Trump dead even with Biden in new poll while he pushes mug shot merch: Live updates

A new poll shows Donald Trump and Joe Biden neck-and-neck among voters nationally.

The new poll, by the Wall Street Journal, also found that 59 per cent of Republican voters say the former president would be their first choice if the GOP primary was today.

“Wow! Ron DeSanctimonious has seen a Polling CRASH like no other. People have gotten to know him. Also, really bad Social Security votes, and would decimate Medicare. That doesn’t play well in America!” Mr Trump boasted on Truth Social.

This comes as Mr Trump could be in hot water over his use of his mug shot to sell merchandise for his political campaign.

Legal experts have warned that the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office owns the copyright for the image and so could sue Mr Trump for using it on t-shirts and other merchandise.

Last week, Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges levelled against him in the Georgia election interference case and waived his right to an arraignment.

Some of Mr Trump’s 18 co-defendants have also waived their in-person arraignments, while the remainder are still expected to appear for the hearing on Wednesday.

Key Points

• New poll has Biden, Trump in dead heat

• Trump moves to sever his own Georgia election fraud case from co-defendants seeking speedy trial

• Mitch McConnell’s health struggles back in focus as he suffers second ‘freeze’ on camera

• Trump threatens to ‘lock up’ rivals if he wins 2024 race

• Biden knocks Trump in Labor Day address

Breaking: Proud Boys ringleader Enrique Tarrio sentenced to 22 years in prison for Jan 6 attack

22:52 , Alex Woodward

Enrique Tarrio, the now-former leader of the neo-fascist Proud Boys gang convicted on treason-related charges after fuelling a mob on January 6, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Tarrio was among four members of the group convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes earlier this year following a four-month trial. Tarrio, as the group’s leader, organized and directed a mob towards the US Capitol, where Proud Boys dismantled barricades and broke windows to breach the halls of Congress, then bragged about their actions on social media and in group chat messages that were later shared with jurors.

Enrique Tarrio sentenced to 22 years in prison for Jan 6 attack

NY AG: Trump should be fined thousands for repeatedly using ‘frivolous’ legal arguments

22:50 , Graig Graziosi

New York Attorney General Letitia James has called for Donald Trump to be sanctioned for using “frivolous” legal arguments to defend himself.

Letitia James wants Trump fined $20,000 for ‘frivolous’ legal defences

GOP candidates search for a path against Trump in pivotal South Carolina primary

22:30 , AP

In all but one primary since 1980, the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to be the party’s nominee.

In the pivotal South Carolina primary, Republican candidates search for a path against Donald Trump

As their rivals rack up the stops, Biden and Trump are keeping relatively light campaign schedules

22:10 , AP

Their rivals are busy answering voters’ questions at town halls across South Carolina, glad-handing with business owners in New Hampshire and grinding to hit every one of Iowa‘s 99 counties.

But the front-runners for their party’s nomination, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, are barely campaigning in crucial early-voting states as the primary season enters the fall rush.

Biden and Trump are keeping relatively light campaign schedules

Voices: Is 2023 the year toxic men finally get their comeuppance?

21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Beware, those who f*** around – this may just be the year that you find out, writes Ryan Coogan.

From Trump to Punk: is 2023 the year toxic men get their comeuppance? | Ryan Coogan

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

21:35 , John Bowden

The future of Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has been thrown into financial purgatory as a company created to help take the ex-president’s social media site public battles with financial regulators and is cited for deceiving investors.

Mr Trump first announced plans to transform his Truth Social enterprise into a publicly-traded company in late 2021. But the effort has stalled time and time again, thanks to near-constant issues including the firing of its former CEO and the arrest of a board member on insider trading allegations.

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

Eastman files to sever his case from his co-defendants who pursue speedy trial in Fulton County

21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump lawyer John Eastman has filed to sever his case from his co-defendants who have filed a speedy trial demand in Fulton County. Namely, they are Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro.

Anna Bower of Lawfare has been keeping track of all of the requests by individual defendants to sever their cases from others in the sprawling election interference case.

George Santos dismisses plea deal talk as ‘speculative'

21:10 , Kelly Rissman

New York Congressman George Santos said that talks of a plea deal in the fraud case against him are merely “speculative,” after prosecutors asked for the delay of a court-ordered meeting, in part to continue “discussions” with the Republican representative.

George Santos plays down talk of plea deal in fraud case

Legal experts divided on 14th amendment arguments that Trump can be banned from 2024 race

20:50 , John Bowden

As Donald Trump looks increasingly likely to be the 2024 Republican nominee for president, it continues to look more and more plausible that there could be a serious effort to keep him off the ballot entirely.

The idea centres around the utilisation of a clause in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, originally intended to keep supporters of the South’s failed cause of secession from being elected to office, which bars those who take part in insurrections or who have “given aid or comfort to the enemies” of the United States government from taking office.

Read on...

Can Trump be banned from 2024 race? Legal experts explain 14th amendment arguments

NY AG wants Trump sanctioned for reusing ‘frivolous’ legal arguments

20:38 , Oliver O'Connell

New York Attorney General Letitia James’s office has asked a judge to sanction former President Donald Trump and others for repeatedly using failed legal arguments in the financial fraud case filed against the Trump Organization.

Ms James wants the co-defendants to be fined $10,000 collectively and that a similar fine be imposed on the defence attorneys, according to Raw Story.

“The Court rejected these arguments for a second time, noting that they ‘were borderline frivolous even the first time defendants made them,’ and observed that reading Defendant’s brief ‘was, to quote the baseball sage Lawrence Peter (‘Yogi’) Berra, ‘Deja vu all over again,’” the court filing said.

New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron can “impose financial sanctions upon any party or attorney in a civil action or proceeding who engages in frivolous conduct”.

The attorney general seeks $250m from Trump and other defendants for alleged financial fraud. The trial is scheduled to begin in four weeks.

Trump co-defendant asks Fulton County judge to extend pre-trial deadlines

20:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump Fulton County election interference co-defendant Jeffrey Clark has asked Judge Scott McAfee to extend pre-trial deadlines in the case until 30 days after he’s done litigating any appeals resulting from efforts to move his state criminal charges to federal court.

Explained: The federal investigation into Trump, January 6, and the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election

20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward explains how a sprawling Justice Department probe into the former president and his allies yielded four criminal charges in a stunning indictment outlining a path to power at whatever cost.

The federal investigation into Trump and January 6, explained

Can Trump pardon himself?

19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s not as straightforward as he seems to think...

Can Donald Trump pardon himself?

Jan 6 defendant charged with having weapons near Obama home refuses plea deal

19:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Taylor Taranto, the January 6 defendant charged with unlawfully possessing guns near the Obama’s Washington DC home in June, has told prosecutors today he will not accept any plea offer and wants to go to trial as soon as possible.

He was detained near the Obama’s Kalorama neighbourhood home said through his lawyer, assistant federal public defender Kathryn Guevara, that he wants to go to court potentially as soon as the first few weeks of January 2024.

Mr Taranto faces four misdemeanour counts for his alleged role in the Capitol riot, as well as two felony charges alleging he violated DC laws against carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

Man arrested near Obama home threatened other prominent lawmakers, officials say

When is Trump on trial? Here are all the court dates

19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s 2024 calendar is quickly booking up with court dates corresponding to his plentiful criminal indictments and civil lawsuits.

The ex-president and his legal team are preparing for a busy year ahead as they attempt to juggle the many trial dates while Mr Trump continues his campaign for 2024 president.

So far, Mr Trump has been criminally indicted four times – two of which are on the federal level and two are on the state level. This is on top of two civil lawsuits the ex-president is involved in New York City.

Though Mr Trump’s legal team has continuously pushed judges to delay trial dates until after the 2024 election, nearly all of the dates for his criminal indictments have been set for next spring.

Here are the trial dates for Mr Trump thus far.

When is Donald Trump going on trial?

Trump cruising to GOP nomination as latest poll underlines DeSantis collapse

19:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Enrique Tarrio seditious conspiracy sentencing underway

19:16 , Alex Woodward

Sentencing for now-former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio is now underway. He’s the last of five Proud Boys who were tried together for seditious conspiracy earlier this year facing a sentence before US District Judge Timothy Kelly.

Federal prosecutors want 33 years. The judge has thus far handed down sentences that are roughly half of what prosecutors have sought.

Ethan Nordean, a former Proud Boys organizer who was instrumental in rallying members and leading them to the US Capitol, was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison, tying Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes for the longest sentence yet in connection with January 6 crimes.

Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest January 6 prison sentence

All of Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits and where they currently stand

19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has never been more vulnerable.

Without the privileges and prestige of the presidency to protect him, Mr Trump is facing serious lawsuits and criminal indictments across New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington.

Federal officials, local prosecutors, and individuals are going after him for everything from his private conduct to his political manoeuvering during the 2020 election. If even just one of these efforts is successful, the US could see its first-ever former president in prison.

Here, The Independent explains each major case:

Tracking Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

Final Trump Fulton County co-defendant pleads not guilty

19:03 , Oliver O'Connell

Misty Hampton who is facing charges related to the Coffee County voting system breach, has now pleaded not guilty.

Now, all 19 defendants in the sprawling Fulton County racketeering case have now pleaded not guilty.

All have also waived their arraignment hearings that would have happened tomorrow in Georgia.

Rep Gloria Johnson of ‘Tennessee Three’ launches 2024 Senate bid

18:50 , AP

Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson, a Democrat who shot to national fame after surviving a Republican-led expulsion effort for participating in a pro-gun control demonstration, has announced that she’s running for U.S. Senate in a state that has solely elected GOP statewide candidates for nearly two decades.

Johnson, 61, is running for a seat currently held by Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, 71, who is seeking reelection.

Rep. Gloria Johnson of 'Tennessee Three' officially launches 2024 Senate campaign

Trump angrily refutes claim that 14th amendment disqualifies him in 2024

18:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Donald Trump angrily refuted the claims on his Truth Social platform that the 14th Amendment would prevent him from running for president again.

He wrote: “Almost all legal scholars have voiced opinions that the 14th Amendment has no legal basis or standing relative to the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election.”

Trump refutes claim that 14th amendment disqualifies him from being president again

The next presidential campaign is coming into focus. It might look a lot like the last one.

18:10 , AP

The end of Labor Day weekend would typically mark the start of a furious sprint to the Iowa caucuses as candidates battle for their party's presidential nomination. But as the 2024 campaign comes into greater focus, the usual frenzy is yielding to a sense of inevitability.

Read more...

The next presidential campaign is coming into focus. It might look a lot like the last one.

Fulton County court releases historic Trump bond paperwork

18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Ashli Babbitt’s mother makes death threat against officer who shot daughter

17:50 , Kelly Rissman

The mother of Ashli Babbitt, who was killed during the January 6 riot, has called for the Capitol Police officer who shot her daughter to be hanged — along with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Micki Witthoeft, Babbitt’s mother, said to a crowd of people, reportedly outside of the DC jail: “The Capitol Police needs to be abolished, or at the very least investigated.”

She continued, “Michael Byrd needs to swing from the end of a rope, along with Nancy Pelosi.” Ms Pelosi was serving as Speaker of the House on January 6, 2021.

Ashli Babbitt’s mom calls for hanging of Capitol officer who shot daughter and Pelosi

As NFL season kicks off, Biden campaign launches ad blitz

17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden’s re-election operation will use the start of the National Football League season as a springboard to launch a massive ad blitz to highlight his administration’s economic record, his campaign has said.

Mr Biden’s 2024 campaign will spend $25m over the 16-week NFL season to place advertisements in front of football fans living in cities located in key swing states: Phoenix, Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, Raleigh, Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Biden campaign to launch ad blitz as NFL season kicks off

Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsmax interview takes cringeworthy turn

17:00 , Kelly Rissman

A Newsmax interview quickly turned awkward when Donald Trump Jr’s fiancé, Kimberly Guilfoyle, recoiled at the lack of certainty in the host’s words, when he said former President Donald Trump could be her “potential” future father-in-law.

Host Greg Kelly began the interview by asking Ms Guilfoyle about the impact of the Georgia election interference indictment on Mr Trump — before it took an unexpected turn: “So obviously this atrocity unfolds, your potential father-in-law under arrest. But you know what? It’s turning up roses.”

“Potential?” Ms Guilfoyle retorted with a laugh. “Future father-in-law. Jesus.” The pair reportedly got engaged on New Year’s Eve 2020.

Kimberly Guilfoyle cringes at Newsmax host calling Trump ‘potential father-in-law’

‘No evidence’ McConnell had stroke or seizures says congressional physician

16:54 , John Bowden

The office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell released a letter from Congress’s attending physician on Tuesday proclaiming there to be “no evidence” that the leading Republican suffers from a seizure disorder or recently had a stroke.

Mr McConnell, 81, is one of the Senate’s oldest members. At two recent press conferences, he has appeared to freeze up completely and found himself unable to speak or respond to questions before being hurriedly lead away by aides or other members of the chamber.

Read on...

Congressional physician says ‘no evidence’ Mitch McConnell had stroke or seizures

Will Trump go to prison?

16:40 , John Bowden

Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.

As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.

That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Meadows, Eastman, Clark and others plead not guilty in Trump’s Georgia RICO case

16:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in Georgia connected to a sprawling case surrounding Donald Trump’s attempts to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

John Eastman, a Trump-linked attorney and chief architect of a plot to unlawfully swap presidential electors for Joe Biden with Trump loyalists, and former assistant US Attorney General Jeffrey Clark have also pleaded not guilty and waived their Fulton County court appearance that was scheduled for 6 September.

They join 16 other defendants in the case, including the former president, who have pleaded not guilty to the mountain of charges against them, including an alleged racketeering scheme prosecuted under the state’s RICO statute.

Only Misty Hampton, the former elections director in Georgia’s Coffee County, has yet to enter a plea.

Alex Woodward has the latest developments.

Mark Meadows and five others plead not guilty in Georgia election case

As the top Black Republican in the primaries, here’s how Tim Scott discusses race

16:20 , AP

Tim Scott seldom specifically brings up race in Iowa. Nor does the Republican presidential candidate have to.

He is often the only Black person at his campaign events in the state. The South Carolina senator introduces himself as the product of early-life mentors who taught him not to be bitter.

When race comes up, he often says the United States is not fundamentally racist.

Tim Scott is the top Black Republican in the GOP presidential primary. Here's how he discusses race

Watch: Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio will be sentenced later today

16:08 , Oliver O'Connell

Convicted Proud Boys leader boasts of Trump pardon if former president wins in 2024

16:00 , Graig Graziosi

A convicted, prominent member of the neo-fascist Proud Boys gang believes that Donald Trump will pardon him if he becomes president in 2024.

Joe Biggs, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy earlier this year for his role in the Jan 6 riot at the US Capitol, was sentenced to 17 years in prison this week. Prosecutors had sought a 33-year sentence for Biggs.

Following his sentencing, he made a jailhouse phone call on Saturday to Infowars, the conspiracy theory show hosted by firebrand Alex Jones.

Proud Boys leader calls Alex Jones from prison and boasts ‘Trump will pardon him’

GOP candidates search for path against Trump in pivotal South Carolina primary

15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

In all but one primary since 1980, the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to be the party’s nominee.

In the pivotal South Carolina primary, Republican candidates search for a path against Donald Trump

Biden and Trump are keeping relatively light campaign schedules

15:20 , AP

Their rivals are busy answering voters’ questions at town halls across South Carolina, glad-handing with business owners in New Hampshire and grinding to hit every one of Iowa‘s 99 counties.

But the front-runners for their party’s nomination, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, are barely campaigning in crucial early-voting states as the primary season enters the fall rush.

Read more...

Biden and Trump are keeping relatively light campaign schedules

Breaking: Federal court strikes down Alabama congressional map for diluting Black votes – again

15:10 , Alex Woodward

A federal court has struck down Alabama’s latest Republican-drawn map of its congressional districts after the US Supreme Court found that its previous attempt discriminated against the state’s Black voters.

A three-judge panel in US District Court said it was “deeply troubled” that the state approved a map that it “readily admits” does not meet its obligations to federal law.

Watch: Marsha Blackburn faces Senate challenge from one of 'Tennessee Three’

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Did redistricting in Georgia harm Black voters? A trial arguing it did could decide control of a US House seat

14:40 , AP

Democrats could gain a seat in the U.S. House and multiple seats in Georgia‘s Legislature if a judge rules Republicans drew maps illegally weakening Black voters’ power.

The trial beginning Tuesday is part of a wave of litigation progressing after the US Supreme Court earlier this year stood behind its interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, rejecting Alabama’s challenge to the law.

The Voting Rights Act says voting district lines can’t result in discriminatory effects against minority voters, who must be allowed a chance to elect candidates of their choosing.

A Georgia trial arguing redistricting harmed Black voters could decide control of a US House seat

Peter Navarro trial getting underway with jury selection

14:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro’s trial for contempt of Congress begins this morning with jury selection.

The trial comes almost a year and a half after he defied a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the events of January 6.

Trump departs Manhattan home

14:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Poll: Trump top choice for president for nearly 60% of Republican primary voters

14:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Donald Trump is leading in the 2024 Republican primary race despite his mounting legal trouble and indictments, a new poll has found.

At least 59 per cent of Republican voters said the former president would be their first choice if the GOP primary was held today, a poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal has found.

Mr Trump holds a 46-point lead over Florida governor Ron DeSantis – the former president’s top opponent in the GOP primary race.

Trump top choice for president for nearly 60% of Republican primary voters

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

14:00 , John Bowden

The future of Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has been thrown into financial purgatory as a company created to help take the ex-president’s social media site public battles with financial regulators and is cited for deceiving investors.

Mr Trump first announced plans to transform his Truth Social enterprise into a publicly-traded company in late 2021. But the effort has stalled time and time again, thanks to near-constant issues including the firing of its former CEO and the arrest of a board member on insider trading allegations.

Now, The Washington Post reports that the transformation faces a key hurdle in the upcoming weeks: a vote by shareholders of the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) created to take Truth Social public. That vote will determine whether the acquisition company, Digital World, continues the acquisition effort or instead winds down all business and shutters operations.

Dive into the story here:

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

Trump phone interview with right-wing network is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

13:30 , John Bowden

A right-wing network’s phone interview with Donald Trump went so poorly that social media users are speculating the voice on the line was an AI impersonator.

Real America’s Voice aired an “exclusive” interview with the former president on Thursday - but it didn’t exactly go to plan.

The 17-minute call with hosts John Solomon and Amanda Head was plagued by consistent cut-outs as the stiff voice purported to be Mr Trump shifted dramatically.

Read more:

Trump phone interview is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

Marjorie Taylor Greene complains that ‘White House is attacking me’ after Biden impeachment demands

13:00 , John Bowden

Marjorie Taylor Greene is apparently unhappy after the White House singled out her impeachment effort, which continues to find little support among Republican leaders, for criticism.

She went on a multi-tweet tirade over the weekend, claiming the White House is “attacking” her over her laundry list of demands to be met before she supports raising the debt ceiling.

“The White House is attacking me for demanding an impeachment inquiry before I’ll vote to fund one penny to our over bloated $32 TRILLION dollar in debt failing government,” Rep Greene wrote on Saturday. It was her first post in a thread consisting of 14 consecutive tweets.

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says ‘White House is attacking me’ after impeachment demands

WATCH: Former Trump advisor Peter Navarro attempts to snatch 'Trump lost' sign from protester

12:28 , Rachel Sharp

Biden trolls ‘the last guy’ Trump over jobs, China and pensions in Labor Day speech

12:00 , John Bowden

Joe Biden knocked around his predecessor (and likely 2024 opponent) during a speech to union workers on Labor Day in Pennsylvania.

While speaking to the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19 in Philadelphia, he tore into Donald Trump over his policies while never referring to his predecessor by name.

“We’re turning things around because of you,” Mr Biden told the crowd. “When the last guy was here, you were shipping jobs to China. Now we’re bringing jobs home from China.”

Read more:

Biden trolls ‘the last guy’ Trump over jobs, China and pensions in Labor Day speech

Trump spends Labor Day at Bikers for Trump event

11:40 , Rachel Sharp

Biden trolls ‘the last guy’ Trump over jobs, China and pensions in Labor Day speech

11:20 , Rachel Sharp

While speaking to the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19 in Philadelphia, President Joe Biden blasted political rival Donald Trump over his policies while never referring to his predecessor by name.

“We’re turning things around because of you,” Mr Biden told the crowd. “When the last guy was here, you were shipping jobs to China. Now we’re bringing jobs home from China.

“When the last guy was here, your pensions were at risk. We helped save millions of pensions with your help,” Mr Biden continued, before taking a jab at Mr Trump’s luxurious lifestyle: “When the last guy was here, he looked at the world from Park Avenue. I look at it from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I look at it from Claymont, Delaware.”

Read on...

Biden trolls ‘the last guy’ Trump over jobs, China and pensions in Labor Day speech

GOP governor offers reality check for both Biden and Trump

11:00 , John Bowden

The Republican governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, says he is not sure if Joe Biden or Donald Trump will actually be their parties’ respective nominees in 2024.

“Look, I think there’s a good shot that neither of them are actually on that ballot,” Mr Sununu told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

He joined a number of Republican voices questioning whether or not Mr Trump can win in 2024 if Mr Biden runs for re-election.

“I think Trump can very much lose if they winnow it down to one on one,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of issues that are going to come to bear with President Biden over the next year and a lot of opportunity for the Democrats to find another — another candidate. But to the No Labels point, there’s an opportunity there like never before. It would have to be the right candidate. It has to be somebody very energizing, positive.”

Trump takes aim at Biden’s EV push

10:40 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has taken aim at President Joe Biden’s push to roll out electric vehicles (EVs) across the US – a move to reduce the nation’s toll on the planet.

“Shawn Fain, the respected President of the United Auto Workers, cannot even think about allowing ALL ELECTRIC CARS - THEY WILL ALL BE MADE IN CHINA, and the Auto Industry in America will cease to exist! There is already a giant “E GLUT,” they don’t go far or long, are very expensive, and the consumer must be given a CHOICE. Vote for TRUMP, and I will stop this Madness, IMMEDIATELY! Mexico & Canada LOVE Biden’s idiotic policy. SAVE MICHIGAN and the other Auto States. SAVE THE AMERICAN CONSUMER!!!” he wrote in a Truth Social rant on Monday.

In a follow-up post, he wrote: “The Great State of Michigan will not have an auto industry anymore if Crooked Joe Biden’s crazed concept of “all Electric Cars” goes into effect. CHINA WILL TAKE IT ALL, 100%. United Auto Workers, VOTE FOR TRUMP. Get your leaders to ENDORSE ME, I WILL KEEP ALL OF THESE GREAT JOBS, AND BRING IN MANY MORE. CHOICE IN SCHOOLS, AND CHOICE IN CARS!!!”

What to expect this week in Trumpworld:

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

It’s a fairly busy week for the former president as the future of Truth Social hangs in the balance and his codefendants in Georgia head to their arraignment.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump’s codefendants in his Georgia election interference case will appear for their arraignment in Fulton County. Among the 19 defendants, Mr Trump and several of his allies have already pleaded not guilty and waived their appearance. The remainder will have to appear.

Meanwhile, Truth Social’s parent company Trump Media & Technology Group has until 8 September to complete a merger with SPAC Digital World Acquisition Corp to take the platform public.

Fani Willis: The Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

10:00 , John Bowden

Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgia’s top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election.

A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January, 2021.

Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton County’s district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him.

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Trump fires back at push to ban him from 2024 race under 14th Amendment

09:42 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is hitting back at attempts to ban him from the 2024 presidential race under the 14th Amendment.

Several Democrats and top legal scholars have argued that Mr Trump should be disqualified from running for president again as the amendment bans insurrectionists from holding public office.

Mr Trump took to Truth Social on Labor Day ranting that it is “just another ‘trick’” from his political rivals.

“Almost all legal scholars have voiced opinions that the 14th Amendment has no legal basis or standing relative to the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election.

“Like Election Interference, it is just another ‘trick’ being used by the Radical Left Communists, Marxists, and Fascists, to again steal an Election that their candidate, the WORST, MOST INCOMPETENT, & MOST CORRUPT President in US history, is incapable of winning in a Free and Fair Election. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Georgia governor rejects MAGA push to impeach Fani Willis

09:00 , John Bowden

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has pushed back on calls from within the state Republican Party to impeach or defund Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Trump loyalists in the state had sought to sabotage her office’s investigation following the ex-president’s criminal indictment last month. As you might expect, Donald Trump is unhappy with their failure.

“As long as I’m governor, we are going to follow the law and the Constitution – regardless of who it helps politically,” the governor said.

Georgia governor rejects MAGA push to impeach DA Fani Willis for Trump indictment

Recap: Trump moves to sever his own Georgia election fraud case from co-defendants seeking speedy trial

07:00 , John Bowden

Donald Trump has moved to sever Georgia case from the defendants seeking a speedy trial, arguing that it would violate his right to a fair process.

“President Trump moves the Court to sever his case from those of his co-defendants who have demanded a speedy trial ... and who have a scheduled trial date of October 23, 2023,” lawyer Steven Sadow wrote in a filing on Thursday.

The filing states that the timeline wouldn’t allow for the counsel to “have sufficient time to prepare President Trump’s case”.

Trump moves to sever his own Georgia election fraud case from co-defendants

Senate Republican says he ‘doesn’t know’ if Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden in 2024

06:00 , John Bowden

Republican Senator Mike Round said he “doesn’t know” if Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2024 presidential race.

He made the comments on CNN’s State of the Union.

“We don’t know. We don’t know. That’s one of the concerns that a lot of people have got — me, as well,” he said, when asked about the former president’s chances in 2024.

He said the party needs a “uniter” rather than a “divider.”

“It’s the reason why I think if we bring in a uniter, rather than a divider, I think we’ve got a better shot at doing what’s right for this country long term. And that’s what I want,” he said.

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

05:00 , John Bowden

Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.

As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.

That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?

Read more:

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Former GOP Governor Larry Hogan calls Vivek Ramaswamy a ‘cheerleader for Trump,’ calls on him to drop out

03:00 , John Bowden

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, has said that there are too many candidates in the Republican primary, and said some should drop out.

“If you don’t make the debate stage, you likely should consider getting out,” he told CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “If you’re unwilling to challenge Donald Trump, you should get off the stage.”

Mr Hogan, whose second term ended in January, has been flirting with an entrance into national politics as an anti-Trump figure in the GOP.

He specifically mentioned anti-woke businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who he called a “cheerleader and fill-in” for the former president who was “applying for a job.”

“If you’re in there running for vice president or you’re trying to be a cabinet secretary or you’re trying to become famous or write a book or get on television, you should get the heck out of the race,” the former governor said. “We need to narrow it down to find a leader who can get the Republican Party back on the right track and that can get us back to winning elections again. And it’s not going to happen with 11 people in the race.”

Vivek Ramaswamy says he will pardon Trump if elected

02:00 , John Bowden

Vivek Ramaswamy, a 2024 GOP presidential hopeful, told ABC’s “This Week” that he would pardon Donald Trump if he was elected to the presidency.

He made the comments after saying he would vote for Donald Trump if the former president wins the Republican primary, even if he is convicted in one of his four ongoing legal battles.

“What I’ve said is clear, if Donald Trump’s the nominee, yes, I will support him,” Mr Ramaswamy said. “And if I’m the president, yes, I will pardon him, because that will help reunite the country, but it’s not the most important thing I’m going to do as the next president.”

Mr Ramaswamy would not be able to pardon Mr Trump in his New York or Georgia cases, should he be convicted, as those are state charges and are not covered under federal pardons.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says ‘strong argument’ for Trump’s disqualification under 14th Amendment

01:00 , John Bowden

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said he believes there’s a “strong case” for Donald Trump to be disqualified from the 2024 presidential race based on the 14th Amendment.

“In my view, the attack on the Capitol that day was designed for a particular purpose at a particular moment, and that was to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power of as is laid out in the Constitution,” Mr Kaine said during an interview on ABC “This Week.” “So I think there’s a powerful argument to be made.”

The senator went on to say that the 14th Amendment “is specific” in a section concerning the ineligibility for office of an individual who previously took an oath to defend the Constitution but “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or [gave] aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” barring amnesty granted by a two-thirds vote of the Congress.

He added that the issue would likely be settled in the courts.

With all the indictments and legal drama, can Trump still run for president?

Tuesday 5 September 2023 00:00 , John Bowden

Many have questioned how four criminal indictments — a total of 91 charges — will affect Donald Trump’s ability to run for president.

Let’s take a look at the legalities of the matter:

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Trump waived right to Georgia arraignment because he didn’t want to face court cameras

Monday 4 September 2023 23:00 , John Bowden

Donald Trump now says he was boycotting last week’s arraignment in Georgia on election interference charges to protest in-court camera coverage of his upcoming trial.

The former president has now claimed in a fundraising email that he was infuriated by Fulton County judge Scott McAfee’s decision to allow all hearings and a possible trial to be broadcast on the court’s YouTube channel.

Read more:

Trump waived Georgia arraignment because he didn’t want to face court cameras

Biden trolls ‘the last guy’ Trump over jobs, China and pensions in Labor Day speech

Monday 4 September 2023 22:00 , John Bowden

Joe Biden knocked around his predecessor (and likely 2024 opponent) during a speech to union workers on Labor Day in Pennsylvania.

While speaking to the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 19 in Philadelphia, he tore into Donald Trump over his policies while never referring to his predecessor by name.

“We’re turning things around because of you,” Mr Biden told the crowd. “When the last guy was here, you were shipping jobs to China. Now we’re bringing jobs home from China.”

Read more:

Biden trolls ‘the last guy’ Trump over jobs, China and pensions in Labor Day speech

Trump has raised millions with his mug shot. Legal experts say it could be a big mistake

Monday 4 September 2023 21:17 , John Bowden

Donald Trump may have opened himself up to a whole new legal issue by selling merch featuring the mugshot taken by authorities upon his arrest in Georgia.

Alex Woodward has the story:

Why Trump could be making a big mistake by fundraising off his mug shot

Marjorie Taylor Greene complains that ‘White House is attacking me’ after Biden impeachment demands

Monday 4 September 2023 20:55 , John Bowden

Marjorie Taylor Greene is apparently unhappy after the White House singled out her impeachment effort, which continues to find little support among Republican leaders, for criticism.

She went on a multi-tweet tirade over the weekend, claiming the White House is “attacking” her over her laundry list of demands to be met before she supports raising the debt ceiling.

“The White House is attacking me for demanding an impeachment inquiry before I’ll vote to fund one penny to our over bloated $32 TRILLION dollar in debt failing government,” Rep Greene wrote on Saturday. It was her first post in a thread consisting of 14 consecutive tweets.

Read more:

Marjorie Taylor Greene says ‘White House is attacking me’ after impeachment demands

Trump phone interview with right-wing network is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

Monday 4 September 2023 19:41 , John Bowden

A right-wing network’s phone interview with Donald Trump went so poorly that social media users are speculating the voice on the line was an AI impersonator.

Real America’s Voice aired an “exclusive” interview with the former president on Thursday - but it didn’t exactly go to plan.

The 17-minute call with hosts John Soloman and Amanda Head was plagued by consistent cut-outs as the stiff voice purported to be Mr Trump shifted dramatically.

Read more:

Trump phone interview is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

Trump gloats about continued dominance in GOP primary

Monday 4 September 2023 18:51 , John Bowden

Donald Trump offered another jab at his primary rival, Ron DeSantis, on Sunday as the governor continues to appear uncomfortable with punching back at the popular leader of his party.

“Wow! Ron DeSanctimonious has seen a Polling CRASH like no other. People have gotten to know him. Also, really bad Social Security votes, and would decimate Medicare. That doesn’t play well in America!” wrote Mr Trump in a Truth Social-ed statement Sunday evening.

His remarks came following a Wall Street Journal poll finding Mr Trump cleaning up the primary contest with the support of nearly 60 per cent of Republican voters.

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

Monday 4 September 2023 18:22 , John Bowden

The future of Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform has been thrown into financial purgatory as a company created to help take the ex-president’s social media site public battles with financial regulators and is cited for deceiving investors.

Mr Trump first announced plans to transform his Truth Social enterprise into a publicly-traded company in late 2021. But the effort has stalled time and time again, thanks to near-constant issues including the firing of its former CEO and the arrest of a board member on insider trading allegations.

Now, The Washington Post reports that the transformation faces a key hurdle in the upcoming weeks: a vote by shareholders of the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) created to take Truth Social public. That vote will determine whether the acquisition company, Digital World, continues the acquisition effort or instead winds down all business and shutters operations.

Dive into the story here:

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

Biden headed to Philadelphia for Labor Day address

Monday 4 September 2023 17:11 , John Bowden

President Joe Biden, who often says he’s the most pro-union president in history, is heading to Philadelphia on Monday for the annual Tri-State Labor Day Parade.

The Democratic president is expected to speak about the importance of unions in the United States and how the economy is recovering from the crippling coronavirus pandemic.

Labor Day, a holiday honoring workers, comes as the U.S. has added jobs and more people have begun looking for work, the most since January, all news Biden is eager to highlight as he seeks reelection in 2024.

Read on...

Biden heads to Philadelphia for a Labor Day parade and is expected to speak about unions' importance

GOP governor offers reality check for both Biden and Trump

Monday 4 September 2023 16:35 , John Bowden

The Republican governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, says he is not sure if Joe Biden or Donald Trump will actually be their parties’ respective nominees in 2024.

“Look, I think there’s a good shot that neither of them are actually on that ballot,” Mr Sununu told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

He joined a number of Republican voices questioning whether or not Mr Trump can win in 2024 if Mr Biden runs for re-election.

“I think Trump can very much lose if they winnow it down to one on one,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of issues that are going to come to bear with President Biden over the next year and a lot of opportunity for the Democrats to find another — another candidate. But to the No Labels point, there’s an opportunity there like never before. It would have to be the right candidate. It has to be somebody very energizing, positive.”

WSJ poll has Trump, Biden tied

Monday 4 September 2023 16:03 , John Bowden

A new poll from The Wall Street Journal has both parties’ likely 2024 nominees tied in a dead-even heat among voters nationally, with Donald Trump leading by a hair when third-party candidates are included.

It’s a troubling sign for Joe Biden for sure, but one that comes on the heels of other polls indicating that Mr Biden holds slim leads in some key swing states he will need to secure reelection.

But it could also encourage Mr Trump’s supporters at a time when the ex-president is attempting to cement his dominance within the Republican Party and fight off several challengers for the presidential nomination.

Dive into the poll here:

Coming soon to a screen near you...

Monday 4 September 2023 14:45 , Greg Graziosi

Yes, the American public (and presumably a sizeable international audience) will be able to gather around their phones, tablets, and flat screens and watch the entirety of Donald Trump’s trial for allegedly attempting to subvert the presidential election in Georgia.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced on Thursday that he would allow all hearings and trials in the case to appear on a YouTube stream. The court will operate the stream.

The judge will also allow pool coverage for television, photography and radio, he announced.

Get. The. Popcorn. Ready.

Trump’s Georgia election interference trial will be televised and live streamed

Former GOP Governor Larry Hogan calls Vivek Ramaswamy a ‘cheerleader for Trump,’ calls on him to drop out

Monday 4 September 2023 14:05 , Graig Graziosi

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, has said that there are too many candidates in the Republican primary, and said some should drop out.

“If you don’t make the debate stage, you likely should consider getting out,” he told CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “If you’re unwilling to challenge Donald Trump, you should get off the stage.”

He specifically mentioned anti-woke businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who he called a “cheerleader and fill-in” for the former president who was “applying for a job.”

“If you’re in there running for vice president or you’re trying to be a cabinet secretary or you’re trying to become famous or write a book or get on television, you should get the heck out of the race,” the former governor said. “We need to narrow it down to find a leader who can get the Republican Party back on the right track and that can get us back to winning elections again. And it’s not going to happen with 11 people in the race.”

VOICES: From Donald Trump to CM Punk: is 2023 the year toxic men finally get their comeuppance?

Monday 4 September 2023 13:45 , Rachel Sharp

Boris Johnson humiliated? The Proud Boys jailed? Ryan Coogan explains why it’s okay to laugh when bad things happen to bad people...

From Trump to Punk: is 2023 the year toxic men get their comeuppance? | Ryan Coogan

Trump continues to rail against indictments on Truth Social

Monday 4 September 2023 13:25 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump continue to rail against his indictments, taking to Truth Social on Sunday for his latest rants.

In one post, he wrote:

The Crooked Joe Biden Campaign has thrown so many Indictments and lawsuits against me that Republicans are already thinking about what we are going to do to Biden and the Communists when it’s our turn. They have started a whole new Banana Republic way of thinking about political campaigns. So cheap and dirty, but that’s where America is right now. Be careful what you wish for!

In another post, he wrote:

Has anyone checked the background of Fani Willis, who lets Murderers go free to roam the streets of Atlanta and KILL, but wastes time, energy, and money on LETS GET TRUMP, who has done NOTHING wrong. RINO Governor Brian Kemp has lost control of violent crime in Atlanta, and Fulton County as a whole. To walk the streets is a death sentence, it has NEVER been worse, yet he wants to protect this incompetent prosecutor. Number 1 in violence per capita in U.S. Sad days for the Great State of Georgia!

Trump phone interview with right-wing network is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

Monday 4 September 2023 13:05 , Rachel Sharp

A right-wing network’s phone interview with Donald Trump went so poorly that social media users are speculating the voice on the line was an AI impersonator.

Real America’s Voice aired an “exclusive” interview with the former president on Thursday - but it didn’t exactly go to plan.

The 17-minute call with hosts John Soloman and Amanda Head was plagued by consistent cut-outs as the stiff voice purported to be Mr Trump shifted dramatically.

Read on...

Trump phone interview is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

So... is Trump going to go to prison?

Monday 4 September 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.

As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.

That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?

John Bowden explains.

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Biden heads to Philadelphia for a Labor Day parade and is expected to speak about unions' importance

Monday 4 September 2023 12:25 , Rachel Sharp

President Joe Biden, who often says he’s the most pro-union president in history, is heading to Philadelphia on Monday for the annual Tri-State Labor Day Parade.

The Democratic president is expected to speak about the importance of unions in the United States and how the economy is recovering from the crippling coronavirus pandemic.

Labor Day, a holiday honoring workers, comes as the U.S. has added jobs and more people have begun looking for work, the most since January, all news Biden is eager to highlight as he seeks reelection in 2024.

Read on...

Biden heads to Philadelphia for a Labor Day parade and is expected to speak about unions' importance

New poll suggests Trump and Biden headed for 2024 rematch

Monday 4 September 2023 12:05 , Rachel Sharp

A new poll has suggested that Donald Trump and Joe Biden are headed for a 2024 rematch.

The new poll, by the Wall Street Journal, found that the political rivals are currently tied at 46 per cent of the vote each if Americans were to head to the polls today.

ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos said the results were “shocking”.

“It is kind of shocking in a way, that despite all of the baggage that Donald Trump carries, he’s tied with Joe Biden right now,” he said over the weekend.

Deadline looms for Trump to take Truth Social public

Monday 4 September 2023 11:45 , Rachel Sharp

The deadline is looming for Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform to be taken public.

Trump Media & Technology Group – the parent company for Truth Social – has until 8 September to complete a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp – a special-purpose acquisition company or spac.

The deal was first announced in September 2021 and is facing a crucial shareholder vote this week to determine its future.

Trump gloats about leading DeSantis in polls

Monday 4 September 2023 11:18 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has gloated to Ron DeSantis, after a new poll showed him with a 46-point lead over his closest GOP rival.

The new poll, by the Wall Street Journal, found that 59 per cent of Republican voters say the former president would be their first choice if the GOP primary was today.

In a Truth Social post on Sunday night, Mr Trump wrote:

“Wow! Ron DeSanctimonious has seen a Polling CRASH like no other. People have gotten to know him. Also, really bad Social Security votes, and would decimate Medicare. That doesn’t play well in America!”

GOP Governor Chris Sununu says ‘good shot’ neither Joe Biden or Donald Trump will be on 2024 ticket

Monday 4 September 2023 10:45 , Graig Graziosi

The Republican governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, said he was not sure if Joe Biden or Donald Trump will appear on the 2024 presidential election ballot.

“Look, I think there’s a good shot that neither of them are actually on that ballot,” Mr Sununu told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

He joined a number of Republican voices questioning whether or not Mr Trump can win in 2024 if Mr Biden runs for re-election.

“I think Trump can very much lose if they winnow it down to one on one,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of issues that are going to come to bear with President Biden over the next year and a lot of opportunity for the Democrats to find another — another candidate. But to the No Labels point, there’s an opportunity there like never before. It would have to be the right candidate. It has to be somebody very energizing, positive.”

Trump top choice for president for nearly 60% of Republican primary voters, says new poll

Monday 4 September 2023 10:00 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump is leading in the 2024 Republican primary race despite his mounting legal trouble and indictments, a new poll has found.

At least 59 per cent of Republican voters said the former president would be their first choice if the GOP primary was held today, a poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal has found.

Mr Trump holds a 46-point lead over Florida governor Ron DeSantis – the former president’s top opponent in the GOP primary race.

Read more...

Trump top choice for president for nearly 60% of Republican primary voters

With all the indictments and legal drama, can Trump still run for president?

Monday 4 September 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Believe it or not, the framers of the Constitution didn’t foresee this particular set of circumstances...

Can Donald Trump still run for president after four indictments?

Senate Republican says he ‘doesn’t know’ if Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden in 2024

Monday 4 September 2023 06:45 , Graig Graziosi

Republican Senator Mike Round said he “doesn’t know” if Donald Trump can beat Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2024 presidential race.

He made the comments on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“We don’t know. We don’t know. That’s one of the concerns that a lot of people have got — me, as well,” he said, when asked about the former president’s chances in 2024.

He said the party needs a “uniter” rather than a “divider.”

“It’s the reason why I think if we bring in a uniter, rather than a divider, I think we’ve got a better shot at doing what’s right for this country long term. And that’s what I want,” he said.

Voices: What would Trump’s TV arraignment look like?

Monday 4 September 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Jay Black writes:

Donald Trump has pleaded “not guilty” to the charges facing him in Fulton County, waiving his right to an arraignment, and, because not every wish in my hope journal can come true, also waiving our right to see him humbled in front of a judge on television.

On the surface, that might seem like an odd move. After all, Trump’s other arraignments were fundraising bonanzas for the former president, with each one sending legions of innumerate retirees to his website to hemorrhage money faster than a Trump casino.

The list of Donald Trump’s favorite things is well known: golf, sedition, watching TV, sending Eric’s calls to voicemail, putting ketchup on steak, putting ketchup on walls, and, of course, having other people pay his legal bills.

So why skip out on the easy money of another arraignment?

The answer is that the Fulton County arraignment would have been the first one to be televised.

What would Trump’s TV arraignment look like?

Vivek Ramaswamy says he will pardon Trump if elected

Monday 4 September 2023 02:45 , Graig Graziosi

Vivek Ramaswamy, a 2024 GOP presidential hopeful, told ABC’s “This Week” that he would pardon Donald Trump if he was elected to the presidency.

He made the comments after saying he would vote for Donald Trump if the former president wins the Republican primary, even if he is convicted in one of his four ongoing legal battles.

“What I’ve said is clear, if Donald Trump’s the nominee, yes, I will support him,” Mr Ramaswamy said. “And if I’m the president, yes, I will pardon him, because that will help reunite the country, but it’s not the most important thing I’m going to do as the next president.”

Mr Ramaswamy would not be able to pardon Mr Trump in his New York or Georgia cases, should he be convicted, as those are state charges and are not covered under federal pardons.

Trump was too busy ‘saving millions of lives’ from ‘nuclear holocaust’ to run company, fraud probe told

Monday 4 September 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump claimed to be too busy “saving millions of lives” from a nuclear holocaust as president to be able to also run his company, specifically not to be able to commit business fraud.

Another entry into the pantheon of memorable excuses...

Trump said he was too busy saving millions from ‘nuclear holocaust’ to run company

Vivek Ramaswamy doubles down on voting for Trump if he is convicted

Sunday 3 September 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

GOP 2024 presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has doubled down on his decisiont to vote for Donald Trump, even if the former president is convicted in one of his four ongoing legal battles.

George Stephanopoulos asked Mr Ramaswamy on ABC’s “This Week” why he thought it would be “ok” for a convicted felon to serve as the president.

“I do not want to see us become a banana republic where the administrative police state uses police force to eliminate opponents from competition,” Mr Ramaswamy said. “That’s not the way it works.”

He added that “I will pick who I believe the best next president should be,” before saying he believed he should be the president, but that he would support the Republican nominee.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says ‘strong argument’ for Trump’s disqualification under 14th Amendment

Sunday 3 September 2023 21:42 , Graig Graziosi

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said he believes there’s a “strong case” for Donald Trump to be disqualified from the 2024 presidential race based on the 14th Amendment.

“In my view, the attack on the Capitol that day was designed for a particular purpose at a particular moment, and that was to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power of as is laid out in the Constitution,” Mr Kaine said during an interview on ABC “This Week.” “So I think there’s a powerful argument to be made.”

He said that the 14th Amendment “is specific” in a section concerning the ineligibility for office of an individual who previously took an oath to defend the Constitution but “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or [gave] aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” barring amnesty granted by a two-thirds vote of the Congress.

He said that the issue would likely be settled in the courts.

All Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

Sunday 3 September 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has never been more vulnerable.

Without the privileges and prestige of the presidency to protect him, Mr Trump is facing serious lawsuits and criminal indictments across New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington.

Federal officials, local prosecutors, and individuals are going after him for everything from his private conduct to his political maneuvering during the 2020 election. If even just one of these efforts are successful, the US could see its first-ever former president in prison.

Here, The Independent explains each major case:

Tracking Trump’s criminal charges and lawsuits - and where they stand

Coming soon to a screen near you...

Sunday 3 September 2023 15:00 , Graig Graziosi

Yes, the American public (and presumably a sizeable international audience) will be able to gather around their phones, tablets, and flat screens and watch the entirety of Donald Trump’s trial for allegedly attempting to subvert the presidential election in Georgia.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced on Thursday that he would allow all hearings and trials in the case to appear on a YouTube stream. The court will operate the stream.

The judge will also allow pool coverage for television, photography and radio, he announced.

Get. The. Popcorn. Ready.

Trump’s Georgia election interference trial will be televised and live streamed

Recap: Trump moves to sever his own Georgia election fraud case from co-defendants seeking speedy trial

Sunday 3 September 2023 12:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump has moved to sever Georgia case from the defendants seeking a speedy trial, arguing that it would violate his right to a fair process.

“President Trump moves the Court to sever his case from those of his co-defendants who have demanded a speedy trial ... and who have a scheduled trial date of October 23, 2023,” lawyer Steven Sadow wrote in a filing on Thursday.

The filing states that the timeline wouldn’t allow for the counsel to “have sufficient time to prepare President Trump’s case”.

Trump moves to sever his own Georgia election fraud case from co-defendants

Georgia governor rejects MAGA push to impeach Fani Willis

Sunday 3 September 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has pushed back on calls from within the state Republican Party to impeach or defund Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

“As long as I’m governor, we are going to follow the law and the Constitution – regardless of who it helps politically,” the governor said.

Georgia governor rejects MAGA push to impeach DA Fani Willis for Trump indictment

Fani Willis: The Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Sunday 3 September 2023 04:45 , Alex Woodward

Her first day as the chief prosecutor for Fulton County came with news that then-President Donald Trump attempted to pressure Georgia’s top election officials to reverse his loss in the state during the 2020 presidential election.

A phone call between Mr Trump and Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was published by The Washington Post late at night on 3 January, 2021.

Hours later, Fani Willis would walk into her first day on the job as Fulton County’s district attorney, an office that is now spearheading a criminal investigation into Mr Trump, with the phone call serving as a central damning piece of evidence against him.

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump

Trump phone interview with right-wing network is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

Sunday 3 September 2023 03:00 , Graig Graziosi

A right-wing network’s phone interview with Donald Trump went so poorly that social media users are speculating the voice on the line was an AI impersonator.

Real America’s Voice aired an “exclusive” interview with the former president on Thursday - but it didn’t exactly go to plan.

The 17-minute call with hosts John Soloman and Amanda Head was plagued by consistent cut-outs as the stiff voice purported to be Mr Trump shifted dramatically.

When Real America’s Voice shared a clip of the interview on X, users were quick to speculate that Soloman and Head had been duped by a prank caller or a fake, artificially intelligent version of Mr Trump.

“A fringe, far-right ‘tv news’ network tried to pass off a fake AI Trump tonight to their viewers as a legitimate interview with the disgraced former president,” William Legate wrote.READ MORE:

Trump phone interview is so disastrous that people think it was an AI hoax

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Sunday 3 September 2023 01:30 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.

As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.

That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?READ MORE:

Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Recap: Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case

Sunday 3 September 2023 00:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty in the Georgia election subversion case to charges that he took part in criminal conspiracies in connection to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

The former president entered the plea on Thursday morning, waiving a formal arraignment following the 13 felony counts being filed against him.

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case

Wall Street Journal poll finds 60 per cent of Republicans still back Trump for 2024

Saturday 2 September 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

A recent poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal found that 60 per cent of Republican primary voters still prefer Donald Trump as their 2024 presidential candidate, even in light of his numerous indictments and pending trials.

The poll found that 59 per cent of the participating Republican voters preferred Mr Trump, and 11-point increase since a similar survey was conducted in April.

Trump campaign says its raised $2m from mugshot ‘Never Surrender’ merch

Saturday 2 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump has reportedly been successful in his quest to monetize his mugshot from Fulton County, Georgia.

His campaign claims they’ve already collected more than $2m from selling merchandise bearing the image.

The mugshot is often displayed along with the phrase “Never Surrender.”

“The very image that Crooked Joe, the Deep State, and the radical Left all hoped would mark the END of the America First Movement, has become something else entirely,” the campaign wrote on Thursday.

When is Trump on trial?

Saturday 2 September 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

All the court dates you need for you calendar...

When is Donald Trump going on trial?

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website