Trump trial live updates: Trump rails against ‘unconstitutional’ gag order ahead of second contempt hearing
LIVE – Updated at 14:30
Donald Trump is back at the Manhattan Criminal Court for the resumption of his New York hush money trial after using Wednesday’s recess to hit the campaign trail in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan at which he largely played the hits, delivering the familiar slew of insults, grievances, half-truths and apocalyptic forecasts.
Judge Juan Merchan is due to consider four more alleged violations of Mr Trump’s gag order today after fining him $9,000 for nine breaches on Tuesday and warning the defendant he could face “incarceratory punishment” if he persists in bad-mouthing key participants.
This week the court has already heard key testimony from Gary Farro, the banker for former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, explaining how the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to cover up the alleged extramarital affair with Mr Trump was funded.
It has also heard from Keith Davidson, the ex-lawyer for Ms Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal who negotiated the sale of their stories to guarantee their silence, which became urgent in October 2016 after the Access Hollywood tape was released.
Mr Davidson will continue giving evidence on Thursday.
The Independent’s Alex Woodward is covering the trial at Manhattan Criminal Court.
Key Points
- New York hush money trial: What to expect on day 10
- Wisconsin rally: Trump predicts destruction of US if he loses vote, says majority ‘thrilled’ Roe v Wade overturned
- Michigan rally: Trump praises Supreme Court justices, promises ‘great iron dome’ and raves about dishwashers
- Trump and allies raise baseless comparisons between Gaza protests and January 6 riot
- Former president admits he told Secret Service to take him to Capitol on Jan 6
Trump delivers daily hallway grievances
14:30 , Oliver O’Connell
Per the court pool report:
Trump came into the 15th floor hallway at 9:14
Jason Miller gave your poolers a 5-minute heads-up, which was helpful and he should continue doing.
Trump bragged about yesterday’s rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin. Said interest rates would not go down before the election. Talked about Inflation.
Said case could have been brought 8 years ago. “They have no case” he said several times. Said judge is “conflicted.”
Commented on college campuses.
“I’m so proud of New York’s finest.” Praised police at Columbia and UCLA. Blamed “radical left lunatics.” “The right is not your problem,” he said.
He’s wearing a bright gold toe with his navy suit. Stood next to Todd Blanche in a wide-stance power pose.
Did not answer questions about plans for Gaza, what a fair election would look like.
Court gets underway
14:28 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward is reporting for The Independent from the courthouse:
Trump defence lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove are both wearing identical dark navy suits and dark ties. Trump has on a gold tie and Susan Necheles is wearing a gold top. Everyone’s coordinated today.
Trump was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed moments before the photo pool got to the defence table. When they turned the corner towards him he perked up and assumed his position — stern, leaning forward, hands folded in front of him.
Watch: Trump claims economy ‘doing terribly’ and takes aim at campus protest ‘radical left’
14:23 , Oliver O’Connell
VP check: Potential Trump running mate Vance entrapped on CNN as Noem continues to defend dog murder
14:18 , Oliver O’Connell
Neither JD Vance nor Kristi Noem exactly cover themselves in glory here but bravo to Kaitlan Collins for this deliciously dastardly trap, into which the Ohio senator blundered like a hapless bear.
Trump claimed a rally guest’s business did better during his presidency… it opened in 2023
14:14 , Oliver O’Connell
During his first rally yesterday in Wisconsin, Donald Trump invited Milwaukee business owner Shana Gray on stage and talked about how her business, a vegan cafe, did better during his presidency.
The slight catch, as noted by Jeramey Jannene of Urban Milwaukee, is that her business didn’t open until 2023 — two years into the Biden administration.
But that’s not where the story ends…
New York hush money trial: Read Alvin Bragg’s latest contempt motion against Trump
14:00 , Joe Sommerlad
You can see the Manhattan DA’s latest filing on the four more potential gag order violations Judge Merchan will consider today here.
And you can see the evidence his team cites here.
Trump receives $1.8bn worth of Trump Media stock in bonus
13:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Our man just landed an approximate $1.8bn stock bonus from Trump Media & Technology, the parent company of Truth Social, providing a shiny silver lining to a week that would otherwise be filled with hours of dreary court case proceedings.
Amelia Neath has more on this cosy little windfall.
Donald Trump receives $1.8bn worth of Trump Media stock in bonus
Trump campaign gripes over commission’s refusal to change debate dates to suit ex-president
13:15 , Joe Sommerlad
The Republican’s campaign is complaining about the Commission on Presidential Debates’ “unacceptable” decision to stick to its schedule – rather than changing its plans to suit the whims of the former commander-in-chief.
The comission has scheduled the first debate for 16 September at Texas State University in San Marcos, with a vice presidential debate then slated for 25 September at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Another two presidential debates are scheduled to go ahead the following month in Virginia and Utah.
The commission released its schedule in late November, close to a year before the 2024 election, and has rejected requests from the Trump campaign to bring forward debates to earlier in the year.
Gustaf Kilander has more.
Trump campaign gripes over commission’s refusal to change debate dates
Watch live: Trump hush money trial continues with second gag order ruling due
13:06 , Joe Sommerlad
Here we go again.
You can watch a livestream from Manhattan via the link below.
Watch live: Trump hush money trial continues as second gag order ruling due
Trump vows to free WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russian prison
12:45 , Joe Sommerlad
The former president has been oddly reluctant to speak up for the imprisoned American reporter but was finally compelled to address his situation in this week’s big interview with Time magazine, pledging to ensure Gershkovich’s release from Vladimir Putin’s clutches if he is elected.
Trump vows to free WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russian prison
Truth Social: Trump warns of ‘radical left revolution’
12:36 , Joe Sommerlad
The Orange One, no doubt exhausted from yesterday’s rallies and associated travel, appears to have woken up in a very bad mood indeed, raging in all-caps about Judge Merchan over his trial and President Biden and California governor Gavin Newsom over the violence at UCLA.
Trump and allies raise baseless comparisons between Gaza protests and January 6 riot
12:15 , Joe Sommerlad
Alex Woodward has this on the former president’s disturbing and disingenuous pivot towards equating this week’s Gaza protests with the Capitol riot, opportunism as rank as you could care to see.
Trump and allies try to compare Gaza protests and January 6 riot
New York hush money trial: What to expect on day 10
12:00 , Joe Sommerlad
Alex Woodward is back at Manhattan Criminal Court for us this morning and says this:
“It’s a misty morning in downtown Manhattan, where Donald Trump, who routinely looks completely spent when he’s in court, will return to his criminal trial after a midweek campaign rally marathon in Wisconsin and Michigan.
“First, prosecutors will present four more allegations that he breached the trial’s gag order, right on the heels of Justice Juan Merchan imposing a $9,000 fine and a warning of jail time if he keeps it up.
“Last week, while awaiting the judge’s decision on whether to impose sanctions on previous gag order breaches, prosecutors accused Trump of violating the gag order four times within three days of the trial’s first week, including right outside the court’s doors.
“On 22 April, Trump said his former lawyer and trial witness Michael Cohen ‘wasn’t very good in a lot of ways’. In a nine-minute rant the same day, he said Cohen ‘got caught lying, pure lying’.
“That night, he slammed the jury as ‘95 per cent Democrat’.
“On 23 April, in an interview with Pennsylvania TV station, he said Cohen ‘is a convicted liar and he’s got no credibility whatsoever’.
“Asked about David Pecker’s testimony, he said he’s ‘very nice’ and ‘a nice guy’.
“’This is a message to Pecker. Be nice. It’s a message to others. I have a platform, I can talk about you, and I can say things like this or like I said about Michael Cohen’, assistant district attorney Christopher Conroy told the judge last week.
“At his rallies on Wednesday, Trump appears to have avoided violating the gag but took shots at the judge, who, along with prosecutors, is fair game. The gag blocks him from speaking out about witnesses, court staff and their families.
“‘I’ve got to do two of these things a day. You know why? Because I’m in New York all the time with the Biden trial,’ he said in Michigan. ‘It’s a fake trial. They do it to try and take your powers away, try and take your candidate away’.
“When the trial resumes around 10am, prosecutors will resume questioning of Keith Davidson, a former attorney for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. When we left off on Tuesday, Davidson was detailing his exchanges with Cohen, who arranged a wire transfer to pay Daniels for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump weeks before the 2016 election.
“Davidson said that Cohen was an urgent and excitable guy at the time – comparing him to the dog from Pixar’s Up.”
Alex adds that last week’s gag order hearing went extremely badly for Trump attorney Todd Blanche, who may hand over the responsibilities to a colleague this time around.
Here’s his report on that hearing.
‘You’re losing all credibility’: Judge scolds Trump attorneys over Truth Social posts
New York hush money trial: Need to catch up on what’s happened in court so far?
11:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump. Looking sad in court. (AP)
Feeling a little overwhelmed and lost by what has been a whirlwind trial to this point?
Never fear. We’ve got you covered.
Here are our key takeaways from the trial’s opening statements and testimony so far:
New York hush money trial: Trump faces prospect of additional sanctions as key witness resumes testimony
11:15 , Joe Sommerlad
Judge Juan Merchan will commence another day at Manhattan Criminal Court at 9.30am in New York this morning, with Keith Davidson, the former attorney to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal due to resume his testimony.
Trump faces prospect of additional sanctions in hush money trial as key witness resumes testimony
Watch: Trump claims Biden ‘determined to create conditions’ of October 7 attack in US
10:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Here’s the Republican presidential contender scaremongering up a storm in Waukesha, cynically attempting to capitalise on the explosion of angry demonstrations on American college campuses over Gaza to suggest the president is presiding over a descent into lawlessness.
Watch: Trump claims Biden ‘determined to create conditions’ of October 7 attack in US
Trump admits he told Secret Service to take him to Capitol on Jan 6
10:15 , Joe Sommerlad
Here’s Kelly Rissman with more from Wisconsin, where the former president also made a key admission about his movements on 6 January 2021, confirming what Mark Meadows’ former aide Cassidy Hutchinson told Congress 18 months after the event.
Trump admits he told Secret Service to take him to Capitol on Jan 6
Truth Social: Trump attacks Fox for RFK Jr coverage, appeals to middle class and pitches ‘Maganomics’
09:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Much of the former president’s social media output overnight consisted of clips from those two rallies, plus a bunch of bad taste anti-Biden memes, but he also found time to hit out at both RFK Jr and Fox and to offer something almost akin to conventional electioneering, albeit without explaining what “Maganomics” actually consists of.
Michigan rally recap: Trump butters up Supreme Court justices, promises ‘great iron dome’ and raves about dishwashers
09:15 , Joe Sommerlad
From there, Trump hawked his tawdry wares in Freeland, Michigan, where he again insisted the overturning of Roe had brought joy to one and all, attempted to curry favour with the Supreme Court justices ahead of their eventual “presidential immunity” ruling, promised to protect America with “a great iron dome very much like Israel”, repeated his apocryphal Nato anecdote and unwisely brought up E Jean Carroll.
In addition, there was a further glitch on “biiiiig big dangerous trouble” and a bizarre interlude about “they” coming for your stoves and dishwashers.
Wisconsin rally recap: Trump predicts destruction of US if he loses and says majority ‘thrilled’ Roe v Wade was overturned
08:49 , Joe Sommerlad
The presidential candidate and criminal defendant made the most of his day off from court yesterday by visiting not one but two battleground states, starting in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
There, he repeatedly insisted the US would be destroyed if he does not win November’s election, claimed people are “thrilled” that the conservative justices he stacked the Supreme Court with overturned Roe v Wade, suggested Joe Biden’s job numbers were inflated (like the value of Trump Organization assets?) and claimed that London and Paris are no longer recognisable after they “opened their doors to jihad”.
He also struggled to say the word “infrastructure” and was briefly heckled.
Trump and allies raise baseless comparisons between Gaza protests and January 6 riot
08:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward writes:
Steps away from the doors of his criminal trial on Tuesday, Donald Trump compared nationwide college campus protests against Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza to his supporters launching an assault on the halls of Congress on January 6.
“They took over a building, that is a big deal. And I wonder if what’s going to happen to them will be anything comparable to what happened to J6, because they’re doing a lot of destruction, a lot of damages, a lot of people getting hurt very badly,” the former president said from the criminal courthouse in Manhattan on Tuesday.
“I wonder if that’s going to be the same kind of treatment they gave J6,” he added. “Let’s see how that all works out. I think I can give you the answer right now. And that’s why people have lost faith in our court system.”
Continue reading…
Trump and allies try to compare Gaza protests and January 6 riot
Experts weigh in on whether Trump should testify in hush money trial
07:15 , Oliver O’Connell
It would be yet another historic first for Donald Trump: a former president taking the stand to testify in his own criminal trial.
Currently staring down the possibility of jail time, Mr Trump appears to be toying with plans to take the stand and defend himself against allegations about a scheme seeking to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
Read Gustaf Kilander’s full article:
Should Donald Trump testify in his hush money trial? Experts weigh in
What has happened so far at Donald Trump’s hush money trial?
05:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Former US President Donald Trump speaks to press during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on April 30, 2024 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Do you need to catch up on what has happened so far at Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial?
We’ve got you covered.
Here are our key takeaways from the trial’s opening statements and testimony so far:
Court resumes in New York at 9.30am.
What is the prospect of more political violence if Trump loses in November?
03:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Mike Bedigan writes:
Donald Trump has refused to dismiss the possibility of more political violence, should he fail to win the upcoming presidential election in November.
The former president said that the response from his supporters “depends on the fairness of the election,” after having falsely claimed on multiple occasions that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him.
No evidence was ever presented to support those claims, which were rejected by judges across the country in the wake of Joe Biden’s victory.
Nevertheless…
Trump does not dismiss the possibility of more violence if he doesn’t win election
Trump campaign’s new gripe: Debate commission’s refusal to change dates to suit ex-president
02:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Gustaf Kilander reports:
Donald Trump’s campaign is complaining about the debate commission’s “unacceptable” decision to stick to its schedule – rather than changing its plans to suit the whims of the former commander-in-chief.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has been governing the presidential debate showdowns for decades.
Read on…
Trump campaign gripes over commission’s refusal to change debate dates
Trump and allies raise baseless comparisons between Gaza protests and January 6 riot
01:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward writes:
Steps away from the doors of his criminal trial on Tuesday, Donald Trump compared nationwide college campus protests against Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza to his supporters launching an assault on the halls of Congress on January 6.
“They took over a building, that is a big deal. And I wonder if what’s going to happen to them will be anything comparable to what happened to J6, because they’re doing a lot of destruction, a lot of damages, a lot of people getting hurt very badly,” the former president said from the criminal courthouse in Manhattan on Tuesday.
“I wonder if that’s going to be the same kind of treatment they gave J6,” he added. “Let’s see how that all works out. I think I can give you the answer right now. And that’s why people have lost faith in our court system.”
Continue reading…
Trump and allies try to compare Gaza protests and January 6 riot
Experts weigh in on whether Trump should testify in hush money trial
Thursday 2 May 2024 00:15 , Oliver O’Connell
It would be yet another historic first for Donald Trump: a former president taking the stand to testify in his own criminal trial.
Currently staring down the possibility of jail time, Mr Trump appears to be toying with plans to take the stand and defend himself against allegations about a scheme seeking to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
Read Gustaf Kilander’s full article:
Should Donald Trump testify in his hush money trial? Experts weigh in
Need to catch up on what’s happened at Trump’s trial so far?
Wednesday 1 May 2024 23:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump in court for his criminal trial (REUTERS)
Do you need to catch up on what has happened so far at Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial?
We’ve got you covered.
Here are our key takeaways from the trial’s opening statements and testimony so far:
Court resumes tomorrow at 9.30am.
The View host mocks Trump for ‘farting up a storm’ in court
Wednesday 1 May 2024 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell
The View co-host Sunny Hostin has mocked Donald Trump after it was widely reported that the former US president has been flatulent throughout his ongoing hush money trial in New York.
As Hostin put it: “He’s farting up a storm in the courtroom.”
The panellists on the ABC talk show were discussing Trump’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate in November’s upcoming presidential election on Wednesday (1 May).
Kevin E G Perry has the story:
The View’s Sunny Hostin mocks Donald Trump for ‘farting up a storm’ in court
Watch: Trump wildly claims Biden determined to create condition for Oct 7 attack in US with Gaza refugees
Wednesday 1 May 2024 21:25 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump campaign’s new gripe: Debate commission’s refusal to change dates to suit ex-president
Wednesday 1 May 2024 21:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Gustaf Kilander reports:
Donald Trump’s campaign is complaining about the debate commission’s “unacceptable” decision to stick to its schedule – rather than changing its plans to suit the whims of the former commander-in-chief.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has been governing the presidential debate showdowns for decades.
Read on…
Trump campaign gripes over commission’s refusal to change debate dates
Wednesday 1 May 2024 20:57 , Oliver O’Connell
Spoiler: He has said this multiple times.
Biden-Harris 2024 campaign ppounces on Trump Jan 6 admission
Wednesday 1 May 2024 20:46 , Oliver O’Connell
Speaking in Wisconsin this afternoon Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters that he told the Secret Service to take him to the Capitol on January 6 but they refused to let him go. His legal team had worked hard to deny this took place.
Watch: Trump focuses on economy but struggles with facts, words…
Wednesday 1 May 2024 20:18 , Oliver O’Connell
In his rambling way, former president Donald Trump gave his version of the current state of the US economy to a crowd of supporters at Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Republicans will need to choose ‘MAGA’ or ‘MUGA’ over Mike Johnson
Wednesday 1 May 2024 20:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Eric Garcia reports for The Independent from Capitol Hill:
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says her fellow representatives will need to choose between “MAGA” or “MUGA” as her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead.
On Wednesday, the right-wing Georgia firebrand, accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said she will call a privileged motion next week that would trigger an automatic vote within 48 hours over Johnson’s removal.
“I think every member of Congress needs to take that vote and let the chips fall where they may,” Ms Greene said at a press conference.
Continue reading…
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’ll trigger no-confidence vote on Johnson next week
Trump gets interrupted by heckler at Wisonsin event
Wednesday 1 May 2024 20:03 , Oliver O’Connell
Whatever the person was saying was drowned out by the crowd of supporters.
Watch: Trump speaking Waukesha, Wisconsin
Wednesday 1 May 2024 19:34 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump receives $1.8bn worth of Trump Media stock in bonus
Wednesday 1 May 2024 19:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump just landed an approximate $1.8bn stock bonus from Trump Media, the owner of Truth Social, bringing a silver lining to his week that would otherwise be filled with hours of court case proceedings in the criminal hush money trial.
Trump Media & Technology Group disclosed the former president’s sudden gain of the billion-dollar stock in a filing on Tuesday, announcing that he has received an additional 36 million shares in the company.
His bonus, known as “earnout shares”, came as a result of the company’s share price staying above certain target levels on the market.
Amelia Neath reads:
Donald Trump receives $1.8bn worth of Trump Media stock in bonus
Trump lands in Wisconsin
Wednesday 1 May 2024 19:13 , Oliver O’Connell Wednesday 1 May 2024 19:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump and allies raise baseless comparisons between Gaza protests and January 6 riot
Wednesday 1 May 2024 18:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward reports:
Steps away from the doors of his criminal trial on Tuesday, Donald Trump compared nationwide college campus protests against Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza to his supporters launching an assault on the halls of Congress on January 6.
“They took over a building, that is a big deal. And I wonder if what’s going to happen to them will be anything comparable to what happened to J6, because they’re doing a lot of destruction, a lot of damages, a lot of people getting hurt very badly,” the former president said from the criminal courthouse in Manhattan on Tuesday.
Continue reading…
Trump and allies try to compare Gaza protests and January 6 riot
Trump tries to make criminal trial into campaign
Wednesday 1 May 2024 18:15 , Alex Woodward
As he heads out on the campaign trail once again, here’s how Donald Trump has been trying to pivot his criminal trial to his advantage:
Stuck in court, Trump turns his criminal trial into his campaign
Wednesday 1 May 2024 17:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump vows to free WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russian prison
What did we learn about Karen McDougal’s hush money deal in court?
Wednesday 1 May 2024 17:15 , Oliver O’Connell
The attorney who represented a former Playboy model who alleged a months-long affair with Donald Trump had offered a “blockbuster” story to a tabloid editor, kicking off negotiations that helped his 2016 campaign bury a potentially campaign-killing story in the months before Election Day.
Jurors in the former president’s hush money trial on Tuesday saw a series of text messages between attorney Keith Davidson, who represented Karen McDougal at the time, and then-National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard, who brokered a deal with publisher David Pecker to buy the rights to Ms McDougal’s story for $150,000.
Alex Woodward has the details…
Hush money trial sees texts negotiating deal for ‘blockbuster Trump story’
Obama says Trump ‘not considered a serious guy’ in New York
Wednesday 1 May 2024 16:45 , Oliver O’Connell
The Republican presidential candidate will not like this one bit and I think we can fully expect a Truth Social rant as soon as it comes his way.
Watch: MAGA meet MUGA
Wednesday 1 May 2024 16:32 , Oliver O’Connell
At a press conference this morning pushing to remove Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene puts a “MUGA” (Make Ukraine Great Again) hat on a poster of him and leading Democrat Rep Hakeem Jeffries, and denounces “forever wars”.
The far-right Georgia firebrand deeply opposes funding the defence of Ukraine from Vladimir Putin’s continuing war on the US ally.
Threat of jail is very real for Trump as judge issues fines and warning…
Wednesday 1 May 2024 16:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward reports:
The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money trial has threatened him with jailtime if he continues to violate a gag order in the case, after hitting him with a $9,000 fine for nine separate violations.
Moments before a second week of witness testimony began on Tuesday morning, New York justice Juan Merchan issued a brief order from the bench finding the former president in contempt of court and ordering $1,000 fines for nine offending Truth Social posts where he attacked witnesses in the case.
In his written order, the judge warned that Mr Trump could face an “incarceratory punishment” if he continues his “wilful violations” of the court’s order, if “necessary and appropriate under the circumstances”.
Continue reading…
Trump hit with $9,000 fine for violating hush money trial gag order
Watch: ‘We have to let Israel complete their war on terror’ says Trump in response to student protest
Wednesday 1 May 2024 15:59 , Oliver O’Connell
Trial hears how campaign insiders thought Access Hollywood tape was end of Trump
Wednesday 1 May 2024 15:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Alex Woodward watched proceedings yesterday in court:
While Donald Trump’s campaign was spiralling after a leaked tape caught him bragging about sexually assaulting women, an attorney and tabloid editor brokering deals to keep damaging stories about him out of the press thought his chances of winning the 2016 presidential election were over, his hush money trial heard on Tuesday.
Continue reading…
Insiders thought Access Hollywood tape would be the end for Trump, trial hears
MSNBC anchor suggests she might not be on air if Trump wins in November
Wednesday 1 May 2024 15:15 , Joe Sommerlad
Reflecting on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Nicolle Wallace says she fears an attack from Trump on the free press if he is re-elected in November that could see her forced out of a job.
“Behind the levity, there was something darker. A darker undercurrent, if you will, and a point that the president had to make — and it was more profoundly serious,” she said yesterday.
“Because at this exact time next year, depending on what happens in November, seven months from now, we can’t say for certain that there would even be a White House Correspondents’ Dinner, or even a free press, or even a White House press corps.
“This time next year, I might not be sitting here.”
Right-wing commentators are enjoying deriding Wallace as hysterical and for threatening them with a good time but a warning to moderates against complacency is rarely ill-timed.
What happened in court yesterday?
Wednesday 1 May 2024 14:47 , Oliver O’Connell
With no trial today, Donald Trump is on the road with rallies in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and then Freeland, Michigan.
Meanwhile, here’s what you missed yesterday in court…
Trump hush money trial: Key takeaways from fifth day of testimony
Colbert defends pro-Palestine college campus demonstrators after Trump attack
Wednesday 1 May 2024 14:44 , Oliver O’Connell
Stephen Colbert has defended pro-Palestine campus protesters days after Donald Trump tried to claim that they make the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville look tame.
The Late Show host, 59, spoke in solidarity with the protesters – who have gathered to urge their institutions to vocally condemn the war in Gaza — but insisted they must remain peaceful.
James Liddell has the story:
Colbert defends pro-Palestine campus demonstrators after Trump attack