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Insiders Say Trump Has Finally Settled On His 2028 Favorite

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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is increasingly signaling that Vice President JD Vance is his preferred heir to the MAGA movement, according to multiple White House insiders, though the president has stopped short of offering a formal endorsement for the 2028 Republican nomination.

The reports suggest Trump has moved away from privately weighing Vance against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and now speaks more confidently about the vice president’s political future.

White House Sources Point To Vance

According to Axios, White House aides say Trump has begun making comments such as “JD looks great” and no longer frames the question as a choice between Vance and Rubio. One administration source told Axios that “JD is earning it, and Trump sees it.”

The turning point for Vance reportedly came in mid-June when he joined presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in helping negotiate the memorandum of understanding with Iran, a key step toward ending the conflict.

The diplomatic breakthrough coincided with the June 16 release of Vance’s book, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith.” Already scheduled for a promotional tour, Vance received additional national exposure because of his prominent role in the negotiations.

Vance conducted 33 interviews during June, appearing on conservative podcasts, at White House press briefings, in informal media gaggles, and on programs across the political spectrum, including HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” and ABC’s “The View.”

One Trump adviser told Axios that although the president does not watch “The View,” he saw clips from Vance’s appearance and was pleased with what he saw.

Trump Hasn’t Made It Official

Despite the reports, Trump has not publicly endorsed Vance as his successor.

Over the past year, the president has repeatedly praised both Vance and Rubio while emphasizing that the next presidential election remains years away. He has previously suggested that the vice president would naturally have an advantage but has also described Rubio as a strong potential leader.

Political observers note that withholding a formal endorsement allows Trump to maintain influence within the Republican Party while avoiding an early succession battle.

Rubio Remains An Influential Figure

Rubio continues to be viewed as one of the administration’s most influential officials, but allies say he has shown little interest in challenging Vance for the Republican nomination.

The secretary of state has publicly praised Vance and has previously indicated he would support the vice president if he decides to seek the White House in 2028.

2028 Race Already Taking Shape

Although the Republican presidential primary is still more than two years away, speculation about Trump’s eventual successor has intensified as potential candidates build fundraising networks and expand their national profiles.

For now, Trump has not formally anointed a successor. But according to White House insiders, the president increasingly appears to view Vance as the leading contender to carry the MAGA banner after he leaves office.

READ NEXT: Stephen A. Smith Predicts Democrats’ New Direction Could Cost Them Everything

Report: Bannon Told Epstein Trump Should Be Removed Via 25th Amendment

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Thor Brødreskift / Nordiske Mediedager, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Newly released Epstein files include private messages from 2018 between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein, revealing previously undisclosed political discussions involving President Donald Trump.

According to reporting based on the documents, Bannon described Trump in late 2018 as “beyond borderline” and referenced the 25th Amendment, the constitutional mechanism for removing a president who is unable to perform the duties of the office.

The remarks were made in private correspondence and were not public at the time. (RELATED: Report: Only Roughly 2% Of Epstein Files Public As DOJ Says ‘All’ Released)

As Mediaite’s Isaac Shorr reports:

Bannon has come under fire from a wide variety of critics — including conservatives — in recent days over his his relationship with Epstein.

Documents released by the Department of Justice revealed that on the very day Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking in July 2019, he was texting with Bannon about the aforementioned documentary.

A few months before that, Bannon advised Epstein: “First we need to push back on the lies ; then crush the pedo/trafficking narrative ; then rebuild your image as a philanthropist.”

Another text exchange between the two men, dated Dec. 31, 2018, is under intense scrutiny.

The conversation reads:

EPSTEIN: Hell of. Year. Next will be biblicl

BANNON: We either own 2019 or it will surely own us

EPSTEIN: Im back in the f and b biz only

BANNON: F and B director

EPSTEIN: No it does not stand for fck and blw

EPSTEIN: Spoke to my dems. This weekend. Boy are emotions running high

BANNON: Going to blow him up right our of the box– WH has zero plan to punch back– Fort Apache with no cavalry enroute

EPSTEIN: And no soldiers in the fort. He really is borderline. Not sure what he may do.

BANNON: I think it’s beyond borderline — 25 amendment

The records show the two men exchanged hundreds of messages about media coverage, legal matters, and political strategy. Some messages indicate Epstein offered advice on messaging and reputation management. (RELATED: New Documents Show Bannon Reached Out To Epstein During Vatican Fight)

The communications also reference handling critical coverage following the Miami Herald’s 2018 investigative series on Epstein, which is widely credited with prompting renewed federal scrutiny and Epstein’s eventual 2019 arrest.

The documents do not allege criminal conduct related to the exchanges.

Marine Le Pen Launches 2027 Presidential Bid After Court Clears Path Despite Conviction

The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

PARIS — French nationalist leader Marine Le Pen announced Tuesday that she will run for president in 2027 after a Paris appeals court upheld her conviction for misusing European Union funds but reduced her sentence and shortened her ban from holding public office, allowing her to remain on the ballot.

The ruling preserves one of Europe’s most consequential political candidacies at a time when Le Pen and her National Rally party are leading opinion polls ahead of next year’s election. With President Emmanuel Macron constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term, the race is widely viewed as the strongest opportunity yet for France’s nationalist movement to capture the presidency.

Court Upholds Conviction, Reduces Penalty

The appeals court affirmed Le Pen’s conviction for diverting European Parliament funds to pay National Rally employees instead of parliamentary assistants.

Judges sentenced her to three years in prison, with two years suspended and one year to be served under electronic monitoring, along with a €100,000 fine. The court also shortened her period of political ineligibility, clearing the way for her presidential campaign.

Le Pen immediately vowed to challenge the decision before France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation.

Under French law, that appeal suspends enforcement of her sentence — including the electronic monitoring requirement and political restrictions — while the case is reviewed, allowing her to campaign without immediate legal constraints.

‘Tonight, I Am a Candidate’

Appearing on French television shortly after the ruling, Le Pen left little doubt about her intentions.

“Tonight, I am a candidate in the presidential election,” she declared, while maintaining that she had committed no crime and describing the prosecution as politically motivated.

WATCH:

The legal battle is expected to continue for months, but the appeals ruling removes the most immediate obstacle to her fourth presidential campaign.

Polls Show National Rally in Strong Position

Le Pen enters the race from a position of unusual political strength.

Recent polling by major French firms has consistently placed either Le Pen or her National Rally protégé, Jordan Bardella, between roughly 31% and 36% in first-round voting — historically high numbers this far ahead of a presidential election. Pollsters say National Rally has never polled this strongly so early in a campaign.

Several surveys also indicate Le Pen would be highly competitive in a second-round runoff against leading centrist contenders, including former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.

Relationship With Trump Has Changed

Although Le Pen praised Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory and was once viewed as one of his closest political allies in Europe, she has deliberately distanced herself from the president in recent years.

As she works to broaden her appeal among mainstream conservative and center-right French voters, Le Pen has sought to present National Rally as a governing party rather than a protest movement.

That strategy has included publicly criticizing Trump on several occasions. During a dispute last month between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Le Pen sided with Meloni and described Trump’s remarks as “very insulting.” She has also broken with the president on aspects of U.S. military intervention and European defense policy.

Legal Battle Continues

The case stems from allegations that National Rally improperly used millions of euros in European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016 to pay party staff working in France rather than parliamentary assistants assigned to Brussels.

Le Pen has consistently denied intentionally violating the rules and says the prosecution reflects an effort to sideline one of France’s leading opposition figures.

Whether France’s highest court ultimately upholds or overturns the conviction remains uncertain. For now, however, the appeals ruling has ensured that the country’s leading nationalist candidate will remain in the race, setting up what is expected to be one of Europe’s most closely watched elections in a generation.

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Will Lackluster Midterm Results Deter Trump 2024 Announcement?

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Gage Skidmore Flickr

Tuesday’s midterms produced lackluster results as ballots continue to be tallied across the country. While the red tsunami appeared to be more of a wave Republicans and Democrats are still waiting to know which party will control the House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday morning.

The midterm results have spurred questions about Trump’s potential plan to announce his third presidential campaign next week. The former president has been heavily involved throughout the midterms but some are left wondering if Trump will push his announcement.

During an interview with Markie Martin on NewsNation ahead of the midterms Trump noted he’s made over 300 endorsements.

“You’ve endorsed more than 330 candidates this election cycle,” Martin said. “Tonight, win or lose, the results for Republicans, how much of that will be because of Donald Trump?”

“Well, I think if they win, I should get all the credit. And if they lose, I should not be blamed at all, okay?” Trump said. “But it’ll probably be just the opposite. When they win, I think they’re going to do very well, I’ll probably be given very little credit even though in many cases I told people to run and they ran and they turned out to be very good candidates. You know, they’ve turned out to be very good candidates.”

“But usually what would happen is when they do well, I won’t be given any credit and if they do badly, they will blame everything on me,” he continued. “So I’m prepared for anything, but we’ll defend ourselves.”

Advisers close to Trump say the former president is certainly running but he’s yet to make any formal announcement as doing so will link him to specific election laws.

During a Monday evening rally in Ohio, former President Trump declared he plans to make a “big announcement” next Tuesday.

“I’m going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla.,” Trump said toward the end of a rally near Dayton, Ohio, where he was campaigning for a host of candidates in the state, including Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance.

“We want nothing to distract from the importance of tomorrow,” Trump said.

Vance won his race against Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan Tuesday night.

“I can’t thank President Trump enough for his support,” Vance said. “His endorsement and the work he did to drive turnout – including a huge rally in Dayton on election eve – made all the difference in this race, and led us to the largest battleground victory in the nation.”

Mitch McConnell Will Not Seek Senate Re-election

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A stunning development…

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday will announce that he is not seeking reelection in 2026, bringing an end to the longest-serving Senate leader’s political career.

“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell will say, according to prepared remarks.

“Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”

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

Report: Judge Unseals More Documents In Trump Investigation

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A new development…

The judge in former President Donald Trump’s federal election interference case ordered more documents to be revealed from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the former president just weeks before the 2024 election. 

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered on Thursday night that additional documents be made public. 

The documents pertain to the appendix of exhibits in the fight over whether Trump has a level of presidential immunity that negates the charges against him. 

Much of what readers are able to review is already public, including transcripts from the now-disbanded House Jan. 6 committee, press releases from various secretaries of state, the text of  Trump’s rally speech and phone call with Georgia officials, and even real election certificates showing President Biden as the winner of the 2020 contest. One of the exhibits appears to review much of Trump’s then-Twitter activity from the period of the election.

Chutkan cited in the order Trump’s claim that the “asymmetric release of charged allegations and related documents during early voting creates a concerning appearance of election interference.” 

According to the judge, while there is a public interest for courts to avoid involving themselves in elections, “it is in fact Defendant’s requested relief that risks undermining that public interest.”

She added that the court would continue keeping political considerations out of decisions, despite the defense’s request. 

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


Trump Endorses Former Fox News Host In California Gubernatorial Race

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind former Fox News host Steve Hilton in California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, issuing a forceful endorsement as Republicans look to compete in a state long dominated by Democrats.

“I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post announcing his backing.

He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell. Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job. People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World. Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before! Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. He will be a GREAT Governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP.

Hilton is one of more than a dozen Republicans vying for their party’s nomination in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. A former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Hilton later became a prominent conservative media figure in the U.S., hosting The Next Revolution on Fox News from 2017 to 2023.

His candidacy has also drawn support from high-profile conservative figures, including former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and actor Jon Voight, helping to elevate his profile in an already crowded GOP field.

On the Democratic side, the race is shaping up to be equally competitive — and potentially fragmented. Declared candidates include Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, and billionaire donor Tom Steyer, with the possibility of additional entrants. Because California uses a “top-two” primary system — where all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election — a crowded Democratic field could split the vote.

That dynamic has, in past elections, created an opening for Republicans to consolidate support behind a single candidate and potentially secure a spot in the general election, even in a heavily blue state. If Democratic voters divide their support among multiple well-funded contenders, it raises the possibility — however narrow — of an unexpected general election matchup.

Hilton, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in London, has leaned into his outsider profile and policy background. In addition to his media career, he has been active in policy circles and previously called for investigations into alleged voter fraud following the 2020 presidential election.

Trump’s endorsement gives Hilton an early boost in the Republican primary and signals where the former president’s political influence may shape the race. It also aligns Hilton closely with Trump’s broader message on crime, taxes, and governance — themes Republicans hope will resonate with voters frustrated by California’s high cost of living and quality-of-life concerns.

The 2026 election will determine who replaces Newsom, who cannot seek another term due to term limits. While Democrats remain favored in statewide contests, the structure of the primary — combined with a divided field — could make this race more competitive than usual, particularly if one Republican emerges as a clear standard-bearer.

Trump Drops Unexpected New VP Shortlist

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Some new names and faces…

Former President Donald Trump floated a list of four names for VP that to much surprise did not include Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) or Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) who have been loyal Trump supporters.

However, in an exclusive post-rally interview with News 12 New Jersey’s Tara Rosenblum at Crotona Park in the Bronx, Trump didn’t have either of them on his mind.

When Rosenblum pushed Trump to “make news” and name some names, Trump initially said he didn’t want to — then dropped four names a few seconds later that included one Black candidate who isn’t Scott or Donalds and one Hispanic candidate who mocked Trump’s penis size in 2016:

TARA ROSENBLUM: So if not Nikki, then who? Let’s make some news tonight. You and I, for your hometown TV station. Share with me. Share with me your top three candidates for your running mate at this point.

DONALD TRUMP: Well, we have so many. I don’t want to do that, but we have so many. You could take people like Ben Carson. You could take people like Marco Rubio, JD Vance.

I mean, there are so many. Elise is doing a fantastic job here. But but I could go on for quite a long time. We have many people that would do a really fantastic job.

TARA ROSENBLUM: Do you have a timeline on when you’ll make the decision?

DONALD TRUMP: Sometime during the convention?

Report: Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty In Georgia Election Interference Case

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Tom Williams, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell pled guilty in the Georgia election subversion case brought forward by Fulton County DA Fani Willis.

Per reports from The Hill, Powell appeared before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Thursday to enter her plea, just days before her trial was scheduled to begin next week.

“How do you plead to the six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties?” asked Daysha Young, a Fulton County prosecutor. 

“Guilty,” Powell said. 

McAfee accepted Powell’s plea and said that she could not withdraw it. Powell was sentenced to six years’ probation, a $6,000 fine and $2,700 restitution. She will also be required to “testify truthfully” in future proceedings and must turn over any documents requested by the district attorney’s office.  

CNN’s Marshall Cohen reports that as part of her guilty plea, Powell will be required to testify at future trials and write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, prosecutors said at a hearing Thursday.”

Powell is the second of 19 co-defendants in the case to plead guilty. 

Powell was indicted on seven charges in August, accusing her and the others of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act statute by entering a months-long conspiracy to try to keep Donald Trump in the White House following the 2020 election. 

This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

Kellyanne Conway Drops Major Hint on Trump’s Impending 2024 Announcement

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Longtime Donald Trump strategist Kellyanne Conway gave shocking insight into the former president’s long-awaited 2024 election announcement.

When asked when Trump plans to make a formal election announcement Conway revealed the former president will likely make it public following the midterm elections.

Conway noted that some in Trump’s circle had urged him to announce before the midterms, but she and others advised him against doing so and potentially stepping on Republicans’ chances of taking back both chambers of Congress. 

“I give him a ton of credit for not announcing this year, for not stepping in the way of midterm candidates. […] I think you can expect him to announce soon,” Conway said at a Christian Science Monitor event.

https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1588228184746631168

Trump has recently made more subtle hints about his 2024 plans while in public. During recent appearances, Trump’s small but noticeable shift in language is considered a key indicator he’s preparing to make his announcement.

Last year, Trump told Fox News and other outlets he would “probably” wait until after the 2022 midterm elections to formally announce whether he will launch another White House bid, saying the timeline was “probably appropriate.”

However, at a rally in Robstown, Texas, on Oct. 22, Trump slightly altered his messaging, saying he will “probably have to do it again,” in what advisers close to him tell Fox News Digital is a “clear sign” of his plans.

“I ran twice,” Trump said. “And now in order to make our country successful, safe and glorious again, I will probably have to do it again.”

Trump advisors and those around him told Fox News Digital that they believe it is not a question of “if” Trump is going to run for president again in 2024, but “when” he is going to announce his campaign.

In his final week of campaigning, Trump is focused on get-out-the-vote efforts, but sources close to him tell Fox News Digital that he sees his involvement in early primaries in key battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Michigan as “key tests,” noting that the outcomes of those races will be “important” to, what some call, an “inevitable” decision.

A new report from The New York Times indicates Trump already has a potential date for the announcement and multiple advisers. According to sources close to the former President, Trump is eyeing November 14th as the potential date he announces his third presidential campaign.

Trump’s daughter, Tiffany Trump is scheduled to get married at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Nov. 12. An announcement could come shortly after that event.