Today in Campaign 2016
Donald Trump may have wanted to devote today to Hillary Clinton, but affirming his hatred of mosquitos, fondness for Saddam Hussein’s willingness to execute terrorists without due process and tweeting a late-night screengrab of a book of Frozen stickers to counter accusations of antisemitism has pretty much laid those plans to rest.
- Donald Trump defended a controversial tweet that many considered antisemitic and reiterated his praise for Saddam Hussein on Wednesday in a rambling, unscripted campaign rally that will compound the fears of Republicans who question if their candidate has the discipline to reach the White House.
- The billionaire’s rekindling of two controversies distracted from the difficult week being endured by his Democratic adversary, Hillary Clinton, who was excoriated by the FBI over her “extremely careless” use of emails.
- Also, he tweeted this:
Where is the outrage for this Disney book? Is this the 'Star of David' also?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 7, 2016
Dishonest media! #Frozen pic.twitter.com/4LJBpSm8xa
- Bonus points: The photograph apparently originated with an alt-right Twitter celebrity.
- Attorney general Loretta Lynch closed the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email practices with no charges on Wednesday, formally ending a protracted saga that has clouded her campaign with questions of trustworthiness. “Late this afternoon, I met with FBI director James Comey and career prosecutors and agents who conducted the investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email system during her time as secretary of state,” Lynch said in a statement. “I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, yearlong investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation.”
In record time, Hillary Clinton has responded to Donald Trump’s Frozen tweet:
Do you want to build a strawman? https://t.co/AoeNTJOGpo
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
Donald Trump’s most recent tweet containing a six-pointed star may soon be deleted, but the Twitterverse’s reaction thereto has been swift:
I didn't know Elsa was a sheriff
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) July 7, 2016
1. This picture is missing piles of money and "corrupt!" 2. Was not spread on white supremacist message board. https://t.co/09OqjfLU9E
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) July 7, 2016
#CrookedElsa #ArendelleFirst https://t.co/T0Z35kM6ZU
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) July 7, 2016
♫ Let it go ♫ No, seriously, let it go ♫ https://t.co/aRs6wNYbki
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) July 7, 2016
Trump apparently sourced his tweet from Reddit:
.@realDonaldTrump stole his Frozen defense from Reddit https://t.co/jifFyyzvCQ pic.twitter.com/SvipaJZqDu
— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) July 7, 2016
Donald Trump is tweeting about Frozen.
Where is the outrage for this Disney book? Is this the 'Star of David' also?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 7, 2016
Dishonest media! #Frozen pic.twitter.com/4LJBpSm8xa
A British man has pled not guilty to charges that he tried to steal a police officer’s gun to shoot Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
20-year-old Michael Sanford, from the town of Dorking in England, was arrested and taken into custody at a Trump rally at the Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas on 21 June after trying to grab the pistol at the hip of a police officer protecting Trump, according to a report by the secret service.
Sandford stood wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit with his federal public defense attorneys during his brief arraignment. He responded “yes, I do” when US magistrate judge Cam Ferenbach asked whether he understood the nature of the charges against him.
After he was arrested, Sandford told officers that he had intended to kill Trump, and said that he had purchased tickets to another event later that day in Phoenix, Arizona, as backup. He had driven to Las Vegas from San Bernardino, California, that day specifically to shoot the Republican nominee, the report said.
Hillary Clinton has issued a statement following news that the Department of Justice is opening a civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“The death of Alton Sterling is a tragedy, and my prayers are with his family, including his five children,” Clinton said. “From Staten Island to Baltimore, Ferguson to Baton Rouge, too many African American families mourn the loss of a loved one from a police-involved incident. Something is profoundly wrong when so many Americans have reason to believe that our country doesn’t consider them as precious as others because of the color of their skin.
“I am glad the Department of Justice has agreed to a full and thorough review of this shooting. Incidents like this one have undermined the trust between police departments and the communities they serve. We need to rebuild that trust. We need to ensure justice is served. That begins with common sense reforms like ending racial profiling, providing better training on de-escalation and implicit bias, and supporting municipalities that refer the investigation and prosecution of police-involved deaths to independent bodies. All over America, there are police officers demonstrating how to protect the public without resorting to unnecessary force. We need to learn from and build on those examples.
“Progress is possible if we stand together and never waver in our fight to secure the future that every American deserves.”
Hillary Clinton is apparently more than happy to hear rumors of Donald Trump joining forces with former House speaker Newt Gingrich.
Newly discovered footage that could destroy Donald Trump’s campaign if everyone saw it: https://t.co/X9rJ0SCUXr
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 6, 2016
“We’re gonna start winning again, folks,” Donald Trump promises the audience in closing.
“When we were young, we never lost a war,” Trump says. “We never win a war - we never win a battle, we never win anything.”
“I want a president that’s gonna knock the hell out of Isis,” Trump says. “I want a president that’s gonna make great trade deals, I want a president that’s gonna create strong boarders.”
“We’re gonna win - we’re gonna win so much ... that the people of Ohio are going to call your representatives,” Trump says, to say that “we’re winning too much.”
“Mister President, sir, we’re winning too much! The people of Ohio can’t stand it, we’re winning too much and they’re not used to it!”
A mosquito lands on the lectern near Donald Trump, who then smashes it.
Donald Trump swats mosquito: "Speaking of mosquitoes, hello Hillary, how are you doing?" https://t.co/UYpqI3w42L https://t.co/Im4XruT6EY
— CNN (@CNN) July 6, 2016
“I don’t like mosquitos!” he tells the crowd, to inexplicable cheers. “Never liked mosquitos.”
“Speaking of mosquitos: Hello, Hillary, how are you doing?”
The audience roars.
Updated
Eric Trump takes the stage.
“My father is just the greatest,” he says. “As a family we love him, and thank you for loving him.”
“We are gonna a beat Crooked Hillary Clinton, there’s no question about it!”
Chuck Todd appears to be taking Donald Trump’s criticism - and new nickname - in stride:
I've been sleeping, what I miss?
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) July 6, 2016
Donald Trump: 'Newt Gingrich is going to be involved in our government'
Donald Trump namechecks a supporter who called on him to add Bernie Sanders to his ticket, a thought that horrifies the audience - and prompts them into chanting “Newt! Newt! Newt!”
Trump seems taken aback.
“I like that, too! We like Newt! And I’ll tell you what - Newt has been my friend for a long time, and I’m not saying anything and I’m not telling even Newt anything, but I can tell you that, in one form or another, Newt Gingrich is going to be involved in our government, okay?
“He’s smart, he’s tough, he gets it, and he says that I’m the biggest thing that he’s seen in politics.”
Donald Trump returns to slamming Chuck Todd regarding his critique of Trump’s speech in Raleigh, North Carolina last night.
“And after a long time, I dunno, many many minutes,” Trump continues. “But he’s talking about, ‘he had an opportunity to hit Hillary Clinton’!”
“The problem is, I’m a professional, and I’m hitting her so hard, and it doesn’t mean anything, and the system is so rigged, it’s so broken.”
“When I saw NBC, Sleepy Eyes chuck Todd this morning,” Trump says, before impersonating Todd with his typical Thurston Howell III accent.
Donald Trump, on why he doesn’t attack Hillary Clinton:
The problem is, I’m a professional.
We sense that this will eventually become a part of Donald Trump’s shtick, along with frustration that television cameras don’t swivel to cover the size of his crowds.
Now Trump is yet again expressing his befuddlement that Bill Clinton could talk about his grandchildren for more than one minute
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 6, 2016
Donald Trump: Critics who allege anti-Semitism are 'sick'
Donald Trump defends social media chief Dan Scavino’s tweeting of a controversial image that originated on white supremacist message boards, calling critics who viewed the tweet “sick.”
“He put out a tweet talking about Crooked Hillary Clinton, and under the tweet was a star. Like, a star! A star,” Trump said of Scavino. “It turned out to be, in the minds of the press only, could have been a sheriff’s, a regular star. My boy, Barron, comes home from school, draws stars all day…”
“So actually, they’re racially profiling - they’re profiling, not us. Why do they bring this up?”
“CNN, from morning ’til night, bigger than the FBI, dishonest as hell, CNN, morning to night, I have tweets where they’re saying, ‘CNN won’t talk about anything but the star.’ They say it’s the Star of David. I have a son-in-law who’s Jewish, Jared, he’s a great guy. My daughter is Jewish,” Trump continues. “CNN started this dialogue going, ‘it’s the Star of David, and because it’s the Star of David, Donald Trump has racist tendencies.’ These people are sick, I tell you. They’re sick. They’re sick.”
“They’re the ones with the bad tendencies when they can think that way,” Trump continues. “These are sick people, they’re bad people, they’re bad people.”
Updated
Donald Trump proposes creation of 'safe zones' in Syria financed by Gulf states
“We are a very unsafe nation - we are allowing people to pour into our country, we are allowing people to pour into our country, we have no idea who they are,” Trump continues. “I’ll get the Gulf states to commit the money, I’ll supervise it… and we’ll build safe zones in Syria! We’ll build safe zones.”
“It’s very sad,” Trump says, of the attorney general’s decision to close the FBI’s investigation into Clinton. “We have a crooked system, we have a rigged system, we have a dishonest press.”
“Rigged!” a man shouts from the audience in affirmation.
“We have a rigged system, we have a crooked system, I mean, we have a crooked system,” Trump continues, before reiterating a frequent assertion that the political press covering his campaign are crooked. “There’s a guy on Meet the Press called Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd.”
“So I watched, like, yesterday, and I said Saddam Hussein is a bad man - you hear this, right, you heard this - he’s a bad man,” Trump says. “Bad guy, and I said it three or four times. Really bad! ‘Cause I know what they’re gonna do. But one thing he’s good at… bad guy, Saddam Hussein, bad guy. I said again, Saddam Hussein is a and guy! But he did one thing well! He killed terrorists, right? That’s okay! Just a quick statement.”
“So what happened, what happened, Is aid it very strongly, bad person, we talked about terrorism, we talked about trade, we talked about terminating Obamacare and replacing it with something great, which we’re gonna do, we talked about common core…”
Trump then trails off for about four minutes, before saying that he woke up to find that the media narrative had turned into: “‘Donald Trump loves Saddam Hussein! He loves Saddam Hussein!’” in a Thurston Howell-esque voice.
Donald Trump, speaking in Cincinnati, apparently got the memo to address Hillary Clinton’s email controversy after Attorney General Loretta Lynch followed the FBI’s recommendation to close the investigation in the former secretary of state’s use of private email servers during her tenure.
“Saying ‘no problem, no problem, no problem.’ I wrote out a few things about Crooked Hillary, crooked, she’s so crooked,” Trump says. “She made so many false statements. Is she gonna be brought before Congress or something, is something going to happen? Is something going to happen? ’Cause it’s a disgrace.”
“Hillary’s secret email server existed for the reason we all know: to keep her emails from being read by the public,” Trump continues. “She said something very different to everybody. By the way, how about the 33,000 emails that were wiped out?”
“Hillary Clinton said she turned over all of her related emails, she said that. I saw that,” Trump continued. “The FBI director said that Hillary failed to turn over several thousand work-related emails, including emails that were classified. Rigged system, folks! I’m the one who brought that word up, now everybody is using it!”
“These are all lies - lie, lie, lie. Dirty rotten liar!”
Donald Trump, speaking in Cincinnati, Ohio, after being introduced by former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich, says that he plans on visiting the state so much that “You’re gonna be so sick of me!”
“We really have a movement going - this is a movement like people have never seen before,” Trump says. “We have thousands of people outside trying to get in.”
Newt Gingrich introduces Donald Trump in Ohio
The rumored contender for a spot on Donald Trump’s ticket has taken the stage in Cincinnati:
Former House speaker and rumored vice presidential contender Newt Gingrich is hosting a Facebook Live stream shortly before he is expected to take the stage with Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, this evening:
Update: The stream lasted for roughly thirty seconds. Here’s the rush transcript:
NEWT: “You’re now on Facebook.”
TRUMP: “Wow, that’s fantastic.”
NEWT: “We’re going to create lots of jobs.”
TRUMP: “And a lot of safety.”
Updated
AP: Attorney general to close investigation of Hillary Clinton, no criminal charges filed
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Attorney General Loretta Lynch has accepted FBI director James Comey’s recommendation to close the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of personal email servers during her tenure as secretary of state, with no charges to be brought against Clinton or any other individuals.
“Late this afternoon, I met with FBI director James Comey and career prosecutors and agents who conducted the investigation into Secretary Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email system during her time as Secretary of State,” Lynch said in the statement. “I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, year-long investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation.”
Lynch’s statement comes a little more than 24 hours after Comey announced that, despite the “extremely careless” way in which emails were handled, the FBI would not be recommending that prosecutors seek charges in the case.
“Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes,” Comey stated yesterday, “our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case,” said Comey.
Updated
The Kushner dynasty isn’t totally unified on the question of Donald Trump:
Different take-away from our Grandparents' experience. We must speak out against hate. Anti-semitism or otherwise. https://t.co/zOuDSXNsa5
— marc kushner (@marchitizer) July 6, 2016
A partial list of Republican senators who have either hedged on joining Donald Trump during his meeting with the body on Thursday, or have said they will skip it altogether:
- Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire
- Mark Kirk of Illinois
- John McCain of Arizona
- Rand Paul of Kentucky
- Rob Portman of Ohio
- Marco Rubio of Florida
- Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
Each of the senators is up for reelection this cycle, and most are seen as vulnerable to Democratic challengers in a year where the minority party sees retaking the upper chamber of Congress as within its reach.
Newt Gingrich will apparently be on Facebook Live tonight with Donald Trump:
Excited to do a @facebook live with @realDonaldTrump today at 6:20pET. Tune in > https://t.co/8EPREmItap
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) July 6, 2016
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has issued a blistering statement in response to Representative Jason Chaffetz’s request that FBI director James Comey appear to testify before the House committee on oversight and government reform following his decision to recommend that Clinton not be charged in relation to her use of private email servers during her tenure as secretary of state.
“One week after their two-year investigation into the Benghazi attacks turned up nothing new, House Republicans are launching yet another taxpayer-funded sham of an inquiry to try to hurt Hillary Clinton politically,” issued spokesperson Brian Fallon in the statement. “For weeks Republicans have said they trusted FBI Director Comey to lead an independent review into Secretary Clinton’s emails, but now they are second-guessing his judgment because his findings do not align with their conspiracy theories.”
“The bottom line is the career officials who handled this case have determined that no further action is appropriate here, no matter how much Republicans may seek to continuing politicizing this.”
At a press conference on Tuesday, Comey announced that, despite the “extremely careless” way in which emails were handled, the FBI would not be recommending that prosecutors seek charges in the case. “Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes … our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case,” said Comey.
Report: Donald Trump to target 17 states in general election
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s political director told congressional Republicans earlier today that the campaign will be targeting 17 states as part of its strategy to win the November general election against Hillary Clinton, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The states in question - Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin - include traditionally red-leaning states that have swung to the middle due to demographic shifts (Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina), as well as some “reach” states that have not voted for a Republican presidential candidate in decades (Maine, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin).
Trump is apparently retreating from his previous pledges to compete in two of the most reliably Democratic states in the nation, California and New York, to focus on more traditional swing states - although in the case of Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina, Trump is defending what is typically safe territory for the Republican party.
After removing himself from contention to serve as Donald Trump’s running mate, Tennessee senator Bob Corker floated another potential candidate: Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
“His best running mate, by the way, would be Ivanka,” Corker told reporters after announcing that he was taking himself out of the running.
Sen. Bob Corker: Trump's “best running mate" would be Ivanka pic.twitter.com/Z1q4mtxWfX
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) July 6, 2016
“I know that wouldn’t pass muster, probably, but I don’t know that I’ve met a more composed, brilliant, beautiful-in-every-way person,” Corker said.
Although there would be electoral problems for a ticket composed of running mates from the same state, Ivanka would scrape by the only main constitutional hurdle: She turns 35, the minimum age for a president or vice president, one week before the general election.
Trump campaign has not yet converted $45m in loans to donations
The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs has more on Donald Trump’s announcement that his presidential campaign raised $51 million in June:
The fundraising haul comes as the Federal Election Commission (FEC) confirmed to the Guardian that Trump had yet to follow up on his late June promise to convert over $45m in loans to his campaign to donations. Trump bragged that he had done so in a 23 June announcement in order to boast donors’ confidence in his efforts and reassure those worried that he would use campaign funds to reimburse himself.
In a somewhat convoluted statement, Trump announced through fundraising emails his campaign had raised $19m and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, a joint effort of Trump and the RNC, had raised $6.6m. The campaign said 94% of donors to this effort gave less than $200.
Further, through high-dollar fundraising events held by the Trump Victory Fund, a combined effort of Trump, the RNC and state Republican parties, more than $25m had been raised. Despite the fact that the maximum that any one person can give to a presidential campaign is $5,400, the max donation to Trump Victory Fund is $449,000. The $25m also included money raised in the last week of May in addition to the month of June.
T-minus three hours until showtime...
Doors are now open for Donald Trump's rally near Cincinnati -- and the line keeps getting longer. pic.twitter.com/nQbg9xxd3V
— Jenna Johnson (@wpjenna) July 6, 2016
Donald Trump considering two generals for running mate
In a phone interview this afternoon with Fox News, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told the network that he has ten names on his list of potential running mates, including governors, members of the senate and two generals. Although Trump declined to reveal any names explicitly, he did imply that Iowa senator Joni Ernst, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Indiana governor Mike Pence are all in contention.
“I’m actually looking at ten people, and three or four called me up, very big names, senate and governors and all, and they want to be considered, and we’re looking very, very strongly,” Trump said. “I met with Joni. She’s terrific, supportive.”
“I’ll be seeing Newt later on,” Trump said, referring to a dual appearance later this evening at a campaign rally in Cincinnati. “And he’s... Newt is Newt. You know, great guy. Tough and smart. And just a fantastic guy.”
Although Trump stated that he is focusing on potential running mates with governing experience, he is open to considering current or former members of the military.
“I like the generals. I like the concept of generals,” Trump said. “We’re thinking about, actually - there are two of them that are under consideration. We - really, we’re looking to go more the political route in terms of getting legislation passed, which is what they do. And I think, frankly, we don’t want to do the executive orders, like Obama’s been doing. He just sits down, signs executive orders all day long. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work. So I really have been thinking in terms of the politicians, but we’re looking at two generals.”
Bygones are bygones, apparently.
Happy birthday to my good friend President #GeorgeWBush! #43turns70 pic.twitter.com/mPCGhFxF1L
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 6, 2016
New York Observer writer Dana Schwartz has responded to publisher Jared Kushner’s defense of Donald Trump from accusations of courting anti-Semitic voters, telling Politico via text message that the candidate’s son-in-law “deflected my point entirely.”
“The fact it’s up for debate, in July of an election year, whether or not a candidate is anti-Semitic is heartbreaking,” Schwartz said. “He deflected my point entirely: racist people are drawn to Donald Trump. That’s a fact.”
Kushner wrote in an essay published this morning that “my father-in-law is not an anti-Semite,” citing his relationship with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, who converted to Judaism before their marriage, as evidence.
Trump has been riffing on Fox News about whom he may pick for VP.
His memorable assessment of the former Representative from Georgia: “Newt is Newt”.
Trump earlier on Fox News said he's looking at 10 candidates for VP. 2 of them are army generals (assume former)
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) July 6, 2016
Trump on his VP shortlist of Fox:
— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) July 6, 2016
-Gingrich: “Newt is Newt”
-Pence: “He’s a great guy”
-Christie: “Great guy"
-considering 2 generals
Sanders agrees Clinton won 'fair and square'
But that doesn’t mean it’s over...
An exchange @wolfblitzer just had w/ @BernieSanders- agrees that Clinton won fair & square pic.twitter.com/fY5YUc0UuY
— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) July 6, 2016
Kushner feud with journalist escalates
Donald Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner has responded to an open letter by reporter Dana Schwartz challenging him to justify his support for Trump’s candidacy, which has been a magnet for anti-Semites, white supremacists and other bigots.
Schwartz, meanwhile, is busy on Twitter taking apart Kushner’s defense.
Schwartz’s open letter was published in the Observer, a New York-based newspaper Kushner owns, on Tuesday. Today Kushner responds in the Observer.
“My father-in-law is not an anti-Semite,” Kushner begins:
It’s that simple, really. Donald Trump is not anti-Semitic and he’s not a racist. Despite the best efforts of his political opponents and a large swath of the media to hold Donald Trump accountable for the utterances of even the most fringe of his supporters—a standard to which no other candidate is ever held—the worst that his detractors can fairly say about him is that he has been careless in retweeting imagery that can be interpreted as offensive.
He goes on to recount the dramatic story of his grandparents, both Holocaust survivors. He draws a contrast:
I go into these details, which I have never discussed, because it’s important to me that people understand where I’m coming from when I report that I know the difference between actual, dangerous intolerance versus these labels that get tossed around in an effort to score political points.
Read the full piece here. And here’s Schwarz rebutting the rebuttal:
Is Kushner blaming Trump's team for being careless or saying Donald tweeted that by himself? What is this sentence. pic.twitter.com/HNyZWetsCW
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 6, 2016
Also, Mr. Kushner, I'm not from New York so cut it out with that whole "outside your ken" new york values nonsense.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 6, 2016
At least Kushner admitted the jewish star tweet was a mistake, and a careless one, even if he's unwilling to address the hate it inspired.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 6, 2016
Also, this is a made-up problem. This doesn't exist. These messages of hate are from Donald Trump supporters. pic.twitter.com/q8TtM50UM2
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 6, 2016
The president and Clinton did not discuss the FBI investigation of her emails on their hourlong flight from DC to Charlotte yesterday, the press secretary says. Were they practicing their speeches?
White House says Pres. Obama and Hillary Clinton "did not discuss" investigation into her emails yesterday. https://t.co/zns8BmELdp
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 6, 2016
Clinton expands Ohio footprint
The Clinton camp will open three offices in Ohio this week, according to Cleveland.com: one each in Cleveland, Toledo, and Cincinnati.
Trump has yet to open any campaign offices in the state, according to the report.
Ernst: 'I'm focused on Iowa'
Shortly after senator Bob Corker told a reporter he was withdrawing from consideration as Trump’s vice president, senator Joni Ernst of Iowa has indicated that she is not up for the job, either.
“I made that very clear to him that I’m focused on Iowa,” Ernst told Politico of her meeting with Trump at the weekend:
I feel that I have a lot more to do in the United States Senate. And Iowa is where my heart is. I’m just getting started here. I have a great partner with Chuck Grassley, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot. And I think that President Trump will need some great assistance in the United States Senate and I can provide that.
Who’s left? Top names include former House speaker Newt Gingrich, senator Jeff Sessions and New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
It's just like the Apprentice except everyone is firing themselves. https://t.co/BgzJ4dX2BH
— Lily Adams (@adamslily) July 6, 2016
Update:
Corker tells @mkraju he's withdrawing from Trump's VP consideration & adds: "His best running mate, by the way, would be Ivanka"
— Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) July 6, 2016
It is my opinion that the entire Veepstakes process is very stupid and annoying.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) July 6, 2016
Updated
Trump announced on 23 June that he would be forgiving about $50m in loans to his campaign. But he never filed the paperwork. So far, according to the FEC:
Despite Trump's announced fundraising haul, FEC spox tells me that he's yet to file paperwork converting campaign loans to contributions
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 6, 2016
Trump camp announces big fundraising numbers
The Trump campaign has announced that they raised more than $50m in June.
Hilary Clinton reported that she raised nearly $70m in June: $40.5m for her campaign and $28m for the national committee and state parties.
Trump reportedly raised about $26m for the campaign plus about $25m for national and state operations.
Here’s the breakdown from a statement issued by Trump:
The campaign’s newly established digital and small dollar operation rolled out fundraising emails which resulted in over $26 million dollars in donations for June ($19.9 million DJTFP efforts, and $6.6 million through TMAGA). This was made possible with over 400,000 supporters, with 94% of our supporters giving under $200. The first email solicitation, which contained an unprecedented $2 million match from Donald J. Trump, exceeded our goal, collecting over $3 million in contributions in one day. Donald J. Trump personally contributed $3.8 million to the campaign this month which brings total contributions to $55 million.[...]
The campaign, in conjunction with the RNC, also hosted 22 fundraising events throughout the country for Trump Victory, with contributions exceeding $25 million (which includes the last week of May and June). The Campaign is committed to working with the RNC to support its important operations for the Republican Party.
Earlier today Trump tweeted this:
Raised a lot of money for the Republican Party. There will be a big gasp when the figures are announced in the morning. Lots of support! Win
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2016
Update / note:
Note that Romney raised combined $100m in same month four years ago. https://t.co/4CyinjpwWT
— Steve Peoples (@sppeoples) July 6, 2016
Updated
Hillary Clinton took the stage in Atlantic City under the shade of the now-closed Trump Plaza and Casino to make the case that the New York real estate developer would “bankrupt the country like he bankrupted his businesses” should he be elected in November, writes the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino in Atlantic City:
The backdrop anchored Clinton’s speech and helped her hone the message: “What he did here in Atlantic City is exactly what he will do if he becomes president in November.”
“It’s fair to ask, since he is applying for a job,” Clinton said, pausing for laughs, “What in the world happened here?”
The Plaza, once the crown jewel of the seaside city’s boardwalk, now stands abandoned with sun-faded red drapes still hanging in the window and the outline of Trump’s name still evident on the side of the building. It is one of the three hotels and casinos Trump opened in Atlantic City.
Clinton was introduced by Marty Rosenberg, the vice president of Atlantic Plate Glass Co, a New Jersey company contracted to work on the Trump Taj Mahal. Rosenberg said Trump owed the company nearly $1.5 million but it soon became clear that the developer would not be paying them for the work. Rosenberg helped organize a group of more than 100 contractors in negotiations with Trump over payments.
Clinton closed by asking the crowd that sprawled down the boardwalk to share what they know about Trump’s business prowess.
“It is the same scam over and over again,” Clinton said. “And make no mistake he’s not asking for forgiveness, he’s just hoping we forget.”
Updated
Clinton ignores questions about FBI findings
Clinton shook hands after her Atlantic City remarks but ignored questions about the FBI’s determination that 110 emails receiving classified information were sent from or received by her private account which was vulnerable to hackers in a setup deemed “extremely reckless” by director Comey.
Clinton took no questions while shaking hands with union members in front of the Trump Taj Mahal. https://t.co/odxCZtAY2N
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) July 6, 2016
Multiple reporters tried to ask Clinton about the FBI announcement - a topic she has yet to comment on. No response. https://t.co/KWQKamZFkm
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) July 6, 2016
Further reaction to the Clinton speech from team Trump:
Trump spox on CNN answering HRC charge he's only out for himself: "He believes in putting your oxygen mask on first before helping others"
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) July 6, 2016
Katrina Pierson brilliantly destroys talking point that Trump is only out for himself. Checkmate, liberals. https://t.co/FHWqCgI3cm
— Elliott Schwartz (@elliosch) July 6, 2016
Updated
Attorney general Loretta Lynch will testify before the House judiciary committee at 10am on 12 July – next Tuesday – the committee has announced:
AG Lynch to testify #HillaryClinton #OrlandoShooting #encryption #SanctuaryCities and more → https://t.co/plEfGcbTU6 pic.twitter.com/KlpdCe6mnH
— House Judiciary Cmte (@HouseJudiciary) July 6, 2016
Lynch’s trip to the Hill follows scheduled testimony Thursday by FBI director James Comey before the House oversight committee.
Corker withdraws a potential Trump running mate
Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the foreign relations chairman who appeared Tuesday at a campaign rally with Trump, has withdrawn from consideration to be Trump’s running mate, the Washington Post’s Robert Costa reports:
“There are people far more suited for being a candidate for vice president and I think I’m far more suited for other types of things,” Corker said in an extensive phone interview where he repeatedly praised Trump and said he is eager to serve as an informal adviser to the candidate.
Elsewhere in the Trump veepstakes, Iowa senator Joni Ernst has been awarded a prime-time Republican convention speaking slot, the New York Times reports.
Seems like that rules her out of being VP though https://t.co/HsGT5xSJ6b
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 6, 2016
Yet elsewhere in the veepstakes, senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the biggest Trump cheerleader in the chamber, is mum on whether he’s under consideration:
Amid hot veep chatter on Hill, @SenatorSessions won't say whether he's being vetted, whether he has submitted docs to Trump campaign
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) July 6, 2016
Trump on Atlantic City: bankruptcies ultimately saved jobs
In a statement replying to Clinton’s speech, Trump says “many of our country’s elite business people” use bankruptcy law “(but nobody cares about).”
But Trump is not giving himself enough credit: “no major U.S. company has filed for Chapter 11 more than Trump’s casino empire in the last 30 years,” CNN found.
“It is an effective and commonly used practice in business to use bankruptcy proceedings to restructure a business and ultimately save jobs,” Trump.
“Nobody understand the economy like I do,” he says.
INBOX: Donald J. Trump Statement on Atlantic City Record pic.twitter.com/tm008uEKFA
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 6, 2016
Bush on Chilcot: 'whole world is better off without Saddam Hussein'
The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs obtains a statement from George W Bush’s spokesman:
Statement from George W. Bush's spokesman on Chilcot Inquiry pic.twitter.com/yG4cBRGxnC
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 6, 2016
Walker endorses Trump – with measured enthusiasm
Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, who devoted his speech withdrawing from the presidential race to a call for others to do the same so that Donald Trump might be defeated, now has endorsed Donald Trump, though not by name:
Last August, I said I'd support the GOP nominee. It's now clear who the RNC delegates will vote to nominate. And he is better than she is.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) July 6, 2016
The ol' "I support a candidate I won't name out loud via indirect syllogism" endorsement https://t.co/KHJN62LcDC
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) July 6, 2016
Clinton says Trump “got rich by destroying other people in the process.”
Let’s just make sure we don’t put a person like this with his empty promises... in a position to destroy our lives.... we can’t let him roll the dice with our children’s futures.
We are stronger together, she says. And she’s out.
Clinton: Trump runs 'same scam over and over'
“I want you to understand what he did here in Atlantic City,” Clinton continues, consider what he will do as president:
Step 1: give a huge tax cut to millionaires like him
Step 2: add trillions to our national debt
Step 3: he suggested we could default on our debt
Clinton says, “it is the same scam over and over again... and make no mistake, he’s not asking for forgiveness, he’s just hoping we forget.
The people he’s asking to vote for him now are the same people he’s been exploiting for years.
THis seems to be his one move. He makes over-the-top promises, and says if people trust him... he’ll make them wildly successful. THen everything falls apart, people gets hurt, and Donald gets paid.
Those promises he’s making at his rallies, they’re the same promises he made to his customers at Trump University.
Clinton continues:
Remember what he promised I’m going to do for the country what I did for my business? Well we should believe him and make sure he never has the chance to bankrupt America the way he bankrupted his businesses.
I just want you to take all this information and tell everybody you can. ...
Trump furniture is made in Turkey... Trump suits were made in Mexico... Trump lamps were made in China... if he wants to make America great again, maybe he should start by actually making things in America again.
That last line is new:
Clinton: "If he wants to make America great again he should start by actually making some things in America"
— Chris Golden (@chrisgolden) July 6, 2016
Updated
Clinton says Trump goes bankrupt “over and over again on purpose” and leaves others holding the bag while he keeps “the plane, the helicopter the penthouse.” “He always rigged it so he got paid no matter how the companies performed.”
She says when the Plaza casino went under, hundreds lost jobs but “Donald Trump, he walked away with millions.”
“He actually brags about it.... ‘Atlantic City was a cash cow for me for many years’... ‘The money I took out of there was incredible’.”
“It’s not about what he can build, it’s about how much he can take,” Clinton says:
He went on Twitter and said, ‘I made a lot of money in Atlantic City and left’... he didn’t just take advantage of investors. He took advantage of working people as well.
I made a lot of money in Atlantic City and left 7 years ago, great timing (as all know). Pols made big mistakes, now many bankruptcies.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2016
Updated
Clinton: 'what in the world happened here'
Clinton gestures behind her, saying you can barely make out the outline of the Trump Plaza letters on the old hotel and casino.
He says “he had the letters taken down a few years ago but his presence remains,” Clinton says. And not far away is the old Trump marina. Down the boardwalk is the Trump Taj Mahal. “Donald once called it the eighth wonder of the world. It filed for bankruptcy in 2009,” she says.
“It’s fair to ask, since he is applying for a job, what in the world happened here?”
His excuse for all this failure is that Atlantic City just went downhill... but don’t believe it. His businesses were” failing well before the rest of the town. [...]
He calls himself the king of debt and he earned that title right here in AC. His bad decisions hurt the whole city.
Clinton: Chris Christie follows 'Trump holding his coat'
Clinton says “It is no secret that Atlantic City has gone through some tough times, but the people of this city are determined to turn it around.”
“If your governor would start doing his job instead of following Donald Trump holding his coat, maybe” we could get the economy started again, Clinton says.
Christie is booed, booed, booed.
Donald Trump cannot do the job for American workers and businesses... Donald Trump says he’s qualified to be president because of his business record.
When he says things like that, he’s probably hoping that nobody will check up... because what he did for his businesses and his workers is nothing to brag about. In fact, it’s shameful.
Here’s Clinton onstage. She’s with Marty Rosenberg, former vice president of Atlantic Plate Glass, who was owed $1.1 million for installing floor-to-ceiling curtain walls of glass for a Trump construction project.
Rosenberg “picked up the phone in his Atlantic City office and called one of Trump’s men overseeing construction,” the AP reported.
“I’ll check it out, Marty, and call you right back,” the man said. A day later, he got his answer: The money’s coming in two weeks.
The check never came.
Today Rosenberg tells the crowd:
I am here to help ensure... the manipulation of people by Trump will not continue on the national stage
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear shortly in front of faded Trump Plaza on the boardwalk in Atlantic City:
The boos are louder for Gov Chris Christie here at Clinton's Atlantic City, NJ event than they are for Donald Trump.
— Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) July 6, 2016
Updated
Here’s a link to a pdf of the Gretchen Carson complaint against Roger Ailes (thx @bencjacobs).
“Ailes has unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment,” the complaint alleges.
Jill Stein: prosecute Clinton
Green party presidential candidate Jill Stein calls for the prosecution of Hillary Clinton:
Green Party candidate Jill Stein out w/ tough, critical statement against Clinton and FBI decision pic.twitter.com/iOPAB1zvup
— MaryAlice Parks (@maryaliceparks) July 6, 2016
Trump to announce convention speakers
Trump tweets that his slate of convention speakers is all ready to roll out – but, in a brilliant flourish of self-control and message management, he’s not going to release it until Thursday, so that today may “be devoted to Crooked Hillary”:
Convention speaker schedule to be released tomorrow. Let today be devoted to Crooked Hillary and the rigged system under which we live.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2016
Clinton may have plans of her own for the national conversation, however. She is scheduled to appear on the Atlantic City boardwalk in front of a mothballed Trump property in about a half hour.
Clinton outspends Trump 15-1 on TV ads
An updated study by SMG Delta cited by NBC News finds that Hillary Clinton and pro-Clinton political groups have outspent Donald Trump and allies by more than $40m.
The Trump campaign itself, as opposed to outside political groups, “has yet to spend a single cent on a TV or radio ad in the general election,” NBC notes.
Here’s how the study breaks down total ad spending to date:
- Team Clinton: $45 million ($26 million from Priorities USA, $19 million from campaign)
- Team Trump: $2.8 million ($1.5 million from NRA, $1.3 million from Rebuilding America Now).
Trump has said he does not need TV ads because he benefits from free media coverage.
Fox anchor sues Roger Ailes in sexual harassment claim
Fox News host Gretchen Carlson has filed a lawsuit accusing network chairman Roger Ailes with firing her after she “rebuffed Ailes’ sexual demands”, CNN reports:
I'm reading the Gretchen Carlson complaint now. It says "Carlson rebuffed Ailes' sexual demands... and, nine months later, ended her career"
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 6, 2016
Ailes is the head of Fox News, one of the most powerful men in media. I have emailed and called Fox News for comment.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 6, 2016
Carlson has posted the news of her departure from Fox on Twitter and Facebook.
As you may have heard, I'm no longer with @FoxNews. I value your support and friendship so please stay in touch: https://t.co/R7JBTsvYSh
— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) July 6, 2016
The Facebook statement reads:
As you may have heard, I am no longer with Fox News. I value your support and friendship, especially now, so please stay in touch with me.
Update: Carlson has released a further statement saying, “I had to stand up for myself and speak out for all women and the next generation of women in the workplace”.
Gretchen Carlson statement on the lawsuit pic.twitter.com/F6W9HU4H2A
— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) July 6, 2016
And here’s a bit from the lawsuit:
From Gretchen Carlson's suit against Roger Ailes: pic.twitter.com/42GscBE2TP
— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) July 6, 2016
Updated
Sanders 'applauds' Clinton for 'very bold initiative' on student debt
In what appears to be a policy move coordinated with – and immediately approved by – Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton has announced a new plan to provide relief for debtors with college loans.
Clinton says that once president, she would take executive action to offer a loan payment moratorium of three months, and would mandate that families with incomes of up to $125,000 will pay no tuition at in-state public colleges and universities.
Clinton’s web site says her college tuition plan “will be fully paid for by limiting certain tax expenditures for high-income taxpayers.” Meaning that enacting the plan as Clinton describes it would require an amendment of the tax code, raising questions as to Clinton’s ability to deliver on the promise.
Sanders immediately embraced the plan:
I applaud @HillaryClinton for the very bold initiative she has just brought forth for the financing of higher education.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 6, 2016
The Sanders camp released a statement extolling the virtues of Clinton’s college plan. “I want to take this opportunity to applaud Secretary Clinton for the very bold initiative she has just brought forth today for the financing of higher education,” Sanders says in the statement, which continues:
This proposal combines some of the strongest ideas she fought for during the campaign with some of the principles that I fought for. The final product is a result of the work of both campaigns.
“Let me be very clear. This proposal, when implemented, will revolutionize the funding of higher education in America, improve the economic future of our country and make life immediately better for tens of millions of people stuck with high levels of student debt.
Updated
How does Obama’s 2017 force of 8,400 troops in Afghanistan compare with troop levels Obama inherited when he came into office? A congressional research service report from 2009 puts average US troop levels in-country in Afghanistan at 30,100:
Based on average monthly Boots on the Ground figures, the number of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq increased from 5,200 in FY2002 to a peak of 187,900 in FY2008 primarily because of increases in Iraq beginning with the invasion in March 2003. [...]
For Afghanistan, troops in-country grew gradually from 5,200 in FY2002 to 20,400 in FY2006. Between FY2006 and FY2008, average strength there jumped by another 10,000 to 30,100.
Current US troop levels in Afghanistan are 9,800. Four years ago, Obama was heralding the end of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (#PromiseNotKeptAfterAll):
President Obama: "I told you we’d end the war in Iraq. We did. I said we’d end the war in Afghanistan. We are." #PromiseKept
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 24, 2012
(h/t: @thegarance)
Updated
Trump plaza, Atlantic City: closed for business, but backdrop today for Clinton’s news conference:
.@HillaryClinton will speak about Trump's business dealings in Atlantic City in front of the shuttered Trump Plaza pic.twitter.com/RtFq1PGHak
— Lauren Gambino (@LGamGam) July 6, 2016
Obama announces more troops to stay in Afghanistan
President Obama has called a surprise news conference to announce a decision to leave more troops than previously anticipated in Afghanistan through the end of the year.
“Instead of going down to 5,500 troops by the end of this year, the United States will maintain approximately 8,400 troops into next year, through the end of my administration,” he says.
He says the goal of the force will not change. The troops will provide “tailored support to help Afghan forces continue to improve” in their fight against “terrorist” groups, he says. He says the troop presence will serve as a message to the Taliban.
Watch live here:
Ryan says Clinton should be denied classified material
At his weekly news conference, House speaker Paul Ryan says, in short, that Hillary Clinton cannot be trusted with classified material, based on the results of an FBI investigation finding that she was “extremely reckless” in handling classified information.
Clinton, like Donald Trump and their running mates, would typically receive intelligence briefings after they are nominated at the conventions later this month, as part of a transition process at the end of which one will enter the White House.
“After the convention, you get the full deep classified information,” Ryan says, recalling his experience in 2012 as Mitt Romney’s running mate.
“I think the DNI, [James] Clapper, should deny Hillary Clinton access to classified information during this campaign, given how she was so reckless in handling classified material,” Ryan says.
“It’s the least we can do given how she was so reckless in handling classified material.”
Ryan does not say whether he thinks Trump should have access to state secrets.
Also on Capitol Hill today, Democrats are holding a news conference to highlight their call for gun safety legislation:
Families of gun victims standing on the Capitol steps w/ @HouseDemocrats to share their stories of loss #NotOneMore pic.twitter.com/p0spxwG5YN
— Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) July 6, 2016
'Sleepy eyes Chuck Todd'
The NBC News host gets a Trump moniker. Pretty good one, too. [UPDATE: Trump has reportedly called Todd this before. Where were we?] We’re not watching NBC but apparently the network’s coverage of Trump’s rally in Raleigh last night is, for Trump’s money, insufficiently effusive.
Sleepy eyes Chuck Todd, a man with so little touch for politics, is at it again.He could not have watched my standing ovation speech in N.C.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2016
I have over seven million hits on social media re Crooked Hillary Clinton. Check it out Sleepy Eyes, @MarkHalperin @NBCPolitics
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2016
Updated
House Republicans call Comey to testify
The House oversight and government reform committee would like to hear more from the FBI director about the results of the bureau’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and his decision not to recommend criminal charges.
Comey will head to the hill Thursday morning:
BREAKING: @jasoninthehouse calls FBI Director Comey to testify Thursday at 10 AM. https://t.co/hBfNevqlfB
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 6, 2016
Update: Trump will be on the Hill Thursday morning, too, to meet with GOP legislators from both chambers.
So, not only will the FBI Director be on Capitol Hill tomorrow, but Donald Trump will meet w/GOP lawmakers as well
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) July 6, 2016
Updated
Bernie Sanders is meeting with House Democrats behind closed doors this morning, and some members are vocally challenging the Vermont senator on why he has yet to endorse Hillary Clinton for president, Politico reports:
Some House Dems booed Sanders, who wouldn't back from his refusal to endorse Clinton, per sources in room. Some tough questions for him
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) July 6, 2016
Full Sanders quote: "The goal isn't to win elections, the goal is to transform America." Dems booed.
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) July 6, 2016
Bernie walking out with Pelosi pic.twitter.com/zC78HMNRvZ
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) July 6, 2016
Updated
Hello and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. Hillary Clinton is planning to pay a visit to the scene of former Donald Trump developments in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Wednesday, in an effort to highlight what she says have been his self-serving and socially corrosive business dealings. The Guardian’s Lauren Gambino is in town for Clinton’s visit – and here’s a video the campaign has produced to get her message out:
Trump has defended his business record in Atlantic City by saying he created jobs and framed the failure of his investments as part of an industry-wide decline.
Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally Wednesday evening in Cincinnati, Ohio. He will be accompanied by the former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a possible vice-presidential pick.
Trump praises Saddam Hussein
At a rally in North Carolina Tuesday evening, Trump had these words of praise for the late Iraqi dictator:
Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, right? He was a bad guy. Really bad guy. But you know what he did well? He killed terrorists. He did that so good. They didn’t read them the rights, they didn’t talk. They were terrorists - it was over. Today, Iraq is Harvard for terrorism.
Hussein was labelled a major sponsor of terrorism by the American government for decades. When told of Trump’s comments on Saddam Hussein, House speaker Paul Ryan told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly that the former Iraqi dictator “was one of the 20th century’s most evil people”.
The Clinton campaign issued a statement criticizing Trump. “In reality, Hussein’s regime was a sponsor of terrorism – one that paid families of suicide bombers who attacked Israelis, among other crimes,” the statement said. “Trump’s cavalier compliments for brutal dictators, and the twisted lessons he seems to have learned from their history, again demonstrate how dangerous he would be as Commander-in-Chief and how unworthy he is of the office he seeks.”
Trump hits Clinton over emails inquiry
Also at his Tuesday rally, Trump said the results of the FBI inquiry into Clinton’s use of private email announced by director James Comey Tuesday showed Clinton to be a liar unfit for the presidency.
“She went to extraordinary lengths to carry out an Enron-style purge of her email,” Trump said. He accused her of trying to delete email, which contradicts the findings of the FBI investigation, and he accused Clinton of trying to bribe attorney general Loretta Lynch by signaling that a Clinton administration might keep Lynch in her post.
“It’s a bribe!” Trump said. He also said of his campaign: “This is a movement, folks - this is not like a normal situation.”
RNC turns Comey briefing into attack ad
A more effective attack on Clinton, perhaps, was delivered in a new Republican National Committee video spot juxtaposing Clinton saying untrue things about her emails with Comey describing the results of the FBI investigation:
Trump is also prosecuting the case this morning on Twitter:
The rigged system may have helped Hillary Clinton escape criminal charges, but...https://t.co/KO64IAMDgj pic.twitter.com/8CBSfNpl2l
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2016
Chilcot’s devastating critique of Iraq war decision
Sir John Chilcot has delivered a devastating critique of Tony Blair’s decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003, with his long-awaited report concluding that Britain chose to join the US invasion before “peaceful options for disarmament” had been exhausted.
The head of the Iraq war inquiry said the UK’s decision to attack and occupy a sovereign state for the first time since the second world war was a decision of “utmost gravity”. He described Iraq’s then president, Saddam Hussein, as “undoubtedly a brutal dictator” who had repressed his own people and attacked his neighbours.
Le Pen endorses Trump
Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far right National Front party, has endorsed Trump, after enthusiastically backing Brexit, Reuters reports:
“If I was American, I would vote for anyone but Hillary Clinton ... Between him and Hillary Clinton, it is clear that I would choose Donald Trump,” Le Pen told the French magazine Valeurs Actuelles.
“What appeals to Americans is that he is a man free from Wall Street, from markets and from financial lobbies and even from his own party,” she said.
Thank you for reading and please join us in the comments.
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