Republican’s campaign attempts to dispel accusations he is golfing too much and lacking appetite for electoral fight against Harris, promising ‘Trump on steroids’ from now on
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Donald Trump’s aides have insisted he is poised to ramp up campaigning activities in response to the renewed threat posed by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, with advisers telling CNN: “Think Trump on steroids. It’ll be all hands on deck.”
The Republican nominee will address the National Guard Association’s conference in Detroit on Monday, with further events in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania planned for later this week.
The strategy shift follows a Washington Post report alleging that members of Trump’s inner circle are increasingly concerned that he is golfing too much and campaigning too little.
The candidate took to Truth Social on Sunday evening to criticise ABC News, the network set to host his first televised debate against Harris on September 10, suggesting he may be about to pull out of that blockbuster broadcast – a step that would invite the derision of Democrats and accusations of cowardice.
Earlier on Sunday, Trump’s running mate JD Vance said that he regrets the fact that “a lot of people” took his 2021 “childless cat ladies” comments “the wrong way”, claiming his remark to then-Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson had been a “joke” about America becoming “too anti-family”.
Vance claims Trump would veto national abortion ban
The Republican vice presidential contender also assured Welker yesterday that Trump would not sign legislation establishing a national abortion ban into law, although that position is somewhat complicated by the Ohio Senator’s own past support for such a proposition.
Here’s more from John Bowden.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 12:10
Vance refuses to say if Trump will bring back family separations at southern border
Let’s get back to Trump’s running mate’s big interview with Meet the Press.
In addition to rowing back on his “childless cat ladies” slur, Vance declined to give specifics on one of the Trump administration’s greatest controversies when he was asked about immigration, border security and the former president’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s own campaign has promised the “largest deportation operation in American history” if he returns to the White House but what that amounts to in reality is surely a massive operation requiring significant federal funding and state cooperation likely to yield serious consequences for communities around the country.
But when asked a question with a seemingly obvious answer by Kristen Welker — whether the concept of separating family units, including young children from their parents, would be revived under a second Trump term — Vance could not provide an answer.
Here’s more from John Bowden.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 11:40
Trump ‘not in command of himself’ amid Harris momentum, says observer
Here’s Gustaf Kilander with another perspective on Trump’s apparent malaise, this time from New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman – one of the most seasoned Trumpwatcher out there, attuned to the man’s every move.
She told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room and appears not to be “in command” of himself as he’s “jarred” by the rise and rise of Kamala Harris.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 11:10
Can Harris beat Trump? Latest poll updates
After Harris closed out the Democratic National Convention last week, a brand new poll showed that her address had actually had little immediate impact on voting intentions.
But with independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr since dropping out to endorse Trump, the presidential race could now be about to undergo a more significant shift.
So how will Harris actually fare against Trump and JD Vance this November?
Here’s Alicia Hagopian to look at the numbers.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 10:40
RFK Jr’s sister attacks him over ‘inexplicable effort’ to ‘set fire to my father’s memory’ with Trump endorsement
Kerry Kennedy did not mince her words when she was asked by MSNBC’s Jen Psaki how she felt about her brother’s endorsement of Trump in Arizona on Friday.
Lara Trump, inevitably, was out on Fox to offer the Trump campaign’s spin.
Meanwhile, JD Vance has already found himself challenged on RFK Jr’s controversial policy stances, which the Republican ticket have now effectively inherited and may come to regret being associated with.
Here’s Josh Marcus’s report on Kennedy’s announcement.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 10:20
JD Vance says people took his childless cat lady comment ‘wrong’
Earlier on Sunday, Trump’s running mate JD Vance said that he regrets the fact that “a lot of people” took his 2021 “childless cat ladies” comments “the wrong way”, claiming his remark to then-Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson had been a “joke” about America becoming “too anti-family”.
This is what he had to tell Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press:
John Bowden reports.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 10:00
Trump whines about ABC ahead of Kamala Harris debate: ‘Stay tuned!!!’
The candidate took to Truth Social on Sunday evening to criticise ABC News, the network set to host his first televised debate against Harris on September 10, suggesting he may be about to pull out of that blockbuster broadcast – a step that would invite the derision of Democrats and accusations of cowardice.
“I watched ABC FAKE NEWS this morning, both lightweight reporter Jonathan Carl’s(K?) ridiculous and biased interview of Tom Cotton (who was fantastic!), and their so-called Panel of Trump Haters, and I ask, why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” he squawked.
“Will panelist Donna Brazil give the questions to the Marxist Candidate like she did for Crooked Hillary Clinton? Will Kamala’s best friend, who heads up ABC, do likewise. Where is Liddle’ George Slopadopolus hanging out now? Will he be involved. They’ve got a lot of questions to answer!!! Why did Harris turn down Fox, NBC, CBS, and even CNN? Stay tuned!!!”
Elsewhere on his social platform, Trump continued his now-familiar, directionless attacks on the vice president, which show little sign of convincing anyone not already converted to his cause.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 09:40
Donald Trump prepares to ramp up campaigning: ‘Think Trump on steroids. It’ll be all hands on deck’
Good morning!
Donald Trump’s aides have insisted he is poised to ramp up campaigning activities in response to the renewed threat posed by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, with advisers telling CNN: “Think Trump on steroids. It’ll be all hands on deck.”
The Republican nominee will address the National Guard Association’s conference in Detroit on Monday, with further events in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania planned for later this week.
The strategy shift follows a Washington Post report alleging that members of Trump’s inner circle are increasingly concerned that he is golfing too much and campaigning too little.
Here’s Gustaf Kilander on conservative concerns about Trump’s inertia.
Joe Sommerlad26 August 2024 09:20
In boosting clean energy in Minnesota, Walz lays foundation for climate influence if Harris wins
When Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz strolled onstage to welcome a conference of clean power advocates to Minneapolis in May, he was quick to note that his state is now getting a little over half of its power from renewables. In the next breath, Walz said Minnesota would never get to 100% — a goal he helped set — without changing what he called “outdated” permitting laws.
“There are things we are doing that are too cumbersome, they don’t fit where we’re at, they add costs, and they make it more prohibitive to get where we need to go,” Walz told the industry group American Clean Power.
A few weeks later, he signed legislation to speed things up. Developers no longer have to demonstrate that a clean energy project — that is, solar and wind, storage and transmission projects — is needed as part of Minnesota’s energy system. And they no longer have to study alternative sites and transmission line routes — a requirement that had effectively doubled the possible opponents for a project.
Jennifer McDermott, Isabella O’Malley26 August 2024 09:00
Trump fumes over embarrassing claims he was cut off by Fox News while ranting about Harris speech
Gustaf Kilander26 August 2024 07:00
