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Trump is writing a book on how presidency was stolen from him
Kellyanne Conway, one of Donald Trump’s longest-standing political confidants and White House aides, has revealed that the ex-president offered her a blanket pardon after the 2020 election.
In her new memoir Here’s the Deal, Ms Conway writes that she asked the president why he thought she needed a pardon at all.
“Because they go after everyone, honey. It doesn’t matter,” Mr Trump allegedly said. Ms Conway claims she “politely declined” the offer.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump is facing a bipartisan backlash after he shared a post on his social media platform Truth Social seemingly calling for "civil war" in the United States.
Mr Trump "retruthed" a user's "civil war" comment on a post from right-wing conspiracy theorist Lara Logan, which in turn was a screengrab of El Salvadorian president Nayib Bukele's criticism of America.
"The most powerful country in the world is falling so fast, that it makes you rethink what are the real reasons," Mr Bukele wrote on Twitter. “Something so big and powerful can’t be destroyed so quickly, unless the enemy comes from within."
Recommended Donald Trump’s ‘Civil War’ bombast is bad enough. Democrats shouldn’t help make it worse Ted Cruz complains about Pete Davidson getting ‘all these hot women’ Meet Brian Kemp: The man who could deal a blow to Donald Trump in Georgia Secret Service spent $1.75m at Trump-owned properties, watchdog says
Key Points GOP candidates prepare for primaries Giuliani meets with Jan 6 committee Michigan official claims Trump called for her execution
Show latest update 1653392660 Tucker Carlson calls on Democrats to “de-escalate” rhetoric
Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who routinely uses his show to promote bizarre, apocalyptic cultural takes and racist right-wing conspiracy theories, has warned Democrats that they are dangerously escalating the acrimonious tone of public discourse, and that the consequences if they keep going could be dire.
On the same edition of his show last night, he complained that those who are warning of the spread of violent white nationalist ideas are in fact trying to tarnish “normal” conservatives as dangerous racists.
Andrew Naughtie 24 May 2022 12:44
1653390620 Kellyanne Conway describes Trump’s pardon offer
In her new book Here’s the Deal, which like other Trump administration memoirs has spawned multiple stories before it’s even been released, Kellyanne Conway has a very strange anecdote about Mr Trump offering her a pardon for unspecified offences she did not expect to be charged with.
“Do you want one?” Mr Trump reportedly asked her.
“Do you know something, I don’t,” Ms Conway says she replied. “Why would I need a pardon?”
“Because they go after everyone, honey. It doesn’t matter,” Mr Trump said, according to the book.
Ms Conway says the conversation ended with her “politely declin[ing]”.
Sravasti Dasgupta has the story.
Kellyanne Conway says Trump offered her a blanket pardon after election ‘Because they go after everyone, honey. It doesn’t matter’
Andrew Naughtie 24 May 2022 12:10
1653388853 Opinion: How not to react to Trump’s “civil war” rhetoric
Writing for The Independent, Noah Berlatsky takes a look at the “civil war” rhetoric emanating from some of Donald Trump’s supporters – rhetoric that has recently been shared by the president himself on his bespoke Twitter alternative, Truth Social.
Many Democrats and other Trump critics have jumped at the chance to ridicule this sort of talk, dismissing it as the empty ramblings of people safely hidden behind their keyboards. But Noah argues that in their haste to pounce on this performative belligerence, the president’s opponents are missing a crucial point.
Yes, Trump is not, personally, going to take up arms. But that’s not the main problem with his call for “Civil War”. The main problem is that he has followers who may, like the case of the Buffalo shooter, decide to kill those they perceive as political enemies. When Trump frames opponents as traitors worthy of brutality and extermination, he’s encouraging political divison and political violence. He does that in part by equating leadership and manly brutality. Democrats like Swalwell shouldn’t help him do that.
Read his full argument below.
Donald Trump’s ‘Civil War’ bombast is bad enough. Democrats shouldn’t make it worse Mocking someone for not being as tough as their rhetoric is not helpful if you want a public discourse that doesn’t reward aggression
Andrew Naughtie 24 May 2022 11:40
1653384406 ICYMI: Watchdog says Secret Service spent $1.75m at Trump-owned properties
Donald Trump’s choice to frequently stay at his own properties while president resulted in a windfall for his company, according to Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington.
The group, through Freedom of Information Act requests, learned that the Secret Service spent more than $1.75 million at Trump properties to protect the president over the course of four years.
It’s not unheard of for the Secret Service to spend large sums to protect presidential candidates, presidents, former presidents, or their family members, particularly when it comes to securing the use of facilities near a protectee’s residence.
Yet the scale and scope of protective operations, combined with the tendency of Mr Trump and his family members to travel to properties in their company’s portfolio and their insistence on charging the agents responsible for protecting for the privilege of doing so has no modern precedent.
Andrew Feinberg has the story.
Secret Service spent $1.75m at Trump-owned properties, watchdog says Mr Trump charges the agency $396.15 per day to rent a room at the Mar-a-Lago club, where he has lived since leaving office in 2021
Andrew Naughtie 24 May 2022 10:26
1653380111 Capitol rioter asks for looser release conditions to keep teenage kids out of mischief
Many of the scores of accused Capitol rioters are seeking to change the conditions of their release from custody, citing myriad reasons. Now, a new pretext has been given by Rachel Powell, who faces a curfew and is forced to wear an ankle braclet: she is worried that without her full supervision, her teenage sons will get up to too much trouble.
Andrew Naughtie 24 May 2022 09:15
1653374160 Could a Mo Brooks surge deal a second blow to Donald Trump on Tuesday?
Donald Trump is already likely bracing for the defeat of his chosen candiate in the Georgia gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. But in neighbouring Alabama, a surging Mo Brooks could be poised to deal him a double-tap defeat.
The congressman is surging in the race, according to a poll released late last week, and now sits only a few percentage points behind Katie Britt, the frontrunner. Ms Britt or Mr Brooks would need 50 per cent to avoid a June runoff, and if Mr Brooks comes out ahead of Ms Britt tomorrow it could be a serious sign that Donald Trump’s endorsement is not the powerful force it used to be.
Read more about the race in the Associated Press:
GOP primary race for Alabama Senate seat turns bitter Alabama’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby is a bitter high-dollar fight between three candidates
John Bowden 24 May 2022 07:36
1653368400 Meet Brian Kemp: The man who could deal a blow to Donald Trump in Georgia
Georgia’s Brian Kemp may become known, at least after Tuesday, as the man who did the impossible: Defeat a candidate backed by Donald Trump in a Republican primary in the deep south.
That certainly looks to be the case as the incumbent governor charges into Tuesday’s primary with a double-digit polling lead over David Perdue, the Trump acolyte who looks to be set to deliver the former president his first defeat of the 2022 primary season.
Read more in The Independent:
Meet Brian Kemp: The man who could deal a blow to Donald Trump in Georgia Brian Kemp charges into Tuesday’s primary with a double-digit polling lead over Trump-backed David Perdue
John Bowden 24 May 2022 06:00
1653363029 ICYMI: Kellyanne Conway eviscerates Jared Kushner
Kellyanne Conway is holding nothing back in her new memoir, due out Tuesday, which examines her work for the 2016 Trump campaign and later Trump presidency.
And one of her top targets for criticism is Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, whom she faulted for not hesitating to work on numerous projects despite having little to no experience in the matters at hand. Mr Kushner worked on a number of projects for his father from 2017-2021, including Middle East peace efforts.
“There was no subject he considered beyond his expertise. Criminal justice reform. Middle East peace. The southern and northern borders. Veterans and opioids. Big Tech and small business,” Ms Conway wrote.
“If Martian attacks had come across the radar, he would have happily added them to his ever-bulging portfolio,” she added.
Read more in The Independent from Maroosha Muzaffar:
Kellyanne Conway skewers ‘shrewd and calculating’ Jared Kushner in new book ‘If Martian attacks had come across the radar, he would have happily added them to his ever-bulging portfolio’
John Bowden 24 May 2022 04:30
1653357629 ICYMI: Mike Pence could challenge Trump in 2024
Former Vice President Mike Pence is making his presence felt in Georgia, on the eve of the state’s primary, on behalf of Gov Brian Kemp. Mr Kemp is likely to prevail on Tuesday against a Trump-backed primary challenger.
The move is a sign that Mr Pence is getting bolder with his public break from Donald Trump and his efforts to make a name for himself in the party. Now, in an interview with The New York Times, Mr Pence is refusing to rule out a primary bid against his old boss.
Read more from The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg:
Pence wont rule out running against Trump in 2024 Mr Pence is set to campaign for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp at a rally on Monday
John Bowden 24 May 2022 03:00
1653350429 ICYMI: Madison Cawthorn faces ethics probe
Less than a week after losing his Republican primary in North Carolina’s 11th district, Madison Cawthorn is now facing a new scandal.
The House Ethics Committee says it is investigating the freshman, lame-duck congressman for allegedly promoting a cryptocurrency in which he had a business interest as well as for an alleged relationship with a male staffer - whom he has described as his third cousin.
Read more from The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg:
Madison Cawthorn facing investigation by House Ethics Committee The panel is investigation whether Mr Cawthorn ‘improperly promoted a cryptocurrency in which he may have had an undisclosed financial interest, and engaged in an improper relationship with an individual employed on his congressional staff’
John Bowden 24 May 2022 01:00
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