Donald Trump has said he “should have died” after being wounded in a “surreal” shooting incident at his latest campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night.
A day after a Republican was cut in the right ear by a sniper’s bullet, the motive of gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks remains a mystery, with investigators saying they believe he acted alone. Secret Service agents kill him.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden used a rare Oval Office address to urge Americans to “tighten up” at the end of this year’s election race and “resolve differences at the ballot box”.
The president has ordered an independent security review of the attack, which also killed a bystander and critically wounded two others.
Trump is currently at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to accept his party’s invitation to be the 2024 presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, the secret documents case against the former president has been dismissed by Florida judge Aileen Cannon, due to a violation of the appointment clause – that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally named to investigate the case.
Cannon was appointed by Trump. An appeal is expected.
Watch: Donald Trump Jr. says ‘something is wrong’ at Butler rally
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 15, 2024 9:10 p.m
Gun makers and ammunition companies saw their stocks rise
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 21:00
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 15, 2024 8:55 p.m
Teamsters consider no endorsement in 2024 race
President Joe Biden is on the brink of failing to win a major labor endorsement as leaders of the 1.3 million-member Teamsters union are considering not endorsing the candidate in the US presidential race, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The decision of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has not been finalized and is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
Not supporting Biden, who is endorsed by unions in 2020, would add political damage to the Democratic presidential bid.
A Teamsters endorsement of Republican candidate Donald Trump appears unlikely, sources said, but deep internal divisions mean the union may not support any candidate. That would mark the first time since 1996, according to news reports.
Since dropping out of the June 27 presidential debate, Biden has seen some lawmakers and donors call on him to step down, worried about his ability to be re-elected and serve another four years. Some allies said they believed Trump’s assassination attempt on Saturday could quiet the call, but other Democrats were skeptical.
The Biden team once saw a Teamsters endorsement as all but inevitable, and still counts some senior leaders there as supporters. But months of ties and concerns about Biden’s political resilience have soured sentiment among some union leaders, who represent workers in fields ranging from trucking to manufacturing and offices.
“There is no final decision,” said Kara Deniz, a spokeswoman for the Teamsters, adding that there have been reports indicating speculative results.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 20:50
‘Someone took half his ear off’ said Eric Trump as Donald sealed his nomination at the RNC
Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were on the floor of the Republican National Convention with his sister Tiffany Trump, RNC co-chair Lara Trump, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, to deliver the Florida delegation’s vote to their father, so he was put on top and shut up. the party’s nomination for him.
Speaking to media on the floor, Don Jr. said he was unable to speak to Trump for 90 minutes after the shooting because of a hospital lockdown.
He noted his father’s “decisiveness,” calling him “the biggest ass I know” and saying Trump joked about the shooting and said he had scrapped his planned RNC speech.
“He’s moving forward, he’s a fighter,” Trump’s oldest son said.
Eric added: “We’re going to win this.”
Trump’s younger son also said that “someone took off half his ear” during the shooting, but “he has an incredible fighting spirit”.
He added: “I have never been prouder of him as a son.”
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 20:42
All the times Trump’s VP pick JD Vance has attacked him
For months, Trump has effectively held an open audition for Mike Pence’s chance of succeeding as his representative, with Ohio Senator Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and New Congresswoman York Elise Stefanik is all believed to have walked at various points.
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 15, 2024 8:40 p.m
Russian state news bulletin reacts to Trump being shot at a political rally
Footage from Russian state TV has shown how the country reacted to the news that Donald Trump was shot during a rally in Pennsylvania. In a report broadcast by Channel One, the host claimed that the former president was “an inch from death” and that the Secret Service allegedly asked for additional security before the event – which “the Biden administration refused”. Donald Trump has confirmed he is “fine” after the incident, and will still attend the RNC. The suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead immediately after he opened fire.
Oliver O’ConnellJuly 15, 2024 8:30 p.m
RFK Jr. praised Trump for seeking Secret Service protection for him
Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr praised Donald Trump for seeking Secret Service protection for him.
At the start of today’s White House press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the protections would indeed apply to Kennedy.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 20:26
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 20:23
Conspiracy theories about Trump’s firing are ‘front and dangerous’ Mayorkas said
Speaking at a White House press conference this afternoon, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was asked about conspiracy theories and claimed that the attack on Donald Trump was an “inside job”.
He told reporters: “It is preposterous and dangerous to spread rumors that are completely false and provocative.”
Mayorkas added: “The rhetoric itself creates a threat environment that is truly dynamic and evolving.”
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2024 20:20