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☆ Trump doesn’t rule out political violence if he loses, and other takeaways from his Time interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump wouldn’t dismiss the potential for political violence from his supporters if he isn’t elected in November, suggesting it would depend on the outcome of the presidential race. “I don’t think we’re going to have that,” the presumptive GOP nominee told Time magazine. It always depends on the fairness of an election.”The remarks came in a wide-ranging interview with the magazine that published Tuesday. But pressed by the magazine in a later phone interview, Trump was less definitive about the future. Throughout his political career, Trump has regularly refused to accept the results of an election or commit to a conceding defeat.

Persons: Donald Trump wouldn’t, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Trump, they’ll, ” Trump, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, Trump baselessly, Ron DeSantis, “ Will, “, Joe Biden’s, “ Donald Trump’s, ” Biden, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Roe, didn’t, Netanyahu, – Trump, Netanyahu “, Soleimani –, Evan Gershkovich “, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Navalny, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bin Salman Organizations: CNN, Time, Israel, Capitol, Texas, Florida Gov, Republican, Trump, Sunshine, Hamas, Capitol Hill, “, Wall Street, Kremlin, Saudi, CIA, United Nations Locations: Lago, Florida, Washington, Iowa, Florida , Texas, Arizona, Israel, Russia, American

☆ Trump meets with foreign leaders looking to boost their relationships with GOP leader ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Alayna Treene | Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In recent weeks, Trump, seizing the role of both an erstwhile diplomat and ascending opposition party leader, has extended welcomes to a series of foreign leaders at his homes in Florida and New York. It’s not unusual for foreign leaders to meet with the leader of the party that doesn’t control the White House – especially one with a serious chance of becoming commander in chief. Biden and his top envoys have also met and spoken with opposition leaders, something that has been a longstanding practice for US officials. Last week, Trump met with Poland’s Duda at Trump Tower, where the two discussed NATO spending over dinner. Trump, both while president and during his 2024 campaign, has called on NATO countries to spend more on defense.

Persons: Donald Trump, hasn’t, Trump, Andrzej Duda, David Cameron, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Taro Aso, It’s, Sen, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Biden, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Antony Blinken, Keir Starmer, Joe Biden, “ They’re, he’s, “, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, ” Biden, ”, Kim Jong Un, ” Trump, Brian Hughes, Viktor Orban, Putin, Javier Milei, Orban, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Aso, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Lindsey Graham, Salman, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Poland’s Duda, Duda, meanwhile, Cameron, Karen Pierce, Cameron’s, Pierce didn’t, Queen Elizabeth II Organizations: CNN, Air Force, British, Saudi Crown, Middle East, Republican, UK Labour Party, US State Department, Biden, Trump, NATO, Conservative Political, Japanese, White, Liberal Democratic Party, Saudi, New York Times, South Carolina Republican, Hamas, The New York Times, Trump Tower, Republicans, Democrats, UK Locations: House, huddling, Florida, New York, Lago, Manhattan, Japan, China, North Korea, Berlin, United Kingdom, Israel, Poland, Belarus, Munich, Europe, America, Ukraine, Korean, United States, Palm, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, American, Russia, British, Washington

☆ Donald Trump has shared tales of courtroom spectacles. The reality is much more subdued
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —An email Monday night from Donald Trump – subject line: “My farewell message” – carried a fateful warning to his backers. Throughout the first six days of his trial, Trump’s dramatized retellings of his legal peril have veered considerably from the events actually unfolding in and around Manhattan’s criminal courthouse. In one fundraising email on the first day of his trial, Trump claimed he “stormed out” of the proceedings. With the courtroom quiet Tuesday, Trump flipped through a pile of papers loud enough to hear the pages turning. “I will not have any jurors intimidated in the courtroom,” Merchan said.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Rather, untethered, “, he’s, unremarkably Trump, Judge Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, E, Jean Carroll, Merchan, ” Merchan, hasn’t, “ You’re, ”, Todd Blanche, Christopher Conroy, Blanche, ‘, CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Kristen Holmes, Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Trump, Columbia University, Truth, Protesters Locations: Manhattan, Fiji, Lower Manhattan

☆ As hush money trial begins, Trump hits the trail in North Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Appearing in Greensboro, North Carolina ahead of the state’s primary last month, Trump remarked on his legal peril at length. Nikki Haley managed to win support from 23% of Republican primary voters in North Carolina, with many in Trump’s party saying they could not overlook the vast legal challenges he faces. “Polling shows the American people see right through the Stalinist tactics employed by Crooked Joe and his allies,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement. Without cameras inside the courtroom, Trump has also challenged the narratives that have emerged from those watching the proceedings. I’m supposed to be in North Carolina, South Carolina.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Michael Cohen, baselessly, ”, ” Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, don’t, Crooked Joe, Karoline Leavitt, Judge Juan Merchan, “ I’m, I’m, I’ve, Joe Biden’s, Trump’s, ” Leavitt Organizations: CNN, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, South Carolina Gov, Republican, GOP Locations: Manhattan, North Carolina, Wilmington, Charlotte, New York, York, Greensboro , North Carolina, New Hampshire, Georgia, South Carolina

☆ Kari Lake lobbies Arizona lawmakers to overturn abortion ban she once supported
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Steve Contorno | Alayna Treene | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake is actively lobbying state lawmakers to overturn a 160-year-old law she once supported that bans abortion in almost all cases, a source with knowledge of her efforts told CNN. Lake is pushing for GOP lawmakers in her home state to repeal the law while leaving in place legislation signed in 2022 by Republican Gov. The move continues a remarkable 180-degree flip by Lake on the state abortion law and illustrates Republican concerns over how the issue is reverberating through a key battleground state. Everybody wants that to happen.”Hours later, Arizona Republican lawmakers thwarted an attempt to vote on repealing the state’s law. “I cannot mathematically figure out how they will get the votes.”The Arizona Supreme Court ruling has become a flashpoint in the state’s ongoing battle over the future of abortion access with potentially massive political implications.

Persons: Kari Lake, Doug Ducey, Lake, “, ” Lake, ”, Donald Trump, Trump, Arizona’s, Matt Gress, David Livingston, Gress, Marcus Dell’Artino, “ I’m, Roe, Wade –, CNN’s Melissa Alonso Organizations: CNN, Arizona Republican, GOP, Republican Gov, Arizona Supreme, Democratic, US, The Arizona, Republicans, White House, Democrats, Trump Locations: Arizona, United States, “ Arizona, The Arizona Republic

☆ Abortion: As Trump contorts, will his potential running mates bend with him?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Kristi Noem said Donald Trump was “exactly right” to want states in charge of abortion access in America. For Noem, Scott and others in consideration to become Trump’s running mate, the former president’s latest contortions around abortion present a new challenge as they compete for his attention. Trump angered several anti-abortion leaders this week by refusing to back a federal abortion ban while embracing exceptions that Republicans throughout the country have for years opposed as morally questionable. But for a party that has long defined life as beginning at conception, Trump’s latest evolution on abortion will test those aspiring to run with him. “That’s just a fact.”Rubio was an early co-sponsor of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s bill to ban abortion nationwide 15 weeks into a pregnancy.

Persons: Kristi Noem, Donald Trump, Unaddressed, Sen, Tim Scott, ”, Scott, Trump, Wade, Mike Pence, “, it’s, Noem, Byron Donalds, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Trump’s, ” Vance, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Rubio, ” Rubio, “ That’s, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham’s, Roe, ” Trump, Kari Lake, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Elise Stefanik, Stefanik, ” CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Manu Raju, Kit Maher, Alison Main Organizations: CNN, South Dakota Gov, Capitol, Trump, South Carolina Republican, Indiana, Manhattan, Florida Rep, Republicans, South, Monday, Democratic, Arizona Supreme, Senate, Republican, New, Arizona Senate, America, SBA, New York Republican Locations: America, Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, South Carolina, Graham, New York, Arizona

☆ 13 times Trump’s abortion position shifted over the last 25 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“But we’re not going to allow and we’re not going to fund, as long as you have the abortion going on at Planned Parenthood. Four months later, Trump signed a bill allowing states to withhold federal money from organizations that provide abortion, reversing an Obama-era regulation. “Nobody has ever done more for Right to Life than Donald Trump,” Trump said in an interview. March 19, 2024To the confusion and frustration of some within his campaign, Trump more recently had flirted with supporting a federal abortion ban at 15 weeks. “We’ll be making a statement next week on abortion,” Trump teased instead.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, ”, Ronald Reagan, ” Trump, we’re, I’ve, Trump’s, Chris Matthews, ” Matthews, Hillary Clinton, Roe, Wade –, ’ ”, –, Dobbs, Republicans didn’t, they’ve, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, it’ll, Kellyanne Conway, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Floridians, Wade Organizations: CNN, “, Press, GOP, Trump, Republican, MSNBC, Democratic, Life, Dobbs, Jackson, WIN, LIFE, United States Supreme, Republicans, ”, White Locations: America, United States, Washington, South Carolina, Florida, Grand Rapids , Michigan

CNN —Former President Donald Trump said Monday that abortion rights should be left to the states, offering his clearest stance yet on one of the most delicate and contentious issues in American politics. In this case, the law of the state,” Trump said in a video posted to his Truth Social account. Trump told reporters last week that he would be making a “statement” on abortion when pressed about Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which is set to become law after a recent state Supreme Court ruling. That includes Trump’s home state of Florida, where a six-week abortion ban will take effect in a matter of weeks. Trump in his statement Monday acknowledged that voters will ultimately decide the fate of abortion access in some states.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Trump, Trump, “, Roe, Wade, Court’s Dobbs, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Trump’s, Dobbs, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, ”, –, Mike Pence, “ Lindsey, Marjorie, “ Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Alayna Treene, Nikki Carvajal, Alison Main Organizations: CNN, GOP, Press, Supreme, Republican Locations: Carolina, America, Texas, Florida

CNN —Donald Trump made an unexpected declaration Tuesday when probed about a six-week abortion ban that will soon take effect in his home state of Florida. “We’ll be making a statement next week on abortion,” the former president told reporters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Other close advisers, however, have expressed concern that Trump will give further ammunition to Democrats by supporting any new restrictions on abortion. “It was bound to happen at some point where he needed to clarify his position,” a Trump adviser told CNN. Ron DeSantis was courting the state’s evangelical community by running to Trump’s right on the issue.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, ”, Trump, Roe, Wade, Kellyanne, Conway, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Ralph Reed, ” Graham, Joe Biden’s, ” Roe, greenlit, Sunshine State –, they’re, it’s, it’ll, ” Trump, Sid, Trump’s, Vincent Haley, Ross Worthington, Haley, Worthington, she’s, Lindsey Graham’s, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Brian Hughes, — I’ve, — Trump, Graham, Reed, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Ron DeSantis Organizations: CNN, White, US, Republican, Democratic, Trump, Lago, and Freedom Coalition, Florida Supreme, Sunshine State, “, Fox News, New York, Friends, Trump . Leaders, GOP, Republicans, SBA, Mar, Florida Gov Locations: Florida, Grand Rapids , Michigan, Kellyanne Conway, Mar, ”, Carolina, Trump, Graham’s, Michigan, Nashville , Tennessee, Roe, vocalize, Iowa

The visits come amid a notable lull in Trump’s campaign activity in the weeks since he became the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Along with Pennsylvania, Trump’s stunning 2016 victories in Michigan and Wisconsin produced a seismic crack in the so-called blue wall of states Democrats had relied on in every election going back to 1992. Early polls suggest Michigan and Wisconsin pose a challenge for Biden and an opportunity for Trump to mine for electoral votes in the upper Midwest. The former president attacked Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in 2022 for refusing to decertify the state’s presidential result, which he did not have the power to do. However, Trump’s campaign has yet to air a single ad in the state.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Trump’s, Biden, Robin Vos, Brianna Johnson, ” “ Trump, –, ”, Johnson, Wisconsin Democrats “, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson, Chris LaCivita, Biden’s, Ruby Garcia, “, ” Trump, Pete Hoekstra, MAGA, ” Alyssa Bradley, ” CNN’s Kate Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Badger State, White, Democratic, Democrats, Biden, Michigan, Republican, Trump, Wisconsin State, Wisconsin Democrats, Southern Locations: Michigan, Wisconsin, Grand Rapids , Michigan, Mexico, Green Bay , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, stoke, ” Though Michigan, West Michigan

Referendums protecting abortion access are on a winning streak nationwide, including in states far more red than Florida. Outside of Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 victories, Democrats have struggled to find success in Florida while Republicans are on a roll. The GOP now controls every statewide Cabinet office in Florida, its two US Senate seats and both state legislative chambers. In 2016, Trump won Florida despite a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot that Democrats hoped would aid their performance. “There is nothing more common than Democrats claiming they have some magical way to win Florida and they always come up short,” Power said.

Persons: can’t, Floridians, –, Biden, ” Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Alex Sink, Trump, ” Sink, ”, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama’s, Obama, Ron DeSantis, “ It’s, Matt Isbell, Michael Bloomberg, ” Chavez Rodriguez, Brian Hughes, “, it’ll, Roe, Wade, Chavez Rodriguez, Nikki Fried, Evan Power, ” Power Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Electoral, Florida, Sunshine State, ” Longtime Democratic, GOP, Trump, Biden, Florida Democratic, Democratic Party, Republican Party of Locations: Florida, Nashville, Grand Rapids , Michigan, Republican Party of Florida

Outside of his MAGA movement, though, the social media site is struggling to find a wider audience. It’s a critical milestone for the social media site as well as for Trump, providing a path for the former real estate tycoon’s return to Wall Street. Some conservatives, looking for an alternative to mainstream social media sites seen as hostile to their point of view, initially seemed eager to embrace Truth Social. Truth Social’s hot.”Many Republican politicians and conservative have not joined Truth Social or they post infrequently. “It’s safe to say that Truth Social has not broken into the mainstream,” said Joshua Tucker, co-director of the New York University Center for Social Media and Politics.

Persons: he’s, Nick Mirtschink, Donald Trump, Bree Duke, ” Duke, “, ” Mirtschink, Duke, MAGA, –, It’s, Trump, “ It’s, ” Jay Ritter, Donald Trump’s, ”, Josephine Lukito, ” Trump, Joe Biden’s, Devin Nunes, Glenn Youngkin’s, Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro, Glenn Beck don’t, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Matt Terrill, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, ” Paul Leslie, you’re, ’ It’s, there’s, Nikki Haley’s, Elon Musk, Joshua Tucker, that’s, ” Kurt Holtzclaw, ” Holtzclaw, Lukito, ” Lukito, Jimmy Kimmel, “ Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene Organizations: CNN, Truth, Trump Media & Technology, Trump, Wall, Facebook, Apple, University of Florida, University of Texas, Twitter, Social, South, Pew Research, Trump Media, Republican, Big Tech, Alabama Supreme, Virginia Gov, ” Trump, South Carolina Gov, Cuban, New York University Center for Social Media, ” Locations: Georgia, Rome , Georgia, Austin, South Carolina, Joe Biden’s State, Carolina, Florida, Arizona, New York

☆ Why does Biden keep mentioning January 6? Because Trump won’t stop talking about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

It’s Biden’s campaign aides who have been surprised how much that’s true. A running mate litmus testBiden aides say January 6 and the footage from it will be a central feature of their advertising campaigns, the convention and beyond. Trump, for his part, keeps talking about it and his aides aren’t really trying to stop him. About 56 percent of independent voters continue to believe Trump was largely responsible for it, virtually unchanged during that stretch. But Biden aides say that’s a big part of why the images and memories of January 6 itself are so important.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, It’s, ”, Mike Donilon, “, We’re, ’, Kamala Harris, CNN —, reverberating, Biden, Jan, litmus, aren’t, Mike Pence, Elise Stefanik, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Ben Carson, Doug Burgum, Pence, Scott, Burgum, ’ Biden, didn’t, it’s, ” Donilon, there’s, Mike Johnson, Barry Loudermilk, That’s, Loudermilk, Matt Gaetz, Tim Burchett, Jeff Van Drew, insurrectionists, they’ll, Harris, Matt Barreto –, –, Barreto, ” Barreto, ” Biden, Kari Lake’s, denialism, Chris DeLuzio, —, ” DeLuzio, ” Will Rollins, Ken Calvert —, ” Rollins, Annie Grayer, Ariel Edwards, Levy Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Democratic, Biden, Trump, South, North Dakota Gov, Republicans, Trump voters, Washington Post, University of Maryland, White, Congressional Republicans, GOP, Republican, House Republican Conference, ”, Trump Republicans, Democratic National Committee, —, Democrat, Southern Californians, GOP Rep Locations: Wilmington, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, America, Charlottesville, Valley Forge, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Arizona, Pennsylvania

☆ Trump’s freewheeling CNBC interview gives glimpse of the campaign to come
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In many ways, Monday’s 40-minute call-in to CNBC was typical Trump: evasive, evocative and eventful. His declaration to CNBC that “there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting” Social Security and Medicare is already reverberating on the campaign trail. “I won’t cut Social Security and I won’t cut Medicare. Speaking to CNBC, Trump confirmed he recently met with Jeff Yass, a Republican mega donor and billionaire hedge fund manager whose firm is known to own a sizable stake in TikTok. People are rejecting it, and they are watching.”Ending the interview shortly after, host Joe Kernen thanked Trump and extended an opportunity to return.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, who’s, TikTok, ”, Viktor Orbán, – Trump, Biden, “ I’m, “, …, United States –, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Yass, TikTok . Trump, ” Trump, ‘, Tik, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Joe Kernen, Kevin Liptak Organizations: CNN, CNBC, Facebook, Social Security, Trump, Medicare, –, Republican, Mar, GOP, Biden Locations: week’s, Gaza, Washington, New Hampshire, United States, TikTok, TikTok ., Yass

Rome, Georgia CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will hold dueling events Saturday in Georgia as their rematch for the White House moves from an inevitable likelihood to an inescapable reality. “Georgia has been ground zero on the national political landscape since 2018,” said Fred Hicks, a Democratic strategist based in Georgia. Trump’s Georgia headwindsBut there are headwinds for Trump in Georgia as well – many of his own making. Many in the party blamed Trump’s election denialism and criticism of mail-in ballots for lower party turnout in those runoff contests. Another Georgia Republican, Rep. Mike Collins, is scheduled to be there as well.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Georgia –, ”, Fred Hicks, “, Nikki Haley, It’s, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris, ” Rodriguez, Andrew Heaton, Georgia Democratic Sen, Raphael Warnock, Hicks, ” Hicks, baselessly, Brad Raffensperger, – David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler –, Jon Ossoff, Warnock, Biden’s, Brian Kemp, Raffensperger, Kemp, Fani Willis, Willis, Jule Windham, Laken Riley, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, “ Lincoln Riley, ” Biden, Mike Collins, Riley, Collins, “ You’re Organizations: Georgia CNN, White, Union, Biden, Trump, Georgia, Democratic, South Carolina Gov, Democrats, Senate, Georgia Democratic, MAGA, Inc, Black, Democratic Party, GOP, Georgia Gov, Republican, CNN, University of Georgia, Georgia Rep, Georgia Republican Locations: Rome, Georgia, Atlanta, Peach State, “ Georgia, Mexico, State, Philadelphia, New Hampshire , Wisconsin, Michigan, Trump’s Georgia, Fulton County, Macon County, Middle Georgia, Greene’s Georgia, Collins ’

As he emerges victorious from the Republican primary race, Trump faces considerable challenges both inside and outside the political arena. Wednesday’s inauspicious start to Trump’s outreach efforts is reflective of the longstanding concerns about his temperament and style that inspired many Republicans to support Haley, Florida Gov. In cruising to his party’s nomination, Trump left little doubt that he remains the dominant figure in the GOP. From Iowa and New Hampshire through Super Tuesday, Haley especially exposed persistent divisions in the party and headwinds for Trump recapturing moderate support. Meanwhile, nearly three in 10 of all primary voters said Trump wouldn’t be fit for the presidency if he is convicted of a crime.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley’s, “, Democrats ”, Haley, Trump, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, ” Haley, Mike Pence, Tim Scott, Chris Christie, Biden, Lara Trump, –, aren’t, Doug Moran, ”, he’s, ” Moran, Jack Wolber, ” “ Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Republicans can’t, Pope, Trumper, ” Pope, Roy Bailey, Elon Musk, you’ve, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Ebony Davis, Morgan Rimmer, Kevin Liptak Organizations: CNN, Republican Party, GOP, Democrats, Vermont, South, Republican, White, Republicans, Florida Gov, “, United Nations, Trump, RNC, don’t, Biden ”, Super, Democratic, Teamsters, MAGA, Inc, Black, Jewish American, North, North Carolina Republican, Variety, Mar, Elon, US, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee Locations: South Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Trump, Iowa, New Hampshire, Super, North Carolina, Virginia, Nashua , New Hampshire, Trump ., Michigan , Wisconsin, Detroit, Georgia , Pennsylvania, Gaza, , Texas

☆ For Trump and Biden, attention on North Carolina will linger well past Super Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Steve Contorno | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

North Carolina, which Trump narrowly won in 2020, is emerging as a critical piece of Biden’s reelection strategy. It has been 16 years since Barack Obama delivered a North Carolina surprise in 2008. Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking at the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro on June 10, 2023. She isn’t sure how much longer Republicans can hold the line in North Carolina. “Yes, we have had more growth in our urban communities, and it’s going to make North Carolina trend bluer in the future,” Anderson said.

Persons: North Carolina CNN — Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, ”, Paul Shumaker, “ It’s, Haley, Kamala Harris, ” Harris, Barack Obama, Biden, Donald Trump, Chuck Burton, Sarah Reidy, Jones, Charlotte ” –, “, Trump, ” Haley, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Will Trump, Haley’s, Harris, Peter Zay, scoff, Billy Ward, ” Trump, Susie Wiles didn’t, battlegrounds “, ” Wiles, Michael Whatley, Ronna McDaniel, Whatley, MAGA, Thom Tillis, Mark Robinson, Robinson, Roy Cooper, Ben McKeown, Anderson Clayton, ” Clayton, we’ve, ” Anderson, CNN’s Alayna Treene Organizations: North Carolina CNN, Republican, Trump, Democratic, North Carolina Republican Party, GOP, South, Biden, White, College, Duke University, University of North, Getty, Wake County Republican Party, CNN, North, North Carolina GOP, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Gov, state’s Democratic Party, Conservative, “ Locations: Raleigh, North Carolina, Michigan, “ North Carolina, Durham, Wake County, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, Wake, Mecklenburg, –, Greensboro, Seattle, South Carolina, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Carolina, University of North Carolina, Durham , North Carolina, Anadolu, GOP’s, Raleigh , North Carolina, Russia, Ukraine, Southern

☆ At CPAC, Trump’s potential running mates compete to prove their loyalty
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii claimed not to know that attendees could choose her in a poll to pick Trump’s potential running mate, while South Dakota Gov. The jockeying to become Trump’s vice presidential pick, playing out behind the scenes for weeks if not longer, spilled into the open at this week’s CPAC, the country’s annual gathering of conservatives. The various approaches to campaigning for the job were on full display inside CPAC, and it’s uncertain which will win over Trump. “Last year, when everyone was asking me if I was going to consider running for president, I said no. “Because anything could happen to Trump.”But he conceded it was a fool’s errand trying to guess whom Trump might pick.

Persons: Elise Stefanik, Donald Trump, Byron Donalds, Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Ben Carson, Kari Lake, Trump, Carson, “, CPAC, ” Donalds, he’s, ” Matt Schlapp, Newsmax, Schlapp, ” Trump, Ron DeSantis, ”, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Scott, upstage Trump, Mike Pence, podcaster, Steve Bannon, ” Gabbard, Joe Biden, ” Stefanik, unapologetically, “ Trump, Elise, Donald J, Ramaswamy, who’s, ” Noem, Edward X . Young, Donald, Donalds, Bode Brewer, “ I’m, Genilde Guerra, ” Trump’s, Philip Whitby, “ It’s, “ Trump’s, ” Whitby Organizations: Harbor , Maryland CNN, Conservative Political, New York, Republican, Florida Rep, GOP, Democratic, South Dakota Gov, Gaylord, Resort, Urban, Trump, American Conservative Union, Fox News, Florida Gov, Indiana, Democratic Party, White, Biden Locations: Harbor , Maryland, Florida, Hawaii, Ohio, Arizona, America, South Carolina, Manhattan, Washington, Trump, New York, Iowa, United States, Brick , New Jersey, Reading , Pennsylvania, Genilde Guerra of Miami, Winter Park , Florida

☆ Trump heads to Michigan with eyes on a Biden rematch but legal woes loom over campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A 2020 election denier’s tumultuous reign atop the Michigan Republican Party had only recently begun. Since then, the strike has ended and the top union representing Michigan autoworkers, United Auto Workers, has endorsed President Joe Biden. State party turmoilAhead of his visit, Trump and his allies sought to put an end to turmoil within the Michigan Republican Party, which has faced a reckoning over its readiness for the 2024 election. The state party ousted its chair, Kristina Karamo, last month in the face of internal strife and lackluster fundraising. The recent Fox News survey from Michigan found Biden leading Trump 53% to 41% among union households.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Nikki Haley –, Stormy Daniels, Friday’s, “, Biden, Hillary Clinton’s, Haley, Kristina Karamo, Pete Hoekstra, Hoekstra, Democratic Sen, Debbie Stabenow, ”, Jason Cabel Roe, it’s, – Trump, Trump’s, Shawn Fain, ” Trump, Fain, ” Fain, Cabel Roe, “ There’s Organizations: CNN, Michigan, Republican, GOP, Michigan Republican Party, Michigan autoworkers, United Auto Workers, Republicans, South Carolina Gov, Michigan GOP, Trump, Fox, Sneaker Con, South Carolina Army National Guard, Republican National, White House, Democratic, doesn’t, Republican Party, Biden, Big, Teamsters, UAW Locations: California, Michigan, New, York, ”, Georgia, Waterford Township, Detroit, Waterford, Trump’s Michigan, –, Philadelphia, South Carolina, State, Netherlands, Washington ,, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

☆ Trump flexes his dominance of Nevada GOP but cracks are forming in this crucial battleground
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Trump’s supremacy over the Nevada Republican Party was on full display this week. Before he exited the race, DeSantis and his allies similarly warned that Nevada Republicans had stacked the deck there in Trump’s favor. Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald did not respond to a call and text message seeking comment. “It’s almost like they don’t want to win,” said Amy Tarkanian, a former Republican state party chair. “When you ostracize 60% of your republican voters because you call them ‘RINOs’ and ‘Never Trumpers,’ they’re not going to vote,” he said.

Persons: Varlin Higbee, Donald Trump, Trump, “, ‘, Ron, ” Higbee, Higbee, it’s, Joe Biden, “ It’s, ”, TK Crabb, Crabb, Nikki Haley, Haley, ” Trump, Joe Lambardo, ” Haley, Michael McDonald, McDonald, Donald J, ” McDonald, Jesse Law, –, Adam Laxalt, Laxalt, US Sen, Catherine Cortez Masto, Amy Tarkanian, ” Jeremy Hughes, “ Trump, Biden, ” Hughes, Tarkanian, “ You’re, ’ they’re, Mr Organizations: CNN, Republican, Florida Gov, Nevada Republicans, Trump, Clark County Republican Party, Nevada Republican, South Carolina Gov, Trump loyalists, Republican Gov, Las, US, GOP, Silver State, Republicans, Nevada GOP Locations: Lincoln County , Nevada, Florida, Nevada, Clark, Trump’s, Silver

Save America was once so flush with cash that Trump’s political operation used its money to seed a super PAC, MAGA Inc., that advertises in support of his presidential campaign. But as Trump’s legal bills have grown and its cash dwindled, Save America clawed back more than $42 million in refunds from the super PAC last year. The super PAC supporting her candidacy, SFA Fund, spent more freely. Its year-end report shows that the group raised $50.2 million and spent $63.7 million between July and December. The substantial burn rate left the super PAC with just $3.5 million in cash on hand entering 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Nikki Haley, Haley, Haley’s, Trump, “, ”, Ken Griffin, Jan Koum, Paul Singer, Jim Davis, Griffin, Singer, George Soros, Eric Schmidt, Shonda Rhimes, Ron DeSantis ’, DeSantis, Donors Organizations: CNN, Trump, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Federal, Republican, Save America PAC, Make, PAC, FEC, Save, MAGA Inc, SFA Fund, SFA, Palmetto State, Haley, Citadel, New, American Opportunity Alliance, Hollywood, DeSantis Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, Save America, South Carolina, Palmetto, Florida

“Here in Florida, you’ve had a real dose of Trumpism,” Biden told donors in nearby Jupiter, Florida where Trump owns a golf course. “You’re the reason Donald Trump is a defeated president,” Biden said to the attendees. Along with North Carolina, Florida is a state Biden lost in 2020 but which his campaign sees as a pickup opportunity. It’s a very tall order for the Biden campaign. The president lost Florida voters 65 and older to Trump by 10 points in 2020, a wider gap than his 5-point deficit nationally.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, you’ve, ” Biden, ”, “, hadn’t, Trump’s, Republican megadonors, Nikki Haley, Biden’s, he’ll, Trump, MAGA, GOP Sen, Rick Scott, Ron DeSantis ’, Joe Biden, Joe Raedle, DeSantis, Donna Deegan, Nikki Fried, Fried, Tom Brenner, Democratic handwringing, That’s, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton Organizations: Trump, ” Air Force, Palm Beach International, Republican, Palm Beach, South, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, ., Sunshine State, Florida voters, Social Security, Medicare, Gov, University of Tampa, Democrat, Jacksonville, Florida Supreme, Florida Democrats, CNN, Democratic, Democratic Party, South Carolina's, State Fairgrounds, Reuters, ”, NBC News Locations: Jupiter, Miami , Florida Florida, Florida, Jupiter , Florida, New York, Palm, Palm Beach, South Carolina, Miami, North Carolina , Florida, Lago, Los Angeles, Columbia , South Carolina, Iowa

But Iowa caucusgoers and New Hampshire primary voters also exposed noticeable chinks in Trump’s electoral armor and worrying general election headwinds that he and his campaign will face in the coming months. Yes, Trump handily won a head-to-head matchup in a New Hampshire primary contest that wasn’t limited to just Republicans. “Twenty percent of GOP voters will not vote for him,” the Republican member told CNN. Visibly miffed by Haley’s conviction to continue on after New Hampshire, Trump spent the evening lashing out at her online and trashing her appearance in his victory speech. Of the 30% of New Hampshire GOP primary voters who named immigration as their top concern, nearly 8 in 10 voted for Trump, according to CNN’s exit poll.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Nikki Haley, Haley, –, Ronna McDaniel –, McDaniel, “, ” McDaniel, Chris Sununu, ” Sununu, you’re, ”, Biden, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Trump’s, Reagan, ” DeSantis, Steve Deace, “ He’s, ” Trump, Sen, Tim Scott, Trey Gowdy, ” Jim McLaughlin, pollsters, Brett Loyd, they’ve, ” Loyd, “ They’ve, CNN’s Manu Raju, Donald Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Iowa, Advisers, Trump, Democratic, South Carolina Gov, Republicans, New, White, GOP, Republican, Republican National, Fox News, RNC, New Hampshire Gov, Biden, Hill, “, Florida Gov, South Carolina Rep, Fox, New Hampshire GOP, University of Michigan Locations: New Hampshire, Iowa, Florida, ‘, Trump, Arizona, Pennsylvania

And the DeSantis campaign made many of them, his advisers, allies and supporters have acknowledged to CNN in interviews. Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, speaks during a campaign event in Hampton, New Hampshire, on January 17, 2024. Michael Reaves/Getty Images DeSantis and his wife, Casey, have three children: from left, daughters Mamie and Madison and son Mason. But that approach was rejected by the woman who would be announced as DeSantis’ campaign manager, Generra Peck. And yet, in the face of this overwhelming rejection of his pitch to Make America Florida, DeSantis refused to change gears.

Persons: Ron DeSantis steeled, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Trump, “, Nikki Haley, Trump hadn’t, ” DeSantis, Elon Musk, ”, Curt Anderson, Alex Castellanos, Ron DeSantis, Joseph Prezioso, It’s, Casey, God, Rupert Murdoch’s, Will Lanzoni, Jane, Zuma Press DeSantis, Dunedin High School DeSantis, US Navy DeSantis, John Boehner, Charles Dharapak, Bill Clark, Tom Williams, Trey Gowdy, Al Drago, Zack Wittman, Patrick Farrell, Andrew Gillum, Chris O'Meara, Jeff J Mitchell, Stephen M, Dowell, Chris Kleponis, Lynne Sladky, Steve Cannon, Fernando Medina, Deborah Birx, Doug Mills, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Saul Loeb, Madison, Tori Lynn Schneider, Vera Leip, Joe Raedle, Michael Reaves, Mamie, Mason, WFTS DeSantis, Joe Biden, Hurricane Ian, Charlie Crist, Marco Bello, Reuters DeSantis, Sophie Park, Jordan Gale, –, Stormy Daniels, Jeff Roe, Ken Cuccinelli, Roe, scrappy, Ken Griffin, bankroll DeSantis, Griffin, Dana Bash, Generra Peck, Musk, ” Donors, Peck, Christina Pushaw, Bryan Griffin, Hugh Hewitt, Scott Olson, Ryan Tyson, Zuckerbucks, Kim Reynolds, Reynolds, Iowa –, Anna Moneymaker Organizations: CNN, Trump, New, GOP, Former South Carolina Gov, Christian Broadcasting Network, Elon, Republican, “ JV, ”, Politico, Florida Governor, Getty, Republican Party, New York Post, Disney, Florida Gov, Little League Baseball, Petersburg Times, Zuma Press, Dunedin High School, Yale University, US Navy, Navy, General's Corps, District, DeSantis, First, Bloomberg, Miami Herald, Tribune, Service, Democratic, Orlando Sentinel, White, Orlando Magic, NBA, Coronavirus, New York Times, Tallahassee Democrat, USA, Conservative Political, Conference, University of South, Reuters, Iowa State University football, PAC, “, Fox News, Florida, Central Bank Digital Currency, Iowa, Gov, “ Iowa Republican, Republicans Locations: Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire, Hawkeye, Hampton , New Hampshire, AFP, Wally's, Jacksonville , Florida, Dunedin , Florida, Windsor, V, St, Florida's, Tampa , Florida, Orlando, Jacksonville, Sanford , Florida, Tallahassee , Florida, Tallahassee, Pompano Beach , Florida, Miami, Surfside , Florida, University of South Florida, Covid, Tampa, Bedford, Bedford , New Hampshire, Ames , Iowa, New York, Dunedin, Newton , Iowa, Park City , Utah, Tennessee, South Carolina, Trump, Des Moines, West Des Moines , Iowa, Myrtle Beach, “ Iowa, America Florida

☆ DeSantis ends 2024 presidential campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kit Maher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign,” DeSantis said. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio (the latter two of whom he bested in the 2016 Republican presidential primary). Patrick Farrell/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images DeSantis shakes hands with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum after a CNN debate in October 2018. Joe Raedle/Getty Images DeSantis speaks at the opening of the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2021. Joe Raedle/Getty Images DeSantis helps hold a python as he kicks off the 2021 Python Challenge in Miami.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s, ” DeSantis, I’ve, Donald Trump, Anthony Fauci, Trump, Joe Biden, “, Nikki Haley, ”, DeSantis, Casey, “ DeSantis, Steve Deace, “ It’s, indicting Donald Trump, Haley, Jeb Bush, Sen, Marco Rubio, ‘, ’, Will Lanzoni, Jane, Zuma Press DeSantis, Dunedin High School DeSantis, US Navy DeSantis, John Boehner, Charles Dharapak, Bill Clark, Tom Williams, Trey Gowdy, Al Drago, Zack Wittman, Patrick Farrell, Andrew Gillum, Chris O'Meara, Jeff J Mitchell, Stephen M, Dowell, Chris Kleponis, Lynne Sladky, Steve Cannon, Fernando Medina, Deborah Birx, Doug Mills, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Saul Loeb, Madison, Tori Lynn Schneider, Vera Leip, Joe Raedle, Michael Reaves, Mamie, Mason, WFTS DeSantis, Hurricane Ian, Charlie Crist, Marco Bello, Reuters DeSantis, Sophie Park, Jordan Gale, –, Rupert Mudoch, Jeff Roe, caucused, Kim Reynolds, ’ ”, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jeff Zeleny Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, Republican, Iowa Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Little League Baseball, Petersburg Times, Zuma Press, Dunedin High School, Yale University, US Navy, Navy, General's Corps, District, DeSantis, First, Bloomberg, Getty, Miami Herald, Tribune, Service, Democratic, Orlando Sentinel, White, Orlando Magic, NBA, Coronavirus, New York Times, Tallahassee Democrat, USA, Conservative Political, Conference, University of South, Reuters, Iowa State University football, House, Fox News, Twitter, GOP, Little League, Yale, Harvard, New York Post, PAC Locations: Iowa, Florida, Wally's, Hampton , New Hampshire, Jacksonville , Florida, Dunedin , Florida, Windsor, V, St, Florida's, Tampa , Florida, Orlando, Jacksonville, Sanford , Florida, Tallahassee , Florida, Tallahassee, Pompano Beach , Florida, Miami, Surfside , Florida, University of South Florida, Covid, Tampa, New Hampshire, Bedford, Bedford , New Hampshire, Ames , Iowa

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