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Trump Injured At Rally, Possibly Shot – Suspect Down

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Gage Skidmore Flickr

UPDATE: 8:25 pm

The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reports that Donald Trump Jr. said, “I just spoke to my father on the phone, and he is in great spirits.”

UPDATE: 8:15 pm

Two sources briefed The New York Times that a rally attendee was killed in the assassination attempt.

UPDATE: 7:36 pm

New video footage from the Butler Farm Show grounds shows the body of the attempted assassin on the roof of building approximately 400 feet from where President Trump was speaking. Gunfire from Secret Service agents killed him. The suspect’s identity remains unknown.

The shooter on the roof fired at Trump from outside the security perimeter, using the elevated position for a clear line of sight.

A witness on a nearby building informed a BBC reporter that he had seen the shooter crawling onto the roof with a rifle and had tried to warn law enforcement for “two or three minutes” prior to the shooting.

UPDATE: 7:31 pm

The Secret Service has confirmed that former President Donald Trump is safe and under protective measures following the shooting at today’s rally. A spokesperson stated that Trump is “fine” and described the incident as a “heinous act.” However, specific details about what transpired at the event remain scant.

The suspect has been “neutralized,” according to law enforcement sources.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

A retired two-star general standing behind the president was shot, too…

Former President Donald Trump defiantly raised his fist following an apparent assassination attempt at today’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Moments after the first shot rang out, Trump reached toward his ear and blood streaked across his face.

The shots came as Trump began discussing immigration in his stump speech. Bystanders said the sound resembled that of a small-caliber weapon.

Secret Service agents quickly whisked Trump off the stage, but not before he signaled to the crowd and appeared to shout the word “fight” multiple times.

Billionaire Elon Musk voiced his support for Trump following the attack. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk said.

The entrepreneur made a substantial donation to a pro-Trump super PAC backing the Republican nominee in swing states, according to a report from Bloomberg on Friday. The exact amount of the donation was not disclosed.

Commenters on X praised the 45th president’s response, suggesting it might have secured his victory in the election.

Additional reactions poured in.

The alleged gunman is down, according to the county prosecutor.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

‘I Wanna Smack Him’ Former GOP Governor Fumes Over Latest Trump Comment

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ) told CNN anchor Jim Acosta that former President Donald Trump’s new rant about women made her want to “smack him across the face!”

The previous night, Trump described himself during a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin as a “protector” of women who would defend them “whether the women like it or not” if he regains the White House this November.

On Thursday’s edition of CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta, Whitman blasted Trump and said those remarks made her ball up her fists and get violent urges:

JIM ACOSTA: Harris at 19 points. She is leading Donald Trump among women. That is above where Biden was against the president at that time in 2020. Your thoughts, Governor Whitman?

GOV. CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN: Well, frankly, that comment of his, “whether they like it or not,” is just infuriating! And I think there are a lot of women who are still somewhat hesitant. Those women who are on the fence to whom that will be extremely offensive, and it will sway the vote.

And I don’t know why we’re still talking about the trash thing of the fact that Joe Biden mentioned that when Donald Trump has been denigrating people, men, women, minorities.

They’re calling them trash, calling them vermin, you know, poisoning our blood. We have to stop talking about the things he’s talking about and say, look at the things that he’s done and how his language is affecting the way we look at this election, the undermining of the public’s confidence in the electoral system. It’s all part of this package.

And I do agree that his base loves this, but there are still amazing to me number of people who haven’t quite made up their mind. And it’s comments like he’s going to take care of women whether they like it or not.

That just makes you clench your fists. It makes me clench my fist. I wanna smack him across the face!

He’s not taking care of me or my body!

West Virginia Democrat Senator Already Has a 2024 Challenger

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Joe Manchin via Wikimedia Commons

Republicans are looking forward to 2024 now that official projections reveal the GOP fell short of its goal to re-take the Senate this year.

While the expected “red wave” turned out to be more of a “red ripple” conservatives refuse to be knocked down for long. Republicans are already setting their sights on which vulnerable Democrats to target during the next election cycle in hopes of turning the upper chamber red.

Early reports indicate West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin should expect to find himself within the GOP’s crosshairs in 2024.

Despite the fact Sen. Manchin has sided with Republicans more than any other Democrat lawmaker, strategists are predicting that won’t stop Mitch McConnell from pouring millions of dollars into West Virginia next cycle to flip Manchin’s seat.

West Virginia Attorney General and failed 2018 Senate hopeful Patrick Morrisey has already been named a likely challenger to seek Manchin’s seat.

While speaking to The Hill, Morrisey said Manchin lost significant political capital when he voted in favor of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which included major components of President Biden’s agenda.

Manchin stonewalled President Joe Biden’s original Build Back Better plan but ultimately was the deciding vote for the renegotiated Inflation Reduction Act.

“Sen. Manchin deeply disappointed West Virginians and let them down tremendously when he supported the ‘Build Back Broke’ bill last summer. That legislation really hit our state very hard. You can dress up the pig any way you want but most people in West Virginia understand that that bill is going to hurt us,” Morrisey told the outlet.

“He let the air out of his balloon and it’s not going to be so easy to pump it back up,” he said.  

Morrisey, who is “evaluating options” about what to do in 2024, said “we’re looking very closely at the Senate race.”  

Morrisey and his team estimated they will have at least $12 million to spend on a Senate Republican primary alone.  

“I learned a lot from a past experience in a terrible political environment. The environment in 2024 is going to be much, much stronger” for Republicans, he predicted.

Morrisey narrowly lost his bid to unseat Manchin in 2018 by 3 percentage points or about 19,000 votes, which turned out to be closer than what the polls indicated before Election Day.

The Hill also lists Gov. Jim Justice (R) and Rep. Alex Mooney (R) as other potential challengers to Manchin.

However, on Tuesday Rep. Alex Mooney, R, W.Va., announced that he will run for Senate in 2024 in a bid to unseat Sen. Joe Manchin.

Mooney announced his challenge in a radio interview on MetroNews Talkline on Tuesday morning. 

This story is developing. Stay with Great America News Desk for updates.

Democrat Lawmaker Announces Resignation After Being Convicted on Felony Charges

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Arrest image via Pixabay

Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell (D) said that she will resign after being convicted last week on two felony charges.

Nicole Mitchell was convicted of felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools for breaking into her stepmother Carol Mitchell’s Minnesota home in April 2024.

Nicole Mitchell pleaded not guilty, and during the trial, her defense argued that she was at the home to check on her stepmother, who lives with Alzheimer’s.

Nicole Mitchell’s stepmother Carol Mitchell reportedly took the stand, saying that she felt “extremely violated” after finding Nicole Mitchell in her home.

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Nicole Mitchell “has gotten the due process she is entitled to and was convicted by a jury of her peers.”

“With the clarity brought by the resolution of this case, the Senate DFL Caucus will continue to focus on issues that improve the lives of Minnesota families and communities,” Murphy said.

GOP Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson criticized her decision to not resign immediately and blamed Democrats for “refusing to hold her accountable during session.” His caucus tried and failed to expel Mitchell from the chamber in the wake of the charges.

“Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn’t get to give the Senate two weeks’ notice. Democrats shielded Mitchell for 15 months to protect their political power, but a jury needed just three hours to confirm what was already clear: she shouldn’t be a senator,” he said in a statement.

Gov. Tim Walz’s office is expected to announce details about a special election after Nicole Mitchell’s resignation. There is another special election set for September to fill a vacancy left by former House Speaker Melissa Hortman’s politically-motivated assassination.

Michelle Obama Addresses White House Rumors

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FLOTUS at Fayetteville, N.C. -The Arts Center speech Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

There will not be another Obama in the White House any time soon…

Despite rumors that former First Lady Michelle Obama is eyeing her own bid for the Presidency, her office is quashing those claims once and for all.

“As former first Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president,” Crystal Carson, the director of communications for Obama’s office, said in a statement provided to ITK on Tuesday.

Obama “supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign,” Carson said.

The Hill has more:

The statement rejecting any chance of Obama attempting a return to the White House as president, first reported by NBC News, comes after Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, publicly floated the evidence-free idea that the former first lady could replace Biden on the ballot in November.

Commentators have also touted Obama as the “best chance” for Democrats to retain the White House in a potential matchup against former President Trump.

However, despite the Left’s calls for Obama to consider running for public office, she has adamantly tamped down the speculation.

In 2019, Obama said there was “zero chance” she would run for president.

“There are so many ways to improve this country and build a better world, and I keep doing plenty of them, from working with young people to helping families lead healthier lives,” Obama, who founded the voter registration and engagement organization When We All Vote in 2018, said at the time.

“But sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office will never be one of them. It’s just not for me,” she said.

Paxton Offers Conditions For Potential Exit From Texas Senate Race 

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Thursday he would consider dropping out of the closely watched Republican Senate primary against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) if Senate Republicans meet several conditions, a statement that comes as President Donald Trump prepares to weigh in on the race.

Paxton said he would consider exiting the contest if Senate leadership agreed to eliminate the filibuster — the 60-vote threshold typically required to advance most legislation in the upper chamber — and pass a bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The legislation, known as the SAVE America Act, has already passed the House but remains stalled in the Senate, where Republicans lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Paxton framed his proposal as part of a broader effort to advance Trump’s agenda in Washington.

“John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill. Now, Fake News reporters and the establishment are trying to destroy me with misinformation,” Paxton wrote Thursday on the social media platform X.

“The truth is clear: No one has been more loyal to Donald Trump than me—fighting the stolen 2020 election, being in Mar-a-Lago when he announced his 2024 campaign, and standing with him in NY in the face of lawfare,” he added. “For the good of our country and for the good of passing President Trump’s agenda, I am determined to help him get this done.”

Paxton’s comments come a day after Trump said he plans to issue an endorsement in the Texas Senate runoff and urged whichever candidate he does not back to exit the race to unify the party.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said the GOP must quickly coalesce around a nominee ahead of the general election.

“The Texas Republican Senate Primary has been very interesting to watch,” Trump wrote.

“The Texas Republican Senate Primary cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer,” he continued. “IT MUST STOP NOW! We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively! Both John [Cornyn] and Ken [Paxton] ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!”

The Republican primary advanced to a runoff earlier this week after neither Paxton nor Cornyn secured a majority of the vote. The runoff election is scheduled for May 26.

Cornyn has expressed some openness to changes to Senate filibuster rules but has warned that eliminating the 60-vote threshold could backfire if Democrats regain control of the chamber.

The incumbent senator has also supported the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to show proof of citizenship to register to vote and present photo identification at the polls.

Some Republicans have floated adopting a “talking filibuster,” which would require senators opposing a bill to hold the floor continuously to block passage. Under that proposal, legislation could ultimately pass with 51 votes once opponents stop speaking. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has expressed skepticism about implementing such a change.

Republican leadership has also reportedly urged Trump to endorse Cornyn in hopes of avoiding a prolonged and potentially divisive primary fight.

Republican Issues Impeachment Warning Over Trump’s Greenland Proposal

The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A Republican Congressman signaled he would move to impeach President Donald Trump if he follows through on his threat to invade Greenland and take it by force.

In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said he personally would “lean toward” voting to impeach the president if he were to follow through on threats to take over Greenland.

“I’ll be candid with you. There’s so many Republicans mad about this,” Bacon told the paper. “If he went through with the threats, I think it would be the end of his presidency.”

Bacon, a swing state Congressman who is known to split from his Republican colleagues, has become even more outspoken against Trump since announcing he is leaving Congress at the end of the current term.

“It’s about whether the United States intends to face a constellation of strategic adversaries with capable friends — or commit an unprecedented act of strategic self-harm and go it alone,” McConnell said. He added that, “following through on this provocation would be more disastrous for the President’s legacy than withdrawing from Afghanistan was for his predecessor.”

On Wednesday in the Oval Office, Trump snapped at a reporter who confronted him about a potential invasion.

“It sounds like you would potentially acquire Greenland by force,” the reporter said.

“No, you’re saying that. I didn’t say it,” Trump said. “You’re telling me that that’s what I’m going to do — you don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Watch:

In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned that President Trump’s talk of seizing Greenland by force threatens to “incinerate” the nation’s long-standing ties with NATO allies.

McConnell declared that burning the treaty organization that formed after World War II to contain Soviet aggression would be an “unprecedented act of strategic self-harm.”

“Unless and until the president can demonstrate otherwise, then the proposition at hand today is very straightforward: incinerating the hard-won trust of loyal allies in exchange for no meaningful change in U.S. access to the Arctic,” McConnell said on the Senate floor, delivering one of the strongest statements criticizing the Trump administration’s talk about potentially seizing Greenland by force.

He warned that following through on the “ill-advised threats” from the administration would “shatter the trust of allies.”

“Following through on this provocation would be more disastrous for the President’s legacy than withdrawing from Afghanistan was for his predecessor,” he said.

Watch:

He pointed to polling showing that just 17 percent of Americans think trying to take control of Greenland is a good idea and that 68 percent of Americans view the NATO alliance favorably.

Pardoned Ex-Proud Boys Leader Announces Run for Office

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Tyler Merbler, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio revealed on Wednesday that he would run for office after receiving a pardon from President Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

“It’s been a great two weeks, Greg,” he told Newsmax host Greg Kelly. “Two weeks ago I was in prison and just last night I was in Mar-a-Lago at the president’s house.”

“That is so amazing,” replied Kelly. “From prison to Mar-a-Lago, the most exclusive house in the world, possibly more exclusive than the White House.”

After the Newsmax host asked Tarrio what his next steps would be, he announced his intention to run for office.

“Last time I was on, I told you that I was gonna take some time, and I was going to really think about what I was going to do,” said Tarrio. “And I think my future is in politics. I think I’m gonna take a serious look at running for office at some point in 2026 or 2028, and I believe that there is a path for that because it is my passion.”

He continued, “I wanted to take some time to really think about it and I think I’ve made up my mind. I think that I’m going to go ahead and push, and again, there’s a lot of things that need to be aligned for that to happen, so I am gonna take my time with picking what office specifically, what district. Is it gonna be local? Is it gonna be at a federal level? I don’t know, but I will tell you that I have made a decision.”

Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison in September 2023 after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, even though he was not present at the Capitol that day.

Tarrio’s sentence was cut short last month after President Donald Trump signed pardons for defendants linked to the Capitol riot.

Trump Responds To Top RNC Lawyer’s Sudden Resignation

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Donald Trump is not sad to see the Republican National Committee’s top lawyer go.

“Great news for the Republican Party. RINO lawyer Charlie Spies is out as Chief Counsel of the RNC. I wish him well!” Trump posted late Sunday on Truth Social.

Officials confirmed Saturday that Spies was leaving his post as RNC chief counsel roughly two months after taking the job as part of a broader staffing overhaul once Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee for November.

There were reportedly tensions between Trump and Spies after Spies had criticized Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent and stolen.

“Charlie approached RNC Chief of Staff, Chris Lacivita, about potential time commitment conflicts and it was agreed that, while we appreciate and value Charlie’s expertise and professionalism, he cannot do this role full time and still maintain the obligations to his law firm that he has spent years successfully building,” RNC spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement to The Hill.

The RNC had announced in March it was hiring Spies, along with former One America News host Christina Bobb and former Trump administration attorney Bill McGinley to lead its legal efforts, with the latter two focusing on election integrity.

GOP Watches Closely As MTG’s Former District Shows Signs Of Trouble

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A razor-thin House majority raises the stakes…

Republicans are reportedly growing uneasy in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, where a chaotic special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has created an unexpected opening for Democrats in what has long been considered safe GOP territory.

The anxiety comes as Republicans hold the U.S. House by just one vote, following the swearing-in of Democrat Christian Menefee earlier this week after his special election win in Texas. With margins this tight, even unlikely threats are being taken seriously. (RELATED: Another House Republican Exits As Loudermilk Declines Reelection Bid)

A Chaotic Special Election With No Primary

The March 10 special election features 21 candidates — including 16 Republicans, three Democrats, an independent, and a Libertarian — with no party primary to narrow the field. Because no candidate is expected to secure a majority, the race is widely expected to advance to an April 7 runoff between the top two finishers.

Why Republicans Are Worried

With GOP voters splintered among so many candidates, party activists fear Democrats could consolidate their vote and slip into a runoff slot — or, in a nightmare scenario, win outright.

That would be a political shock in a district Donald Trump carried by a wide margin and where Greene previously won about 63% of the vote. (RELATED: Utah Republicans Sue To Block New House Districts)

Democrats Rally Around a Single Candidate

Democrats are coalescing behind retired Army Brig. Gen. Shawn Harris, who has mounted a visible campaign complete with a staffed local headquarters and an experienced political operation. His messaging has focused on affordability and health care costs, aimed at peeling off moderates and independents.

Trump Moves to Stabilize the Race

The contest shifted Wednesday night when President Donald Trump issued a “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Republican Clay Fuller, a move widely viewed as an effort to consolidate MAGA voters and narrow the GOP field.

“Clay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgia’s 14th Congressional District – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

A Safe Seat — But Not a Comfortable One

Republican strategists say Trump’s endorsement should help restore order, but some privately warn that the unusual election format, combined with voter fatigue and GOP infighting, has made the race more fragile than expected.

Most observers still view a Democratic upset as unlikely — but even a forced runoff would drain resources and attention as a challenging midterm cycle heats up.

MTG’s Eyes Next Steps

While Greene has framed her resignation from Congress as a rejection of Washington politics, speculation has continued to swirl within conservative circles that she may be positioning herself for a future national run. Allies and critics alike have noted that her recent media appearances, broader ideological critiques, and willingness to challenge Trump directly resemble the early stages of a potential presidential or third-party campaign.

Greene has not formally announced any plans to run for president, but she has also declined to rule it out — fueling rumors that her break with Trump may be less about stepping away from politics and more about redefining the post-Trump conservative movement on her own terms.

According to a November report from Notus, Greene has privately expressed interest in following in Donald Trump’s footsteps to the White House. The outlet cites four sources familiar with her thinking, saying Greene believes she represents the “real MAGA” faction — the core conservative movement that has reshaped the GOP since 2016 — and that many Republican leaders have drifted away from those grassroots values. (RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Prepping For 2028 Presidential Run)

One source told Notus that Greene feels confident she has built the national donor network and grassroots support needed to mount a serious primary campaign, especially as the GOP’s base remains loyal to Trump’s populist agenda.

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