Trump news – live: Judge sets Mar-a-Lago classified papers trial date as Hunter Biden reaches plea deal

Judge Aileen Cannon has set a date for the trial in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump.

The Trump-appointed judge has signed a court order listing the trial as starting on 14 August of this year in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden has reached a plea deal with the Justice Department over three federal charges.

The news comes the morning after the former president denied that he ever possessed a secret document about attacking Iran despite the fact a recording exists that had him discussing a document he kept from his presidency.

Mr Trump spoke in an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier at his property in Bedminster, New Jersey less than a week after he pleaded not guilty to 37 charges in a federal court in Miami at his arraignment.

A federal grand jury had indicted him for allegedly willfully mishandling classified documents, obstruction of justice and making false statements.

The former president was also confronted by Baier over his insistence that he won the 2020 election — which he did not, as the Fox News host made clear in a testy exchange.

Key Points

• Trump-appointed judge sets trial date in classified documents case

• Hunter Biden reaches deal with Justice Department to plead guilty to three federal charges

• Trump campaign rakes in cash after arrest

• Classified documents filing hints at ‘ongoing investigations’ related to Trump

• Trump is a ‘criminal’ and DeSantis is a ‘fascist,’ poll finds

Fox plays clips of Trump promising to protect classified information in 2016

00:11 , Oliver O'Connell

With former President Donald Trump under indictment for mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House, Fox News on Monday played a compilation of Mr Trump promising to protect classified information as president during his 2016 campaign.

“In my administration, I’m going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information,” Mr Trump says in one of the clips, taken from a speech given in August 2016. “No one will be above the law.”

Abe Asher has the story.

Fox plays clips of Trump promising to protect classified information in 2016

Trump brands Fox News ‘hostile’ network during interview on channel

23:44 , Graeme Massie

The former president attacked Rupert Murdoch’s right-wing network as he was being interviewed on it by Bret Baier, who insisted that he got a “fair shake.”

“Okay, but I mean, this is a fair interview, but it's hostile. It's hostile. So they wouldn't say it's a puff piece but it's okay,” Mr Trump told him.

Baier ended the interview by asking Mr Trump if he had been “fairly treated today.”

“I don't know a couple of questions could have been done without but that's okay. I enjoyed it,” added Mr Trump.

Trump again calls for death penalty for drug dealers

23:36 , Graeme Massie

“You know right now 12 times more drugs come through the border than came through when I was president,” he told Bret Baier in a Fox News interview.

“One thing if you want to stop drugs, there's only one way you're going to stop it, the death penalty.”

Mr Trump said that before the 2020 election, he had brokered a deal with President Xi of China that the country would give the death penalty to anyone sending drugs to the US.

“We had the election that's the end of that. They would not have been sending fentanyl,” he added.

Trump slams DeSantis on Fox News

23:25 , Graeme Massie

The former president told Bret Baier that the Florida governor “had better PR than other governors” during Covid, but that the leaders of other states “did a better job.”

Mr Trump was asked why he mocked his 2024 rival with a string of different nicknames and told the Fox News host that it was a matter of “loyalty.”

He was asked if loyalty mattered to him and replied, “Yeah, I'm a big loyalist. Yeah, some people right here in this room have told me, ‘Sir, don't worry about loyalty. Loyalty doesn't mean anything in politics. I said to me it does. I got the guy elected.”

Trump says he does not believe China deliberately caused Covid

23:19 , Graeme Massie

The former president told Bret Baier on Fox News that he does not believe that the virus was deliberately caused by China, but that it “came in from Wuhan.”

“I believe it was incompetence. Actually, you know there are two thoughts. They did it. But there was another thought I was so tough on China. They did it to get me out,” said Mr Trump as he boasted about saving “hundreds of thousands of lives.”

His penchant for talking could pose problems for Trump as Mar-a-Lago criminal case moves ahead

22:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Criminal defendants are routinely advised to avoid commenting on pending charges against them. But Donald Trump, the former president and current White House hopeful, is no ordinary defendant.

In his first televised interview since his arraignment last week on federal charges, the former president acknowledged that he delayed turning over boxes of documents despite being asked to do so, drew factually incorrect parallels between his case and classified document probes concerning other politicians, and claimed he didn’t actually have a Pentagon attack plan that the indictment says he boasted about to others.

Those comments — like any remarks made by a defendant about an ongoing case — could complicate his lawyers’ work, potentially precluding defenses they might have otherwise wanted to make or alternately boxing them into certain arguments so as to remain consistent with their clients’ claims. The interview could give the Justice Department compelling, and admissible, insight into Trump’s state of mind as the case moves forward, allowing prosecutors to preemptively attack defenses he might intend to invoke.

Read on...

Trump's penchant for talking could pose problems as Mar-a-Lago criminal case moves ahead

‘You lost the 2020 election’

22:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump reacted angrily when Fox News host Bret Baier confronted him and told him directly that he had lost the 2020 presidential election.

Baier asked the former president in a sit-down interview how he would win back independent suburban female voters who had drifted from the Republican Party.

The twice-indicted and twice-impeached former president responded by repeating the lie that he did not lose the 2020 presidential election.

Baier did not let that go.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump reacts angrily as Fox News anchor directly tells him he lost the 2020 election

Watch: Christie says ‘being insulted by Donald Trump is a compliment to me’

22:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Comer: Hunter Biden prosecutor will be invited to testify to House committee

22:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Manu Raju at CNN reports that James Comer believes David Weiss, the prosecutor on the Hunter Biden case, will be invited to testify before one of the House committees about his investigation.

Mr Comer also wants clarification as to whether the investigation is “ongoing”.

Raju reports that he downplays the fact that Mr Weiss was picked for his role by former president Donald Trump.

Trump gives new excuse for not giving back boxes of secret documents

22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has floated a new excuse for refusing to return classified documents — he was “very busy”.

The former president claimed in a new interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier that the hundreds of top secret papers he took to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House were “interspersed” with his personal effects.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Trump gives Fox News new excuse for not giving back boxes of secret documents

CNN poll: GOP support for Trump remains but broader electorate want end to campaign

21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Per CNN:

And only 26% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters say that Trump should end his campaign in light of the federal charges he now faces, with an additional 16% saying he should end his campaign if he is convicted of federal crimes.

Outside of the Republican Party, though, these charges are broadly viewed as disqualifying. Among all Americans, 59% say that Trump ought to end his campaign now that he’s facing federal charges, with another 11% saying he should do so if convicted on these charges. Among all registered voters who are not aligned with the Republican Party, there’s broad agreement: 85% say Trump should end his campaign now, and another 7% that he should end it if he’s convicted.

Biden reaches deal with Justice Department to plead guilty to federal charges

21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Hunter Biden has reached a plea deal with the Department of Justice, agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges following an investigation into his taxes.

President Joe Biden’s son will plead guilty to two federal charges, the Justice Department said in a court filing on Tuesday morning. Mr Biden has been the subject of not only the ongoing federal investigation but a focus of Republicans’ probe into the Biden administration.

Eric Garcia and Megan Sheets have the details.

Hunter Biden reaches deal with DOJ to plead guilty to federal charges

Biden: ‘I’m very proud of my son'

21:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking at an event on AI in California, President Joe Biden told reporters: “I’m very proud of my son.”

These were his first comments regarding this morning’s news of a plea deal for his son Hunter Biden.

At an event at the White House this afternoon, First Lady Jill Biden ignored a shouted question from reporters on the matter.

In light of Trump indictment, DoJ must assure everybody Biden investigation was thorough, says Barr

21:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Former attorney general Bill Barr tells Fox News: “The indictment of President Trump ... demands that the department assure everybody that the investigations into the Bidens was thorough and that the final decisions reached were reasonable ... It’s not looking that good.”

Watch:

Christie delivers epic Twitter takedown of Trump boasts about hiring ‘the best’ White House staff

21:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie unleashed an epic Twitter takedown of Donald Trump’s White House hiring practices after the former president bragged about bringing on “the best” staff.

“It’s plain and simple: Either Donald Trump doesn’t know how to pick personnel, or he’s the worst manager in the history of the American presidency,” Mr Christie, who is vying for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump, tweeted on Monday.

Abe Asher has the story.

Chris Christie delivers epic takedown of Trump over his White House staff

Watch: Hunter Biden lawyer ‘can’t recall’ if laptop was part of tax and gun probe

21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Hunter Biden attorney Chris Clark says he “can’t recall” investigators asking about his client’s laptop, and that he doesn’t know if the laptop was part of the investigation that resulted in the tax and gun charges.

Read Hunter Biden prosecutor’s letter to Jim Jordan

20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

US Attorney David Weiss — appointed by Donald Trump and retained by Merrick Garland to maintain the independence of the Hunter Biden probe — confirmed in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan this month that he was “granted ultimate authority” on the investigation into the president’s son.

“Throughout my tenure as US Attorney my decisions have been made — and with respect to the matter must be made — without reference to political considerations,” he wrote, in response to a letter sent by Rep Jordan to AG Garland that was forwarded on to Mr Weiss.

Voters think Trump is a criminal, Biden is too old and DeSantis is a fascist, poll says

20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A new poll out from JL Partners underscores major weaknesses for the three men most likely to be sworn in as president on 20 January 2025, with little good news to soften the blow.

With the GOP primary now in full swing, Americans are getting a good look at the alternatives the Republican Party will present to the re-election of President Joe Biden, who was already the oldest president ever to take office when he did so in 2021.

John Bowden reports.

New poll reveals what voters really think of Trump, Biden and DeSantis

Watch: Hunter Biden attorney defends plea deal

20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

“I’ve heard Speaker McCarthy say a lot of stuff I don’t agree with. There was no basis for what he said, and he’s not right,” attorney Chris Clarke told Katy Tur on MSNBC.

Report: Hunter Biden prosecutor informed Judiciary Chair Jordan of his “ultimate authority” over probe

20:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump-appointed US Attorney David Weiss, overseeing the Hunter Biden criminal investigation, sent a letter to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan on 7 June — obtained by CNN — making it clear that Attorney General Merrick Garland granted him “ultimate authority” on the criminal probe against the president’s son.

Christie tears into Trump (again)

20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Following Monday night’s Fox News interview with Donald Trump, former New Jersey governor and federal prosecutor Chris Christie spoke to CBS Mornings about what the former president had to say.

Mr Christie noted that Mr discussing the 37-criminal-count indictment against him on television was a “horrible political and legal strategy”.

“Last night he said the reason he didn’t give the documents back was because he’s just so very busy and he didn’t have time to respond to a grand jury subpoena because he needed to get his golf shirts and pants out of the box. I mean, does anybody in America believe this?” Mr Christie said.

He continued: “Look, I think the problem is going to be for him over time is that people are just not going to buy it. And when you think about how many days of golf he’s played since he left office, maybe he could have skipped a couple of rounds of golf and gone through the boxes to respond to a subpoena from a grand jury.”

Mr Christie added: “Look, the problem for Donald Trump in all of this is his own conduct. He’s his own worst enemy. None of this would have happened to him or to the country if he had just returned the documents.”

The former governor zeroed in on the most damning moment for Mr Trump, saying: “So, look, I think he knows he’s in trouble. And last night, I think the worst moment for him was talking about the fact that he just didn’t have time to go through these boxes. Well, in response to the grand jury subpoena, yet he told the government and had his lawyer certify that he had returned all of the documents that were responsive to the subpoena. That is obstruction of justice. And it appears to me last night as a former prosecutor, that he had he admitted obstruction of justice on the air last night to Bret Baier. I can tell you this, his lawyers this morning are jumping out of whatever window they’re near.”

Watch the full interview here:

Don Jr weighs in on Hunter Biden plea deal

19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s eldest son Don Jr has weighed in on the Hunter Biden plea deal. He posted on Twitter, complaining of a two-tier system of justice and ignoring that the US attorney prosecuting the case was appointed by his father:

Donald Trump Jr

Watch: Trump vows to crush the deep state by repealing Impoundment Control Act

19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

In his latest campaign video, Donald Trump says that in a second term, he will seek to repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 so that he will have unilateral power as president to seize funds appropriated by Congress for government agencies.

The former president says he will return the money to the general Treasury and perhaps use that money to give out tax cuts while getting the “warmongers and globalists out of our government” by “choking off the money”.

Trump calls Biden plea deal ‘massive coverup’ and ‘scam'

19:02 , Oliver O'Connell

No, the former president is not done talking about the Hunter Biden plea deal. It’s possible he never will be. Here’s his latest Truth Social rant:

The Hunter/Joe Biden settlement is a massive COVERUP & FULL SCALE ELECTION INTERFERENCE “SCAM” THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN IN OUR COUNTRY BEFORE. A “TRAFFIC TICKET,” & JOE IS ALL CLEANED UP & READY TO GO INTO THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - AND THIS AS CROOKED DOJ, STATE, & CITY PROSECUTORS, MARXISTS & COMMUNISTS ALL, HIT ME FROM ALL SIDES & ANGELS WITH BULL….! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

Raskin says Biden deal reflects DoJ’s ‘continued institutional independence'

18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The ranking Democrat on the House Oversight committee, Rep Jamie Raskin, says of the Hunter Biden plea deal:

“The US Attorney for Delaware, who was appointed by former President Trump and kept on by President Biden, has investigated and now criminally charged the son of the sitting President with two misdemeanor tax counts and a firearms count. This development reflects the Justice Department’s continued institutional independence in following the evidence of actual crimes and enforcing the rule of law even in the face of constant criticism and heckling by my GOP colleagues who think that the system of justice should only follow their partisan wishes. Oversight Committee Republicans have advanced debunked conspiracy theories about President Biden and are now, again, wailing about the work of a Trump-appointed US Attorney. Meanwhile, our colleagues have refused to investigate Jared Kushner and Donald Trump’s receipt of billions of dollars from autocratic regimes after handing them a string of outrageous policy favors and concessions.”

Rep Goldman says Hunter Biden plea deal debunks rumours about the president

18:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Congressman Dan Goldman of New York, issued the following statement on Hunter Biden’s guilty plea to two misdemeanor tax charges:

“This was a thorough, professional, and exhaustive investigation into Hunter Biden’s finances which started under the Trump Administration and was investigated by a Trump-appointed US Attorney, David Weiss, for five years.

“I have every confidence that the charges levied against Hunter Biden reflect Mr Weiss’s fidelity to the rule of law — and his oath to proceed without fear or favor — and hold Hunter Biden accountable for every charge Mr Weiss could prove.

“Ultimately, Hunter Biden is accepting responsibility for crimes and conduct that is virtually never charged by the DOJ.

“It is also clear that the US Attorney’s exhaustive examination of Hunter Biden’s finances found no wrongdoing connected to President Biden, further debunking the rumors, hearsay, and innuendo coming from House Republicans.

“As with Donald Trump’s indictments, this case should be litigated in the court of law, not the court of public opinion, and most definitely not the halls of Congress.”

Read full statement from Justice Department on Hunter Biden

18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Tax and Firearm Charges Filed Against Robert Hunter Biden

The United States Attorney for the District of Delaware filed charges today against Robert Hunter Biden (Hunter Biden") of Los Angeles. Hunter Biden has been charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense and has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the tax offenses and enter into a pre-trial diversion agreement with regard to the firearm charge at a proceeding to be scheduled by the assigned United States District Court judge Accordin’s to the tax Information, Hunter Biden received taxable income in excess of $1,500,000 annually in calendar years 2017 and 2018. Despite owing in excess of $100,000 in federal income taxes each year, he did not pay the income tax due for either year.

According to the firearm Information, from on or about October 12, 2018 through October 23, 2018, Hunter Biden possessed a firearm despite knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.

Hunter Biden is charged with two violations of failure to pay income tax and one violation of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison on each of the tax charges and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the firearm charge.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

David C Weiss, US Attorney for the District of Delaware, made the announcement. The investigation is ongoing.

Watch: McCarthy calls Hunter Biden’s plea agreement with the DoJ a 'sweetheart deal’

17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

New CNN post-indictment poll shows Trump losing some ground but holding lead over GOP

17:36 , Oliver O'Connell

The first CNN/SRSS poll since Donald Trump was arraigned shows some softening of support for the former president within the Republican Party.

Some 47 per cent of GOP voters say Mr Trump is their first choice, dropping six percentage points in a month, down from 53 per cent in May.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds steady in second place at 26 per cent, former Vice President Mike Pence is at 9 per cent, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is at 5 per cent, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is at 4 per cent, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 3 per cent, and the remaining candidates are at one per cent or less.

Mr Trump’s favourability rating has also dropped from 77 per cent to 67 per cent. The share who say they would not support him for the nomination under any circumstances has climbed, from 16 per cent in May to 23 per cent now.

Haley says plea deal raises further questions

17:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley spoke to Jaqui Heinrich of Fox News about the Hunter Biden plea deal, saying: “This plea deal only raises further questions about Hunter Biden’s crimes and the double standard of justice in our federal government. There is clearly a lot more the Biden family has to answer for.”

Former White House photographer slams Trump for using image to justify ‘another one of his lies'

17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former White House photographer Pete Souza has hit out at former president Donald Trump for using one of his images to spread “yet another one of his lies”.

Here’s what Mr Souza had to say:

Shame on Donald Trump for using a photo I made to try and justify yet another one of his lies.⁣

He posted this photo yesterday on Truth Social with the caption, “Biden sitting outside with Lisa Monaco, second in charge of DOJ, probably working on future Plots and Schemes against Republicans.”⁣

This photograph is more than TEN years old. I made this image on May 1, 2013. Joe Biden was then Vice President. Lisa Monaco was then President Obama’s homeland security advisor. ⁣

To give this more context, this photo occurred after the president’s morning intelligence briefing. The VP and Lisa are sitting outside the Outer Oval Office at the edge of the Rose Garden (note that no trees have yet been cut down). President Obama was departing the next day to meet with the President of Mexico. The Boston Marathon bombing had occurred two weeks before.⁣ Donald Trump was then a failed businessman seeking attention by saying President Obama wasn’t a U.S. citizen.⁣We posted this photo on the White House website the next day as our “photo of the day.” We also posted it on the White House Flickr photo stream on June 20, 2013, as one of the photographs in our monthly albums (for May 2013). The original caption: “Vice President Joe Biden talks with Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, in the Rose Garden of the White House, May 1, 2013.” ⁣⁣I used a Canon 5DM3 camera, with a 24-70mm lens, with exposure of 1/320 at f/5.6 at ISO 200.⁣ The original file was transferred to the National Archives on 1/20/2017.⁣Thanks to all those on Twitter who brought this to my attention last night. And to those who took the further step of replying on Truth Social with a “Fact Check,” and link to the photo on Flickr. They were then banned from Truth Social.⁣⁣I await Trump’s apology to President Biden and Lisa, and for misusing this photograph I made.⁣⁣

GOP bemoans alleged ‘sweetheart deal’ for Hunter Biden

17:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Hunter Biden probe ‘ongoing’ according to DoJ

16:52 , Oliver O'Connell

The Department of Justice says the Hunter Biden probe “is ongoing” according to David Weiss, the US attorney who is leading the investigation, CNN reports.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hunter Biden’s lawyer Christopher Clark said it was his “understanding” that the Justice Department probe was “resolved”.

Trump says Ivanka, Don Jr and Eric will not return to the White House if he wins in 2024

16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump said on Monday night that the days of his family serving in the White House are over if he wins another term in office in the 2024 election.

The former president made the remarks in an extensive interview with Bret Baier of Fox News that was taped at his Bedminster summer home on his golf course in New Jersey.

“I said, ‘That’s enough for the family,’” he said when asked about the prospects of a second term. “It’s too painful for the family. My family has been through hell.”

Read more...

Trump says Ivanka, Don Jr and Eric will not return to White House if he wins in 2024

Trump rants over poll showing him losing to Biden

16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump reacted angrily on Monday after Fox News highlighted a Quinnipiac University poll showing him as trailing President Joe Biden by a four-point margin.

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social website that the respected polling organisation had released a “bad poll” and accused Quinnipiac of using too few Republican voters in the sample of Americans who were surveyed. Mr Trump argued that the poll actually showed that he was in the lead over Mr Biden.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump rants on Truth Social over poll showing him losing to Biden

Trump trial date not expected to hold

15:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Latest reaction : Trump and GOP fume over Hunter Biden’s ‘traffic ticket’ indictment

15:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans were unimpressed and fumed at the Department of Justice on Tuesday after the agency announced that President Joe Biden’s son Hunter would be charged with firearm and tax offences.

The reactions spilt out on social media through comments to reporters throughout the mid-morning just minutes after the indictment was announced, with none other than former President Donald Trump leading the charge.

John Bowden reports.

Donald Trump and GOP fume over Hunter Biden’s ‘traffic ticket’ indictment

House oversight committee chair criticises Hunter Biden ‘sweetheart plea deal’

15:42 , Oliver O'Connell

House Oversight Chairman James Comer says of Hunter Biden plea deal: “These charges against Hunter Biden and sweetheart plea deal have no impact on the Oversight Committee’s investigation.”

He also criticised the Department of Justice for only giving Hunter Biden “a slap on the wrist”.

Hunter Biden agreement reached with Trump-appointed prosecutor

15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump rails against ‘broken’ system after Hunter Biden plea deal news breaks

15:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to complain about the Hunter Biden plea deal that was announced this morning.

He wrote:

Wow! The corrupt Biden DOJ just cleared up hundreds of years of criminal liability by giving Hunter Biden a mere “traffic ticket.” Our system is BROKEN!

Mr Trump later added:

People are going wild over the Hunter Biden Scam with the DOJ!

In the midst of this, he had a quick jab at former attorney general Bill Barr:

So nice to see that Sloppy, Low Energy RINO Bill Barr, gets loudly booed and shouted at everywhere he goes! He is sooo bad for America.

Despite audio recording, Trump denies ever having secret document about attacking Iran

15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump denied that he ever possessed a secret document about attacking Iran despite the fact a recording exists that had him discussing a document he kept from his presidency.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump denies ever having secret document about Iran despite ‘unclassified’ recording

Bret Baier confronts Trump with lengthy list of aides he appointed – and then turned on

14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A Fox News host confronted Donald Trump in a heated interview with a long list of former staffers he appointed and later went against.

Mr Trump was challenged on his hiring choices during his tenure, with Fox News anchor Bret Baier reminding him of his 2016 statement that he was “going to surround myself with only the best and most serious people”.

“Well, I did do that,” Mr Trump responded. “That’s tremendous. Look, we had the best economy we’ve ever had, the world has ever seen.”

However, Baier had brought receipts as Shweta Sharma reports.

Fox confronts Trump with lengthy list of aides he appointed – and then turned on

Biden lawyer says ‘investigation into Hunter is resolved’

14:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Hunter Biden reaches deal with Justice Department to plead guilty to three federal charges

14:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Hunter Biden has reached a plea deal with the Department of Justice, agreeing to plead guilty to three federal charges as part of an investigation into his taxes.

President Joe Biden’s son will plead guilty to three federal charges, the Justice Department said in a court filing on Tuesday morning.

Breaking...

Hunter Biden reaches deal with DOJ to plead guilty to three federal charges

Trump-appointed judge sets trial date in classified documents case

14:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Aileen Cannon has set a date for the trial in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump.

The Trump-appointed judge has signed a court order listing the trial as starting on 14 August of this year in Fort Pierce, Florida.

More follows...

Trump-appointed judge sets trial date in classified documents case

Report says DoJ dragged feet over including Trump in Jan 6 probe

14:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Long have American political observers and analysts wondered why the Justice Department’s investigation of Donald Trump for the attack on the Capitol by his supporters began to heat up only in 2022 as the January 6 committee would begin publicly pressuring the agency to take action.

Now, there’s a possible answer: The Washington Post reports that the DoJ and FBI both were involved in a baffling level of foot-dragging over the issue, and only began committing serious resources to the investigation into Mr Trump himself after it was clear to many that the former president would be a candidate for office once again.

John Bowden has the details.

DoJ dragged feet over including Trump in Jan 6 probe over bias fears, report says

Sketch artist defends Trump arraignment picture

13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The artist behind a flattering courtroom sketch of Donald Trump has defended his controversial depiction of the former president.

William J Hennessy Jr was one of three artists who drew Mr Trump, 77, during his arraignment in Miami on 13 June on 37 federal counts related to willful mishandling classified documents, obstruction of justice and making false statements.

The sketch of a slimmed down, youthful-looking Mr Trump standing bolt upright provoked protests on social media for being overly generous to the defendant.

Bevan Hurley has the story.

Sketch artist defends controversial take on Trump arraignment

Will Trump drag down the Republican Party after his indictments?

12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

For now, no one comes close to Trump in his command of the voters who will decide the GOP’s nominee next year. But Trump’s path beyond the primary is far more perilous as he faces significant and growing questions about his ability to appeal to a broader, more moderate set of voters in a possible general election matchup against President Joe Biden. If Trump fails, he risks not just losing the White House contest but also dragging down other Republican candidates on the ballot as the party aims to retake the US Senate and keep the House.

Read more...

Trump faces questions about whether he'll drag down the Republican Party after his indictments

Voices: Why aren’t more Republicans attacking Trump like Bill Barr?

11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Noah Berlatsky writes:

“The fact is, [former president Donald Trump] is a consummate narcissist...He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of the country’s interests.”

Reading that comment initially, you’d assume it was made by a Democrat. But in fact the speaker there is Bill Barr, Trump’s own former Attorney General, who roasted Trump on CBS’ Face the Nation this weekend.

Read more...

Why aren’t more Republicans attacking Trump like Bill Barr?

Christie doubles down on plans to take on ‘loser, loser, loser’ Trump

10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie became the latest Republican to publicly trash the decisions of his party’s leadership this week when he laid into the pledge that GOP bigwigs are requiring participants in the 2024 debate cycle to sign.

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, the ex-New Jersey governor seemed to indicate that he had signed the pledge — which states that any participant in the GOP debates will support the party’s eventual nominee — merely in order to make it onstage, while alluding to the idea that he would not hesitate to break it.

Read more...

Chris Christie slams GOP debate pledge as a ‘useless idea’ and rips ‘loser’ Trump

Voters think Trump is a criminal, Biden is too old and DeSantis is a fascist, according to new poll

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A new poll out from JL Partners underscores major weaknesses for the three men most likely to be sworn in as president on 20 January 2025, with little good news to soften the blow.

With the GOP primary now in full swing, Americans are getting a good look at the alternatives the Republican Party will present to the re-election of President Joe Biden, who was already the oldest president ever to take office when he did so in 2021.

John Bowden reports.

New poll reveals what voters really think of Trump, Biden and DeSantis

Esper says his hoarding of secrets was ‘unauthorised, illegal and dangerous’

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former defence chief threw cold water on the assertion from his former boss and his allies that the classified records and other documents seized from the ex-president’s home and resort in an FBI raid were his to take.

As the ex-president’s loyalists continue to offer a wide scope of defences for their leader ranging from arguments that Mr Trump was allowed to designate the materials as personal records for his own safekeeping to the idea that the prosecution is merely a politicised weaponisation of the Justice Department, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has offered his own assessment on the situation.

John Bowden has the story.

Trump’s defence chief slams ex-president’s ‘illegal and dangerous’ documents trove

Trump rants over poll showing him losing to Biden

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump reacted angrily on Monday after Fox News highlighted a Quinnipiac University poll showing him as trailing President Joe Biden by a four-point margin.

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social website that the respected polling organisation had released a “bad poll” and accused Quinnipiac of using too few Republican voters in the sample of Americans who were surveyed. Mr Trump argued that the poll actually showed that he was in the lead over Mr Biden.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Trump rants on Truth Social over poll showing him losing to Biden

Petition seeks to ban Donald Trump Jr from Australia

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A petition has been launched in Australia calling for a ban on Donald Trump Jr from visiting the country for a right-wing event next month.

By Monday nearly 15,000 people had signed the Change.org petition protesting against the former president’s eldest son attending the “Turning Point Australia” event.

Graeme Massie reports.

Petition seeks to ban Donald Trump Jr from Australia visit

Trump conjures familiar enemy in attacking Democrats as ‘Marxists'

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lashing out after his arraignment on federal charges last week, Donald Trump took aim at President Joe Biden and Democrats with language that seemed to evoke another era: He was being persecuted, he said, by “Marxists” and “communists.”

Read more...

Trump, other Republicans conjure a familiar enemy in attacking Democrats as 'Marxists,' 'communists'

Garland keeps poker face as firestorm erupts after Trump charges

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

On his first day as attorney general, Merrick Garland pledged a return to what he called the “norms” of the Justice Department and said he would work to eliminate the perception of political interference. But in the two years since he took office, the former federal judge has found himself in the middle of a political firestorm of historic proportions.

Read more...

Attorney General Garland keeps poker face as firestorm erupts after Trump charges

Christie doubles down on plans to take on ‘loser, loser, loser’ Trump

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie became the latest Republican to publicly trash the decisions of his party’s leadership this week when he laid into the pledge that GOP bigwigs are requiring participants in the 2024 debate cycle to sign.

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, the ex-New Jersey governor seemed to indicate that he had signed the pledge — which states that any participant in the GOP debates will support the party’s eventual nominee — merely in order to make it onstage, while alluding to the idea that he would not hesitate to break it.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Chris Christie slams GOP debate pledge as a ‘useless idea’ and rips ‘loser’ Trump

‘Unauthorised, illegal and dangerous’

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former defence chief threw cold water on the assertion from his former boss and his allies that the classified records and other documents seized from the ex-president’s home and resort in an FBI raid were his to take.

As the ex-president’s loyalists continue to offer a wide scope of defences for their leader ranging from arguments that Mr Trump was allowed to designate the materials as personal records for his own safekeeping to the idea that the prosecution is merely a politicised weaponisation of the Justice Department, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has offered his own assessment on the situation.

John Bowden has the story.

Trump’s defence chief slams ex-president’s ‘illegal and dangerous’ documents trove

Watch: Trump’s plan to end war in Ukraine (sort of)

Tuesday 20 June 2023 00:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Trump praises Saudi leadership

Monday 19 June 2023 23:51 , Oliver O'Connell

No more family in White House says Trump

Monday 19 June 2023 23:42 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump says that if he wins a second term, there’d be no Ivanka or Jared in the White House.

“That’s enough for the family,” he says.

Watch: Baier lists former officials in the Trump administration now against him

Monday 19 June 2023 23:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Despite recording, Trump denies ever having secret document about attacking Iran

Monday 19 June 2023 23:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump denied that he ever possessed a secret document about attacking Iran despite the fact a recording exists that had him discussing a document he kept from his presidency.

Mr Trump spoke in an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier at his property in Bedminster, New Jersey less than a week after he pleaded not guilty to 37 charges in a federal court in Miami for his arraignment in Miami. A federal grand jury had indicted him for allegedly willfully mishandling of classified documents, obstruction of justice and making false statements.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump denies ever having secret document about Iran despite ‘unclassified’ recording

Monday 19 June 2023 23:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Most damning evidence against Trump is Trump talking

Monday 19 June 2023 23:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump says he wants to be less combative but press is ‘dishonest'

Monday 19 June 2023 23:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Bret Baier: “What did you learn from your 1st term ... and changes that you would make if you get elected?

Donald Trump: “I would like to be less combative. But I find the press is extremely dishonest. And if I’m not combative, I don’t get my word across... I don’t think you could win.”

Watch: Trump talks about recording of him discussing secret documents

Monday 19 June 2023 23:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Baier pushes back on Trump’s claim that he won 2020 election

Monday 19 June 2023 23:21 , Oliver O'Connell

In a remarkable moment, Bret Baier tells Donald Trump he lost the 2020 election pushing back on all of the former president’s claims of voter fraud.

Baier also confronts the former president over why he hired so many people he now insults, running through a list of his cabinet.

Trump maintains he had right to keep boxes

Monday 19 June 2023 23:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump is sticking with his story that he had the right to take boxes of classified documents and denies he has done anything wrong.

Watch: Trump calls Barr ‘coward’

Monday 19 June 2023 23:08 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump gives Fox News new excuse for not giving back boxes of secret documents

Monday 19 June 2023 23:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has floated a new excuse for refusing to return classified documents — he was “very busy”.

Bevan Hurley reports as his latest interview gets underway on Fox News.

Trump gives Fox News new excuse for not giving back boxes of secret documents

Judge says Trump must be supervised by lawyer when reviewing evidence against him

Monday 19 June 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump will be barred from viewing the evidence the Department of Justice has collected against him, except when in the presence of his attorneys, according to a new order by one of the judges overseeing the criminal case against him.

In a four-page order signed on Monday, Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart granted a prosecution request for a protective order meant to shield the information that must be disclosed to Mr Trump about the case against him from public view.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump must be supervised by lawyer when reviewing evidence against him, judge says

Will Trump drag down the Republican Party after his indictments?

Monday 19 June 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump‘s grip on the Republican faithful was evident from the moment he left the federal courthouse in Miami last week.

Fresh off becoming the first former president to face criminal charges levied by the government he once oversaw, Trump’s motorcade moved through a crowd of hundreds of mostly adoring fans. He met more supporters at a Cuban restaurant in Little Havana, a Miami neighborhood that, like much of south Florida, has swung toward Republicans in recent years.

A federal indictment on charges of mishandling the nation’s most sensitive national security secrets would doom any other White House hopeful. But Trump’s reception in Miami — and the more than $7 million he raised after the indictment — was a reminder of the central tension coursing through the Republican Party as the 2024 presidential primary gets underway.

For now, no one comes close to Trump in his command of the voters who will decide the GOP’s nominee next year. But Trump’s path beyond the primary is far more perilous as he faces significant and growing questions about his ability to appeal to a broader, more moderate set of voters in a possible general election matchup against President Joe Biden.

Read more...

Trump faces questions about whether he'll drag down the Republican Party after his indictments

Petition seeks to ban Donald Trump Jr from Australia

Monday 19 June 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A petition has been launched in Australia calling for a ban on Donald Trump Jr from visiting the country for a right-wing event next month.

By Monday nearly 15,000 people had signed the Change.org petition protesting against the former president’s eldest son attending the “Turning Point Australia” event.

The group is affiliated with right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk’s “Turning Point USA”, which aims to reach the next generation of conservatives.

Graeme Massie reports.

Petition seeks to ban Donald Trump Jr from Australia visit

Voices: The indictment has helped Trump in the primaries – but there’s a catch

Monday 19 June 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

The former president continues to have a vise grip on Republican Party. But there are significant caveats: the charges might hurt the former president with voters outside of his base. The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that 50 per cent of independent voters thought that Mr Trump has done something wrong or illegal.

Read on...

The indictment has helped Trump in the primaries – but there’s a catch

Sketch artist defends Trump arraignment picture

Monday 19 June 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The artist behind a flattering courtroom sketch of Donald Trump has defended his controversial depiction of the former president.

William J Hennessy Jr was one of three artists who drew Mr Trump, 77, during his arraignment in Miami on 13 June on 37 federal counts related to willful mishandling classified documents, obstruction of justice and making false statements.

The sketch of a slimmed down, youthful-looking Mr Trump standing bolt upright provoked protests on social media for being overly generous to the defendant.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Sketch artist defends controversial take on Trump arraignment

Watch: Christie vows to save party from ‘three-time loser, Donald Trump'

Monday 19 June 2023 20:53 , Oliver O'Connell

“I will do what I need to do to be up on that stage to try to save my party and save my country from going down the road of being led by three-time loser, Donald Trump.”

Trump rants over poll showing him losing to Biden

Monday 19 June 2023 20:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump reacted angrily on Monday after Fox News highlighted a Quinnipiac University poll showing him as trailing President Joe Biden by a four-point margin.

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social website that the respected polling organisation had released a “bad poll” and accused Quinnipiac of using too few Republican voters in the sample of Americans who were surveyed. Mr Trump argued that the poll actually showed that he was in the lead over Mr Biden.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Fox News to air Trump interview tonight after he criticises network

Monday 19 June 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Fox News guest says it’s time for someone to ‘pull a trigger’ over ‘the left'

Monday 19 June 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A Fox News guest discussing last week’s “drag nuns” protest, the Trump prosecution and “the left” has suggested the time may be coming for someone in America to “pull the trigger” like at Concord, the battle which helped to spark the Revolutionary War.

Retired MLB pitcher and conservative commentator Curt Schilling made the on-air comments Friday while in conversation with host Jesse Watters. Schilling complained that leaders on the right “talk, talk, that’s all they’re doing” without backing up ideology with action.

Sheila Flynn reports.

Anger as Fox guest says it’s time for someone to ‘pull a trigger’ over ‘the left’

Francis Suarez: Could he be the first sitting mayor to become president?

Monday 19 June 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

In a 2024 Republican presidential field full of long-shot candidates, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez may be — on paper anyway — the longest long shot of all.

No sitting mayor has ever been elected U.S. president, a job that historically has been won by governors, vice presidents, senators or Cabinet secretaries. Some former mayors have become commander-in-chief, but only after serving in higher-profile positions.

Read more...

Miami's Francis Suarez looks to become first sitting mayor to be president

Garland keeps poker face as firestorm erupts after Trump charges

Monday 19 June 2023 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

On his first day as attorney general, Merrick Garland pledged a return to what he called the “norms” of the Justice Department and said he would work to eliminate the perception of political interference. But in the two years since he took office, the former federal judge has found himself in the middle of a political firestorm of historic proportions.

Read more...

Attorney General Garland keeps poker face as firestorm erupts after Trump charges

Voices: Why aren’t more Republicans attacking Trump like Bill Barr?

Monday 19 June 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

“The fact is, [former president Donald Trump] is a consummate narcissist...He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of the country’s interests.”

Reading that comment initially, you’d assume it was made by a Democrat. But in fact the speaker there is Bill Barr, Trump’s own former Attorney General, who roasted Trump on CBS’ Face the Nation this weekend. Barr also explicitly pushed back against Republican claims that the prosecution of Trump was unfair or politically motivated. "This is not a circumstance where he’s the victim or this is government overreach," he said. "He provoked this whole problem himself."

Read more from Noah Berlatsky:

Why aren’t more Republicans attacking Trump like Bill Barr?