Trump news – live: Ex-president says Musk won’t buy Twitter at ‘ridiculous price’ as Pence backs Gov Kemp
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As Donald Trump’s chosen candidate David Perdue struggles to gain momentum in Georgia’s gubernatorial primary, Mike Pence has announced he will visit the state to get out the vote for incumbent Brian Kemp – a Republican who refused to bow to Mr Trump’s insistence that the state was stolen from Joe Biden in 2020.
Meanwhile, the select committee investigating the 6 January attack on the US Capitol has issued subpoenas to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and four other GOP lawmakers who are close allies of Donald Trump: Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Andy Biggs of Arizona, and Mo Brooks of Alabama. Each was given the opportunity to voluntarily give evidence.
And the Department of Justice is now investigating whether former President Trump or any of his aides violated federal law by mishandling classified documents that ended up at Mar-a-Lago instead of at the national archives at the end of his term.
On Friday, the former president shared some thoughts on Elon Musk’s plan to buy Twitter, saying the billionaire would not pay a ‘ridiculous price’ for the platform as it is mostly “BOTS or spam accounts”.
Abortion rights groups plan nationwide ‘Bans Off Our Bodies’ rallies on 14 May
Abortion rights groups are planning nationwide demonstrations on 14 May as the US Supreme Court considers overturning constitutional protections for abortion care affirmed by the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v Wade.
“Bans Off Our Bodies” rallies organised by the Women’s March, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, UltraViolet, MoveOn and other abortion rights advocates include marches in New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Austin, Texas, with rallies in nearly 400 cities and towns across the US.
Alex Woodward reports.
Abortion rights groups plan nationwide ‘Bans Off Our Bodies’ rallies on 14 May
Hundreds of thousands of Americans expected to join marches across US as Supreme Court ruling on Roe v Wade expected in coming weeks
Justice Samuel Alito skirts question about leaked Supreme Court abortion law draft
Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito dodged a question when asked about a leaked draft opinion that he wrote showing the court was about to overturn Roe v Wade.
Mr Alito made his first appearance since the draft opinion leaked at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, The Washington Post reported.
Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.
Justice Alito skirts question about leaked draft decision overturning Roe
‘This is a subject I told myself I wasn’t going to talk about today regarding, you know — given all the circumstances,’ the justice says
Sean Hannity turns on surging GOP Pennsylvania Senate primary candidate
Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Kathy Barnette is facing heat from influential Republicans — including Fox News host Sean Hannity — now that she’s surged to a front-runner position just days before the state’s primary.
GOP operatives backing celebrity talk show host Dr Mehmet Oz‘s candidacy have circled the wagons and begun attacking Ms Barnette to try to hobble her ahead of the primary, NBC News reports.
Graig Graziosi reports:
Sean Hannity attacks GOP Senate candidate threatening Dr Oz’s run
Opponents have begun airing ‘Crazy Kathy’ ads to attack the candidate
Psaki successor waiting in the wings
Jen Psaki’s successor as White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, was there for her final day at the lectern.
Biden says significant increase in baby formula ‘in a matter of weeks'
Trump decries Democrats for bipartisan Ukraine aid during baby formula shortage
Former President Donald Trump has slammed lawmakers for working to pass a $40bn aid package for Ukraine.
Though the bill enjoyed bipartisan support, with only 57 Republicans voting no, Mr Trump still blamed the Democrats.
“The Democrats are sending another $40 billion to Ukraine, yet America’s parents are struggling to even feed their children,” he said in a statement issued through his spokesperson.
“There is a massive formula shortage, but no one is talking about it — it is a national disgrace,” he continued, despite the shortage being the focus of newscasts, press briefings, and Biden administration planning.
Said Mr Trump: “It is unthinkable that in the year 2022 American families are unable to get baby formulas for their children. Families whose children have serious allergies and require ‘elemental’ formula are in even more desperate and dire straits.”
He concluded: “The pain that mothers and fathers are going through who literally cannot get nutrition for their newborns and infants is a mark of eternal shame on the Democrat Party. America First!”
Biden talks action on baby formula shortage
President Joe Biden:
I know families across the country are worried about the availability of infant formula. That’s why yesterday, I brought together manufacturers to discuss how we can increase supply as soon as possible.
Madison Cawthorn tries to survive primary as slip-ups mount
US Representative Madison Cawthorn‘s prominent role as the youngest pro-Donald Trump agitator in Congress can rub people on the right and the left the wrong way in his North Carolina district.
That’s made the 26-year-old culture warrior a social media political celebrity and successful fundraiser. He’s near the top of the list of the former president’s most vocal allies on Capitol Hill.
But a series of unforced political and personal errors have brought both the force of big-name state Republicans and traditional enemies to bear against Cawthorn’s reelection bid.
Madison Cawthorn tries to survive primary as slip-ups mount
A series of unforced political and personal errors by GOP congressman Madison Cawthorn has brought the forces of big-name Republicans and traditional enemies to bear on his reelection bid in North Carolina
‘If he wins, they’ll implement a Christian version of sharia law’
The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe reports on another Supreme Court ruling with potentially huge implications.
The community utterly divided by touchline prayers of high school football coach
US Supreme Court set to make another ruling with huge reverberations, writes Andrew Buncombe in Bremerton
‘End of an era’: Peter Doocy posts selfie with Jen Psaki following their repeated clashes
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy posted a selfie with outgoing White House press secretary Jen Psaki and called her depature from the Biden administration the “end of an era.”
Ms Psaki has been involved in a string of head-to-head confrontations in the briefing room with Mr Doocy during her time as the lead spokesperson for the president.
“End of an era in the Brady briefing room! Good luck, (Jen Psaki)” tweeted Doocy on Friday.
Graeme Massie reports:
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy posts selfie with Jen Psaki following clashes
Journalist admitted press secretary had made him a ‘better reporter’ through their sparring
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