GREAT Again!”

Another ad was published at 3:00 am and read, “They want to silence me because I will never let them silence you. They’re not coming after me, they’re coming after you. I just happen to be standing in their way and I’m never moving. We will Make America Great Again!”

Musk and Trump will talk live on X at 8 pm ET and Musk has already addressed the technical issues that have plagued past events – including the glitchy of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) presidential campaign last spring.

“Am going to do some system scaling tests tonight & tomorrow in advance of the conversation,” Musk wrote on X ahead of the event.

Trump had been banned from Twitter, which Musk bought for a staggering $44 billion and renamed X, after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump has only posted once since Musk restored his Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump, as the former president reserves his social media usage for Truth Social, which he owns. In August of 2023, Trump post his Fulton Country jail mugshot with a link soliciting donations.

Tucker Carlson Says This Running Mate Would Make Him Abandon Trump

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

This is a step too far for Tucker…

Former Fox News star Tucker Carlson says that if Donald Trump taps Nikki Haley as his running mate not only will he not vote for the ticket but he will openly advocate against it.

“I would not only not vote for that ticket, I would advocate against it as strongly as I could,” Carlson said this week during an interview with conservative media personality Tim Pool.

“That’s just poison,” Carlson added, blasting Haley as “not left, but … neoliberal in the darkest, most … nihilistic way” and saying she “has no real popular support.”

Carlson called Haley a “creature of the oligarchs” and said her joining Trump’s campaign “would be reason to oppose the ticket.”

Carlson recently brushed aside suggestions that he could be a potential vice presidential pick for Trump after an Axios report indicated Melania Trump is advocating for Trump to tap Carlson for the role. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson Shoots Down Vice President Rumors)

“God would have to yell at me very loud,” Carlson said at the American Principles Project Foundation’s annual Christmas gala, where he gave a speech, according to Semafor.