Donald Trump is back on the 2024 campaign trail having attended his son Barron’s high school graduation, for which Judge Juan Merchan scheduled a day off for the court as the prosecution in Mr Trump’s criminal hush money trial nears the close of its case.
The former president attended a fundraiser in Minnesota on Friday at which he said he wants Joe Biden to take a drug test before they debate on 27 June. He then travelled to Dallas to address the National Rifle Association convention, where he kept the crowd waiting for over two hours and appeared to freeze for 30 seconds.
Mr Trump will hold his first rally in New York since 2016 with an event planned in the South Bronx next week. The Trump campaign has filed a permit for a 3,500-person event in Crotona Park at 6pm on 23 May — once he has been allowed out of court for the day.
Mr Trump last held a rally in his native state in Buffalo in 2016 but has not attempted anything since given the Democratic Party’s dominance. Enthusiastic supporters of Mr Trump have organised a “MAGA Cruise” around Manhattan the evening before the rally.
At Morehouse commencement Biden tells pro-Gaza student protesters their ‘voices should be heard’
President Joe Biden called for an “immediate ceasefire” and acknowledged protesters who have denounced the Israeli siege as a genocide as he spoke on Sunday at one of the nation’s oldest historically Black colleges, Morehouse.
The president told Morehouse College’s graduating class of seniors that the voices of protesters “should be heard” even as the school was forced to threaten students with the cancellation of commencement ceremonies if disruptions occurred.
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 18:00
Trump appears to freeze on stage during NRA speech
The former president — who kept the crowd waiting for more than two hours from the scheduled time of his speech on Saturday — was praising the state of Texas before he suddenly fell silent at the lectern.
Supporters of President Joe Biden were quick to pounce on the moment given that Mr Trump, 77, frequently attacks the president, 81, for his age, claiming he is not mentally competent and is too old for office.
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 17:30
Giuliani belts out ‘New York, New York’ at 80th birthday before being served with indictment
Mr Giuliani was also filmed belting out Frank Sinatra’s classic “New York, New York” to cheers from guests.
Katie Hawkinson has the story:
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 17:00
Watch: Stefanik clashes with Fox News host over previous Trump remarks
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 16:45
Full story: SNL finale teases Trump’s VP picks
Katie Hawkinson has the story:
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 16:30
Watch: Former Trump campaign aide says debate will be ‘challenge’ for Biden
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 16:15
MAGA cruise around New York announced to coincide with Trump’s Bronx rally
A “Trump Rally Bronx MAGA cruise” on the evening of 22 May, the day before the former president appears at his first New York rally in eight years, was announced on Saturday by the site, TrumpSwag.com.
Here’s what you need to know:
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 16:00
Biden: ‘My opponent is not a good loser — but he is a loser’
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 15:40
Jan 6: Rioter loses GOP primary for West Virginia congressional seat
A man convicted of entering the Capitol during the January 6 riot lost a Republican primary for the House of Representatives in West Virginia on Tuesday.
Derrick Evans was running against WV-1 incumbent Rep Carol Miller for a seat in the very same chamber he once joined a mob of enraged Trump supporters attempting to storm. He lost by more than 20,000 once all votes were counted.
John Bowden has the details:
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 15:30
Oliver O’Connell19 May 2024 15:20