Despite Donald Trump’s early entrance to the 2024 presidential campaign, some Republicans are dedicated to taking the “wait and see” approach to the next election.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who also previously served as Trump’s press secretary, told Fox News’s Shannon Bream that she isn’t focused on 2024 yet and declined to endorse her old boss publicly.
According to The Daily Wire, Bream asked the newly sworn-in governor, “Your bio, on your official page as Governor, describes you as a ‘trusted confidant of President Trump. Have you talked to him about his ’24 run? Will you endorse him in that?”
“I love the president, have a great relationship with him,” Sanders responded. “I know our country would be infinitely better off if he was in office right now instead of Joe Biden. But right now, my focus isn’t 2024. It’s focusing here in Arkansas and doing what we can to empower the people of this state, and make sure that I’m delivering on the promises that I laid out over the course of the last two years.”
“My focus isn’t on 2024,” Sanders answered. “It’s on what we can deliver in this legislative session. I’m not going to set an arbitrary timeline. I’m not really focused on that at all.”
Bream also pressed Sanders on her own ambitions.
“I feel the pressure of delivering this legislative session,” Sanders said. “That’s the only thing that our team, and that I am focused on, is delivering on what we laid out to do.”
Sander’s refusal to outwardly endorse Trump underscores speculation that Republicans are preparing to steer away from the former president and support another candidate in the 2024 election. Numerous polls have reported Trump trailing behind other potential contenders such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) has finally made an endorsement in the 2025 presidential race.
Youngkin’s endorsement comes after former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley dropped out of the race earlier in the day, leading the Republican National Committee to declare that Trump was the party’s presumptive nominee.
“Voters in the Commonwealth and across the country have spoken loudly for President Donald J. Trump and I endorse him for President of the United States,” Youngkin said in a statement. “His record on border security, restoring American leadership around the world, reducing taxes and lowering the cost of living for all Americans stands in stark contrast to the open borders, failed leadership on the global stage, rampant inflation and higher costs of today.”
“It’s time to unite around strong leadership and policies that grow our great nation, not four more years of President Biden,” Youngkin added.
It’s time to unite around strong leadership and policies that grow our great nation, not four more years of President Biden. pic.twitter.com/jnF1iFVRkk
Trump came close to officially clinching the nomination as he now stands at well over 1,000 delegates and he needs less than 200 to hit the 1,215 threshold to officially win. In Virginia, Trump beat Haley by 28 points.
Nikki Haley has yet to endorse Trump for the nomination.
Elise Stefanik with Donald Trump via Wikimedia Commons
Trump is hard at work crafting his new administration.
House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is in contention for a role in the new Trump administration, Fox News Digital is told.
She is now being discussed as a potential candidate for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, two people familiar with such discussions told Fox News.
One said Stefanik was “high on the list” of potential candidates.
Fox News Digital was also told that another House member, retired Green Beret Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) is in consideration for a Trump administration role. Waltz is being looked at as a potential candidate for Defense secretary, though Trump is also considering options from the private sector and others, Fox News Digital was told.
Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital when asked for comment about the possible appointments, “President-Elect Trump will begin making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration soon. Those decisions will be announced when they are made.”
Colorado Republican Ken Buck announced a resolution on Monday calling for Vice President Kamala Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office.
The resolution is unexpected as Rep. Buck has fiercely criticized Republicans’ effort to impeach President Joe Biden.
“Calling on Vice President Kamala Harris to convene and mobilize the principal officers of the executive departments of the Cabinet to activate section 4 of the 25th Amendment to declare President Joseph R. Biden incapable of executing the duties of his office and to immediately exercise powers as Acting President,” Buck’s resolution read.
Rep. Buck’s resolution cites several examples of why Buck believes President Biden to be no longer capable of executing his office.
Whereas President Joseph R. Biden is the oldest sitting President in United States history at 81 years old; Whereas President Joseph R. Biden has been televised wandering aimlessly at events, including an event with the King of Jordan at the White House in February 2024, an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit event in November 2023, and a Global Fund conference in September 2022; Whereas President Joseph R. Biden frequently speaks publicly in an incoherent and indiscernible manner, often with the aid of a teleprompter, including speeches he gave at a brewery in Wisconsin in January 2024, a speech in Vietnam in September 2023, and a Presidential townhall with CNN in July 2021;
Buck’s resolution concludes by declaring Harris must “immediately use her powers under section 4 of the 25th Amendment to convene and mobilize the principal officers of the executive departments in the Cabinet to declare what is obvious to a horrified Nation: That the President is unable to successfully discharge the duties and powers of his office.”
Rep. Ken Buck has a resolution calling for Kamala Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden: pic.twitter.com/d4TGQWFfcQ
Buck will not seek reelection to his heavily Republican district in 2024 and expressed his disappointment with the GOP. Vocal Republicans have also voiced frustration over Buck’s opposition to the Biden impeachment as well his decision to vote against impeaching Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas.
“I think that we have three committees that are working very hard on uncovering evidence of Hunter Biden’s wrongdoing,” Buck said in September of 2023.
“They are looking to see if there is a connection with Joe Biden. If they reach that point where they could find evidence of a connection, fine. I think that the Republicans will move forward with an impeachment inquiry. Right now, I’m not convinced that that evidence exists. And I’m not supporting an impeachment inquiry,” he concluded.
This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.
The notoriously liberal CNN news network is reportedly planning to lay off a large number of employees as part of a significant reorganization of its news gathering process and the introduction of a digital subscription service later this year.
Sweeping Changes at CNN
In a move that many see as a desperate attempt to stay relevant, CNN is looking to “streamline” its story pitching process, lean more heavily on video content, and more effectively monetize its digital user base. This comes as no surprise to those who have long criticized the network for its biased and often misleading coverage.
Key Developments:
Massive Layoffs: Over 100 journalists are set to lose their jobs. This is part of a significant overhaul aimed at cutting costs and revamping the network’s strategy.
Digital Focus: CNN plans to launch a subscription-based digital news product, hoping to cash in on its dwindling audience.
Increased Streaming Investment: The network will also boost its investment in free, ad-supported streaming services in an effort to attract more viewers.
Leadership’s Statement
CNN’s leadership has been transparent about the impending changes. Thompson, a key figure in the network, informed employees about the upcoming layoffs and restructuring. He emphasized the network’s shift towards more video content and digital monetization.
Thompson’s Remarks:
“Wherever possible, we’ve closed open positions rather than target currently occupied roles. However, some of our colleagues will learn today that their jobs are being eliminated or are at risk,” Thompson wrote.
This message highlights the tough decisions CNN is making in an attempt to stay afloat amid financial struggles and a declining viewer base.
Historical Context
This isn’t the first time CNN has faced major layoffs. In late 2022, under former President Chris Licht, the network laid off scores of workers while reorganizing the newsroom and making significant changes to its programming. These past efforts to revamp the network did little to curb the continuing decline in viewership and trust.
The Future of CNN
With these drastic measures, CNN’s future remains uncertain. The network, which has long been a mouthpiece for liberal agendas, now finds itself at a crossroads. Can it reinvent itself and regain the trust of its audience, or will it continue to fade into irrelevance?
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hours before Donald Trump is expected to formally announce his 2024 presidential campaign Republicans are making it clear his announcement won’t deter their own political ambitions.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been floated as an early contender to mount his own presidential bid, possibly teeing up a challenge against his old boss.
While some Republicans, like Nikki Haley, that have expressed interest in seeking the Republican nomination in 2024 have indicated their plans will ultimately rely on Trump’s decision Pompeo says that is not the case for himself.
“We’re trying to think our way though, figuring out what’s next for us,” Pompeo told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, adding, “But what happens today or tomorrow, what some other person decides won’t have any impact on that [decision].”
“We need more seriousness,” Pompeo said. “We need less noise. We need steady hands. We need leaders that are looking forward, not staring in the rearview mirror claiming victimhood.”
Trump is set to make a “special announcement” at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night.
The former president could be facing another challenge for the nomination from another administration official – former Vice President Mike Pence.
On Monday, when asked by ABC “World News Tonight” host David Muir about his 2024 plans Pence answered that he’s giving “prayerful consideration” to a 2024 presidential bid.
“We’re giving it consideration in our house. Prayerful consideration,” Pence said.
Asked whether former President Donald Trump should ever be president again, Pence said, “That’s up to the American people. But I think we’ll have better choices in the future.”
He added, “For me and my family, we’ll be reflecting about what our role is in that.”
Larry Elder ,Sgt. Jacob Harrer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Conservative talk show host Larry Elder has suspended his presidential campaign and is throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump.
In a statement Thursday evening, Elder expressed gratitude for his supporters and said he was honored by their enthusiasm and grassroots support. He further explained that after assessing his campaign and the state of the race, he had made the “difficult decision” to suspend his campaign.
“Throughout my campaign, I have been steadfast in my belief that the biggest issues facing our nation are the crisis of fatherlessness, the dangerous lie that America is systemically racist, the need for an amendment to the constitution to set federal spending to a fixed percentage of the GDP — otherwise government gets bigger whether Republicans or Democrats are in charge, and the need to remove the Soros-backed DAs across the country who refuse to enforce the law,” he said in a statement.
“The breakdown of the family structure and the absence of positive father figures in the lives of many children have far-reaching consequences for our society, including the crime wave we are currently seeing in America today,” he continued. “I hope that my campaign has helped shine a light on these critical issues and sparked important conversations about how we can solve them.”
In August, Elder made waves after he threatened to sue the Republican National Committee (RNC) for not including him in the first GOP debate. While the RNC determined Elder had failed to meet the required threshold for number of individual donors and polling, he accused them of purposely silencing him.
“I said from the beginning that it appeared the rules of the game were rigged, little did we know just how rigged it is. For some reason, the establishment leaders at the RNC are afraid of having my voice on the debate stage,” he said in an X post at the time.
In his Thursday statement, Elder encourages Republicans to support Trump for president.
“Now that I am exiting the race, I am proud to announce my endorsement of Donald Trump for President of the United States. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing conservative, America-first principles and policies that have benefited our great nation,” Elder said. “We must unite behind Donald Trump to beat Joe Biden and fight back against Biden’s unprecedented election interference and the left’s destruction of America.
“I want to thank my supporters, volunteers, and donors who invested their time, energy, and resources in this campaign. From Iowa to New Hampshire to Nevada and beyond, I am grateful for the opportunity to have met so many incredible Americans who share our values.”
Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer attend medal ceremony via Wikimedia Commons
A new biography on Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) exposes new details surrounding his tense relationship with former President Donald Trump.
Michael Tackett, deputy Washington bureau chief at the Associated Press, drew from nearly three decades of McConnell’s political career using sources including recorded diaries by the elder statesmen and past interviews. In the finished book, The Price of Power, which hits shelves on October 29, Tackett uncovered several shockingly negative assessments of the ex-president by McConnell, who has publicly expressed his support and endorsed him in the 2024 election.
After Trump lost the election in 2020, McConnell congratulated his former Senate colleague President Joe Biden and warned his fellow Republicans not to challenge the election results. But behind the scenes — and as Trump tried and failed to overturn the election results — he apparently couldn’t wait to see the last of Trump:
Privately, he said in his oral history that “it’s not just the Democrats who are counting the days” until Trump left office, and that Trump’s behavior “only underscores the good judgment of the American people. They’ve had just enough of the misrepresentations, the outright lies almost on a daily basis, and they fired him.”
“And for a narcissist like him,” McConnell continued, “that’s been really hard to take, and so his behavior since the election has been even worse, by far, than it was before, because he has no filter now at all.”
Before those Georgia runoffs, McConnell said Trump is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered and can’t even figure out where his own best interests lie.”
An account of the aftermath of January 6, which had McConnell in a secure location while his aides “barricaded” in the office, revealed an emotional moment between the former Senate Majority Leader and his staff:
McConnell then went to his office to address his staff, some of whom had barricaded themselves in the office as rioters banged on their doors. He started to sob softly as he thanked them, Tackett writes.
“You are my family, and I hate the fact that you had to go through this,” he told them.
President Donald Trump teased the possibility of a future Republican “dream team” this week, but despite renewed speculation surrounding Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the president has made clear he has not yet chosen a favorite to carry the MAGA mantle into 2028.
Speaking to a group of law enforcement officials at the White House on Monday, Trump openly polled the crowd about who should succeed him once his second term ends.
“I don’t know. Who’s it going to be? Is it going to be JD? Is there going to be somebody else? I don’t know,” Trump said before asking attendees directly, “Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio? All right. Sounds like a good ticket.”
Applause in the room appeared louder for Vance, though Trump quickly clarified he was not offering an endorsement.
“By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team. But these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance,” Trump said. “But you know … I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate.”
The remarks immediately fueled speculation about the shape of the 2028 Republican primary field, which is increasingly viewed as likely to revolve around Vance and Rubio — two rising stars who have become central figures in Trump’s administration and broader MAGA movement.
Trump himself has repeatedly suggested Vance is currently the favorite to inherit the movement, while also leaving the door open to Rubio playing a major role.
Last August, Trump said Vance would “most likely” be the GOP nominee in 2028.
“Well, I think most likely, in all fairness,” Trump said at the time. “He’s the vice president. I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form.”
Still, Trump stopped short of a formal endorsement then as well.
“I also think we have incredible people, some of the people on the stage right here, so it’s too early obviously to talk about it,” he added. “But certainly, [Vance] is doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point.”
Rubio, for his part, publicly signaled support for Vance last year, telling Vanity Fair: “If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him.”
Yet speculation about Rubio’s own ambitions has only intensified as he has emerged as one of the administration’s most visible and influential officials, juggling a growing list of high-profile responsibilities within Trump’s orbit.
At the same time, some political observers believe the eventual 2028 field may not unfold the way many Republicans currently expect.
Political analyst Mark Halperin argued Friday that Vance and Rubio are unlikely to engage in a bruising primary battle against one another despite widespread media speculation.
“We get to what I think is driving a lot of this, besides people loving Marco Rubio — and a lot people in my sources do — is Vance,” Halperin said during his online show.
Halperin pointed to concerns among some Republicans about Vance’s public image and political style, arguing Rubio may have advantages in traditional campaign settings.
“I will say that in the next two years, as people in the party and the media are comparing Rubio and Vance side by side, I don’t think Vance can win the performance competition,” Halperin said. “I think Rubio has improved enough and the perceptions are such that Vance is going to have a hard time.”
Still, Halperin ultimately predicted that if Vance decides to run, Rubio would likely avoid challenging him directly.
“These two guys are genuine friends,” Halperin said. “You cannot beat an incumbent vice president running for president unless you rip their face off. That’s just the way our politics work.”
Halperin floated another possibility that has received relatively little attention so far: Vance and Rubio eventually joining forces on a single ticket.
“If Vance runs, I think they’ll run together,” he said. “I think they’ll be a ticket, and they may even announce as a ticket from the beginning of the campaign.”
He also suggested there remains a real possibility Vance could ultimately decline to run altogether, citing the intense scrutiny presidential campaigns place on candidates and their families.
“So if Vance chooses not to run, and I think that’s a possibility, probably because of his kids, I think Rubio will be in an extremely strong position,” Halperin said.
Watch:
For now, however, Trump appears content to encourage speculation without settling the question himself.
While Vance remains widely viewed as the early frontrunner thanks to his position as vice president and close alignment with Trump’s political movement, Rubio’s growing stature within the administration has made him impossible to ignore in conversations about the GOP’s post-Trump future.
And despite the president’s playful “dream team” comments this week, Trump has repeatedly emphasized one thing above all else: the race to succeed him is still far from decided.
Who will Trump tap to serve in his administration?
Susie Wiles, a veteran political operative who worked closely with President-elect Trump during his campaign, is making history as the first female Chief of Staff.
Sources within Trump’s transition team and others close to the former president’s campaign confirmed to Fox News that Wiles was reportedly the frontrunner for White House chief of staff – the person who oversees the Executive Office of the President before Trump made the announcement on Thursday.
Trump, during his victory celebration in West Palm Beach late Tuesday night, gave special thanks to Wiles for her prominent role throughout the campaign.
“Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie [Wiles] and Chris [LaCivita], the job you did. Susie, come, Susie,” Trump said, inviting her up to the microphone, but Wiles refrained from making comments.
“Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The ice baby. We call her the ice baby. Susie likes to stay in the background. She’s not in the background,” Trump added. “Thank you, Susie.”
NBC News also reported that Wiles is seen as the frontrunner to become Trump’s chief of staff. Two sources in Trump’s political orbit didn’t wave Fox News off the reporting.
Wiles currently serves as a senior adviser to Trump and his campaign co-chair alongside Chris LaCivita.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was previously floated as a possible contender for chief of staff, but recently told “The Guy Benson Show” that he would not take the position if it was offered.
“People always ask if I’m going to be chief of staff, no I’m not going to be… that’s a no,” he said.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
