Category Archives: Donald Trump

Do National Guard members report to their governor, or the president? Both, actually. State National Guard members have two commanders: their governors and, above that, the U.S. president.

So whos paying for this? Normally, when Washington requests National Guard members at the border, Washington pays. Otherwise, state taxpayers are on the line for funding their National Guard and law enforcement like highway patrol. Texas has offered to reimburse at least some states who send law enforcement through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a preexisting resource-sharing agreement between states. But also, in a bizarre and unprecedented turn of events, a billionaire Republican megadonor from Tennessee has paid for some of the deployment. Willis Johnson, through the Willis and Reba Johnsons Foundation, donated $1 million directly to the state of South Dakota to fund National Guard troops on the border.

Is that even allowed? A state lawmaker says its legal, but security experts have called the moved unethical and dangerous. You certainly dont want our national security priorities up to the highest bidder, Mandy Smithberger of the Project on Government Oversight told the Washington Post.

OK. But why is this all happening in the first place? Governors Abott and Doucey might genuinely feel that their states are in crisis. But yes, there are politics: The Republican Partys midterm strategy is clearly going to be hammering Biden on his, in their words, open-border policies. Positioning truckloads of cops and National Guard on the border certainly helps create the appearance of crisis.

So, is there a crisis, or not? Immigration advocates like to say that crisis is a political termpartisans use it when its useful. Right now, we are seeing a higher number than weve seen in the last 20 years of CBP apprehensionsi.e., people who CBP officers have come across on the border and detained. And people are crossing in higher numbers on parts of the border unused to heavy traffic, too. Specifically, Texass Rio Grande Valley has become a much more popular location to cross the border than it has been before. This puts a lot of strain on unprepared local resources.

A stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on July 5, 2021. | David Peinado/NurPhoto via AP

Why are more people crossing the border? It might sound confusing, but actually theyre not. Even though apprehensions are way up, the actual number of unique individuals crossing the border is believed to be much lower. Not everyone who crosses the border gets caught or apprehended, but many of the people who attempt to cross the border try and get caught multiple times (CBP calls this recidivism). And experts suggest we may be seeing the highest-ever recidivism rate this year.

Why are there so many repeat crossers right now? The simple answer is Title 42. Thats an obscure public-health measure that the Trump administration used to shut the border to asylum-seekers when the Covid pandemic started. Biden has kept Title 42 mostly in place. Before that, people seeking asylum in the U.S. were generally permitted to remain in the country (often in detention) as they awaited the outcome of their asylum case in court. But under Title 42, all of them have been apprehended and either returned to Mexico or summarily expelled to their home country without any legal proceedings. Thousands of the people returned to Mexico have decided simply to try to cross again.

So the border isnt open? Like Trump, Biden has kept the door almost entirely closed on asylum, with only a sliver of people making it in.

Whats all the ruckus from Republicans about then? While recidivism accounts for a significant portion of the high number of apprehensions, even when you account for repeat crossings, there are many more people trying to cross the border at this moment than any time in the past decade besides 2019. So it is an increase, just not an unprecedented oneespecially when compared to the far greater numbers of annual apprehensions made in the late 90s and early 2000s.

Why are more people coming to cross the border? Is that because of Biden? Biden took office with a more welcoming rhetoric towards migrants, and that may very well have encouraged some people to attempt to cross the border. But the current uptick in the number of people arriving actually began months before Biden became president, and there are, of course, many factors: Multiple hurricanes ravaged Central America in November; the Covid pandemic has intensified poverty and gangs efforts at extortion; cartel violence in Mexico is at record-high levels; and political crisis in Haiti has erupted in street violence, to name a few of the root causes.

How will this all end? Eventually, the National Guard members will be sent home. Its unclear when exactly that will be. Some that Trump deployed in 2020 are still at the border. The Guard sent by the federal government will likely be recalled as soon as the number of people crossing goes down. Increases in migration tend to be seasonal, and as we get to the hottest months of summer, it will likely decrease. Also, Biden is expected to phase out Title 42 over the coming weeks and months, which will allow for many waiting at the border to enter the country lawfully. As for the additional state officers sent to the border, the decision for when they will go home will be made by the Republican governors who sent them.

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Why Are Republican Governors Sending National Guard to the Border? - POLITICO

When it comes to social media impact, President Donald Trump was the undisputed king of the world. At his peak, Trump's accounts had more than 88.8 million followers on Twitter and 32.8 million likes on Facebookcombined, more than any other world leader in officeand he knew how to use them. But six months ago, in the aftermath of the Capitol Riot on January 6 that Trump stood accused of stoking, both platforms put an end to his dominance, banning his main accounts for inciting violence. Twitter's ban is permanent; Facebook's will lift in 2023.

Since then, Trump supporters have scrambled to keep their leader at the center of the social conversation in his absence, sharing every breathless statement from Mar-a-Lago as he gears up for a possible 2024 presidential run. Some have also jostled to claim the throne of TrumpWorld's top influencera prize worth winning for those who covet power or who cherish the highest of political ambitions. To find out who is winning this effort, Newsweek analyzed the Twitter and Facebook data of the 20 most-followed accounts in TrumpWorldthat is, those who are highly supportive of Trump, often uncritically so, or who have paid fealty to him to save or boost their careers.

The ranking covers the time period from January 8, when both platforms booted Trump, to May 8. With data from Tweet Binder (for Twitter) and CrowdTangle (for Facebook), Newsweek measured average engagement per post and per follower for each account on the platforms, using a formula that combines the two figures to arrive at a final, relative score. Those with a stronger average rate of engagement scored higher.

To be sure, this is not a work of science. The data is limitedit does not include Twitter replies, for exampleand subjective decisions were made about who to include in TrumpWorld. Using most-followed accounts as the starting point also excludes influential accounts with smaller followings; these "rising stars," are noted in a separate section at the end.

The end result: an indicative ranking of who among TrumpWorld's most-followed accounts are able to make the biggest waves on the two primary social platforms dominated by President Trump before his ban on January 8.

This list speaks to the future of the GOP, a party led and shaped largely by those who sit outside of its official power structures. No politician breaks into the top fiveor even the top sevenwhen ranked by ability to engage their followings. An evangelical leader, a well-known conservative activist, Trump's offspring and prominent Fox personalities dominate.

The Republican Party's base is now a Trumpian army of digital warriors who do battle in the social media-cable news arena. They spark the social trends and cable news conversations that set the agenda for conservatives in Congress. And this is an army in search of a king among princes for the build-up to 2024, a new leader on social media around whom they can rally in their war against the many factions of America's left. So who will it be?

In Newsweek's analysis, it's Franklin Graham, an evangelical rather than a politician or a Trump, who emerges atop the ranking as not only one of the most-followed figures in TrumpWorld but also the account that drives the highest engagement. Coming in second: Donald Trump Jr., who has taken his father's crown as the top Trump on Twitter and Facebook, beating siblings Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump. Graham and Don Jr. each blow away the competition in this ranking, with engagement scores more than four times that of their nearest competitor.

That No. 3 spot goes to conservative activist Candace Owens, who has built a formidable and highly-engaged following across both Twitter and Facebook. Her high placement here emphasizes her status as an emerging leader of America's new right.

The Newsweek analysis also reveals that while Tucker Carlson's cable news show commands the biggest ratings for Fox News, his colleague and schedule neighbor Sean Hannity triumphs on social engagement.One reason: Hannity is by far the most frequent poster on the list, with 1,763 Facebook posts and 2,781 tweets during the period. By comparison, the second most frequent poster, Laura Ingraham, had 756 Facebook posts and 1,461 tweets.

In the congressional sphere, TrumpWorld's most-followed politician driving the highest engagement is Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who clashed with Trump in the 2016 Republican primary but has since become a high-profile defender.

Three other politicians among the top 20 were also challengers to Trump during the 2016 Republican primaries: Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ben Carson, a prominent neurosurgeon who served as Trump's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Way down in the ranking is Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, who picked up a huge social media following despite his low-key demeanor during his time in the White House.

Also worth noting: The Facebook and Twitter bans were a catalyst for conservatives and Trump loyalists to join alternative social media platforms, though many of those who are not also banned continue to use the mainstream services alongside. Among the most prominent alternative right-leaning platforms to emerge are Parler, Gab and Rumble. GETTR, a new platform launched by former Trump spokesperson Jason Miller, got off to rough start last week: a hacker altered numerous profiles, including Miller's own.

Owens, for example, has urged her followers to flock to Parler, of which her husband George Farmer is now CEO. Donald Trump Jr. is regularly making use of Rumble for his own video dispatches. And Trump recently launched his own vaunted "communications platform," which was, in essence, merely a blog feed on his website he used to push out his statements. Twitter thwarted efforts to create a new account for Trump's feed, so he killed it.

Still, for the time being it is Twitter and Facebook that dominate the realm of political discourse and campaigning. Here are the results of the ranking, based on each individual's combined performance on both platforms over the five-month period.

Followers: 10,166,960Posts: 405Engagements: 2,434,809

In 2016, Rubio, 50, called Trump a "con artist" as he took on the former president ahead of Super Tuesday that year. But their relationship has since flipped, with the Florida Republican having praised Trump throughout his presidency. Rubio is someone Trump may have labelled a "RINO"Republican in name onlybut has since received his "complete and total endorsement" ahead of a 2022 Senate re-election bid. In a Newsmax interview in April, Rubio called Trump the "most influential Republican" and suggested he will win the 2024 GOP presidential candidacy if he goes for it. Rubio has criticized social media companies' moves against Trump, tweeting in January: "Even those who oppose Trump should see the danger of having a small & unelected group with the power to silence & erase anyone." A regular social media user who shares daily Bible verses and often rails against Venezuela's Maduro regime, Rubio's posts actually drive little engagement with his audience. He was vulnerable to a primary challenge in Florida, and so fealty to Trump became essential in avoiding that, an example of what most of those who want a future in Republican politics must now do.

Typical post:

"Day after Trump issued a #Covid travel ban on #China Joe Biden accused him of "hysteria, xenophobia, and fear mongering". The following month he said banning travel from any part of the world will not stop coronavirus. But now he is considering restrictions on #Florida travel."

Followers: 3,446,539Posts: 12Engagements: 4,987,630

Former vice presidential candidate and Tea Party icon Sarah Palin, 57, has been a staunch advocate of Trump's baseless claims that the election was stolen. She clashed with British TV presenter Piers Morgan in an interview where she claimed there had been "shenanigans" surrounding Biden's victory. A longstanding Trump supporter, Palin ap- peared at a Trump rally in 2016, where she criticized protests she branded "thuggery" and took issue with the media. A sporadic tweeter, she instead focuses on Facebook, relentlessly pushing links to her website, which churns out fiery right-wing content. In her latest tweet mentioning Trump directly, sent on January 6, the former Alaska governor suggested the media should stop labeling those who stormed the Capitol as Trump supporters. Palin is a fringe figure in politics. But she retains a significant audience on social media and holds sway with much of the Republican base, which has shifted more toward her worldview in the past few years, perhaps opening the door to a comeback on the national stage.

Typical post:

"Trump unleashes hell on Biden admin, accuses them of 'huge cover-up'"

Followers: 6,689,217Posts: 1,956Engagements: 2,958,912

Another 2016 rival to Trump, 58-year-old Paul, a staunch libertarian, once branded the former president a "delusional narcissist and an orange-faced windbag." Now he describes Trump as a friend, and speaks with pride of the former president's actions in the White House. In turn, Trump has endorsed the senator for re-election in 2022praising him for opposing "the Swamp in Washington," "the Radical Left Liberals" and "the destructive RINOS." The Kentucky Republican stood with Trump against impeachment at the start of the year. These days he can be seen jousting at Senate hearings with his new nemesis Anthony Fauci over masks and lockdownswhich he opposesand promoting the Wuhan lab leak theory, elevating his status in TrumpWorld.

Typical post:

"Sorry Dr Fauci and other fearmongers, new study shows vaccines and naturally acquired immunity DO effectively neutralize COVID variants. Good news for everyone but bureaucrats and petty tyrants!"

Followers: 7,274,344Posts: 860Engagements: 5,432,713

The mixed-martial-arts-loving president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, 51, is a friend of the Trumps and was a large donor to the Trump Campaign. He once told TMZ he doesn't "give a s**t" if he loses UFC fans over his support for the former president. White has appeared with Trump at rallies and joined him on Air Force One. But politics rarely, if ever, features on White's social accounts. His massive followings on Twitter and Facebook are treated to a slew of UFC and fight content and little else. Still, he is one of TrumpWorld's biggest social media starsa rare bridge to the world of entertainmentand has a powerful platform to turn to politics, should he decide to.

Typical post:

"WE ARE BACK!!!!!! #UFC261 April 24th. Jacksonville, FL. FULL CROWD."

Followers: 7,783,994Posts: 60Engagements: 2,358,375

Dr. Ben Carson, 69, another of the four people who challenged Trump for the GOP candidacy in 2016 to appear on this list, is a famed neurosurgeon who went on to serve in Trump's cabinet as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021. His Twitter account is shared with his wife Candy, with whom he has co-written several books. The account's tweets regularly focus on politics, and Carson, who is deeply religious, continues to weigh in on a raft of issues, though tweets directly mentioning Trump are rare. He spoke at the right-wing political conference CPAC earlier this year and launched the American Cornerstone Institute, a conservative think tank he promotes via social media. In April, he tweeted a message commending Trump for having "committed his entire life to bringing good to the world." Carson remains on the scene in TrumpWorld and may still have something to offer in 2025 if another Republican White House emerges from the next presidential election.

Typical post:

"As a pediatric neurosurgeon I operated on babies in the womb so I know unequivocally life starts at conception. Biden's EO allowing funds for global abortions is reprehensible. I started @ACI1776 to promote Faith, Liberty, Community and LIFE."

Followers: 7,669,101Posts: 136Engagements: 2,142,880

The former vice president, 62, kept a fairly low profile while serving with Trump at the White House. Pence, a devout evangelical Christian and former congressman, is a much more traditional politician than Trump; they made an unlikely pairing. But his proximity to Trump and role in the White House propelled his social media followings, giving him a huge platform on which to launch an expected run for the GOP's 2024 nomination. He may struggle with the party's Trump-loving base after defying the former president's wishes and certifying Joe Biden's election win. Trump had wanted Pence to refuse. He doesn't generate the same enthusiasm or engagement on social media as others in TrumpWorld, an ominous sign for his chances in the 2024 Republican pres- idential primary if he runs.

Typical post:

"Planned Parenthood is reaping the benefits of a left-wing Biden Administration, with the President reversing a Trump Administration rule that defunded the abortion giant of millions of dollars. Biden plans to force you to get millions of dollars to Planned Parent- hood. We must fight back for the lives of the unborn."

Followers: 4,782,249Posts: 1,045Engagements: 10,974,372

Attorney Jay Sekulow, 65, may be the least-known influencer in this ranking. Yet he drives more engagement than Trump's former right-hand man in the White House, ex-vice president Mike Pence. He represented Trump at his first impeachment trial (though he declined to do so at his second). Still, he railed against the prospect of Trump being convicted at the second, branding the proceedings unconstitutional and using social media to spread his argument. Sekulow is chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice and also hosts a popular podcast. Since Trump's departure, Sekulow has praised the former president's actions in office. In a January 21 tweet, he said Trump "secured many victories during his term, such as furthering the cause of defending the unborn and standing up for religious liberty," which has been a focus of the conservative lawyer's career. Sekulow flies under the radar, but is a significant figure and could take advantage of his TrumpWorld status to run for office should he desire it.

Typical post:

"Planned Parenthood is reaping the benefits of a left-wing Biden Administration, with the President reversing a Trump Administration rule that defunded the abortion giant of millions of dollars. Biden plans to force you to get millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood. We must fight back for the lives of the unborn."

Followers: 4,865,142Posts: 643Engagements: 7,665,577

The combative former judge, 70, is a Fox News staple and was one of the network's many hosts who fiercely supported and defended Trump during his term. Trump, in turn, defended Pirro after her show disappeared from the Fox News schedule when she questioned the compatibility of Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar's Muslim beliefs with the U.S. Constitution. Pirro's social accounts are typical of Fox News hosts, sharing clips and smackdowns of political opponents and wading into issues such as China, COVID and the culture wars, though she does not enjoy the same level of success as Carlson, Hannity and Ingraham. She nonetheless has a sizable and engaged social audience, making Pirro an important voice whose credibility within TrumpWorld is elevated by her legal background.

Typical post:

"We've all seen Biden falling up the steps of Air Force One on Friday. But what we can't help remember is the absolute hysteria from the liberal media and even Biden himself when Trump walked gingerly down this ramp at West Point."

Followers: 5,108,543Posts: 1,842Engagements: 14,423,620

Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, 71, who now hosts No Spin News after leaving the network in 2017 over sexual harassment claims against him that were settled for millions of dollars, has held shifting positions on Trump. He suggested Trump deserves credit for the vaccine rollout and also questioned accusations the former president wanted violence to break out at the Capitol on January 6. However, O'Reilly, who was at one time the Fox network's brightest star, said Trump's failure to calm the situation that day "destroyed his legacy." O'Reilly visited Trump in Florida in April, and said he got the feeling he is planning a 2024 run. The pair have known each other for decades. Like Tucker Carlson, O'Reilly is more of an independent voice than the others from the Fox orbit. But he is set to embark on a four-date speaking tour with Trump, with the priciest tickets ringing in at $7,500 each.

Typical post:

"Even after 100 days, the Biden administration blames its biggest problem on President Trump."

Followers: 4,997,376Posts: 95Engagements: 3,318,084

Another of Trump's children on the list is his middle son Eric, 37, who was more focused on running the Trump Organization than political affairs during his father's tenure, though he was a vocal advocate of the former president and made regular media appearances. He uses his social platform to promote and defend his father, elevating those who commend him and those who attack his successor, Biden. Eric Trump's tweets and comments touch upon similar themes to his older brother, Trump Jr., though he posts much less often. In the period measured, he tweeted 42 times compared to his brother's 714. In his household, it is his wife, the political consultant Lara Trump, who appears to harbor political ambitions. She is touted to run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina.

Typical post:

"Gas prices are going through the roof - thanks #JoeBiden"

Followers: 5,164,332Posts: 2,217Engagements: 14,329,530

Ingraham, 58, is another top Fox News host who championed the former president and has continued to do so since his departure. Her show The Ingraham Angle began during the first year of Trump's term and successfully rode the ups and downs of his presidency. In recent social media posts Ingraham has praised Trump's handling of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, criticized "Big Tech's campaign to silence Donald Trump" and shared news articles referencing his continued popularity among GOP voters. She has also focused on holding China accountable for COVID, criticism of Anthony Fauci and the culture wars. In one notable break with Trump, Ingraham accepted the fact of Biden's electoral victory, which the former president and many of his supporters still claim, baselessly, was fraudulent. Still, she remains a significant voice in TrumpWorld and has a valuable Fox News platform.

Typical post:

"Silencing, demonizing, controlling is all the Left has. This reveals their true agenda. Total evisceration of Constitution. Socialism. Total domination. The CCP's proud."

Followers: 6,761,441Posts: 14Engagements: 2,165,237

The rapper and rocker, 50, is a Republican and one of the few celebrities to have come out for Trump. As someone from the liberal-dominated entertainment industry, he is a rare beast in TrumpWorld. He even attended a presidential debate in 2020 at Trump's invitation and stumped for him at rallies. Not a frequent poster, Kid Rock nevertheless has a large audience across Facebook and Twitter, and on occasion fires off a strident political view to his fans. After congratulating President Joe Biden on Inauguration Day, Kid Rock posted on Facebook: "Just to be clear and follow up....THESE FAR LEFT SOCIALIST LIBERALS AND MEDIA CAN DE-PROGRAM DEEZ NUTZ!!"

Typical post:

"Like many others, I was not happy with the election, the horrible pandemic or timing of it, among many other things, including the 4 years of constant attacks on Donald J. Trump (myself and his supporters) that began before he even took office. He accomplished so much. Nonetheless, I respect the office of the presidency and will congratulate President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris and join them in their call to unify our country and hope and pray for a better tomorrow. Fingers crossed. God Bless America."

Following: 6,715,288Posts: 1,178Engagements: 15,049,020

The most influential lawmaker on our list, Cruz was a rival to Trump in 2016 but has since become a firm ally. At the start of May, the 50-year-old Texas Republican shared a photo of himself having dinner with the former president and said they had spent the evening discussing how the GOP could take back the House and Senate. Around the same time, he condemned Facebook's upholding of Trump's ban: "For every liberal celebrating Trump's social media ban, if the Big Tech oligarchs can muzzle the former President, what's to stop them from silencing you?" His own social media profile has become a vehicle for targeting Democrats, including Biden, in his characteristically aggressive style. Alongside the influence of Big Tech, Cruz puts particular emphasis on border issues, foreign policy and the culture wars, crusading against "cancel culture" and wokeism. Cruz is one of MAGA's leading lights in Congress and on social media, and so is well-positioned for another presidential run in the future.

Typical post:

"Texan Gina Carano broke barriers in the Star Wars universe: not a princess, not a victim, not some emotionally tortured Jedi. She played a woman who kicked ass & who girls looked up to. She was instrumental in making Star Wars fun again. Of course Disney canceled her."

Followers: 17,310,767Posts: 40Engagements: 4,455,510

The former president's elder daughter, 39, was once seen as heiress to the presidencyreportedly what both he and she wanted. Her public persona is carefully managed. She has honed a much more traditional political image than her father or siblings, largely staying out of the messy fights of the past few years and attempting to position herself a tier or two above the drama with her anodynecritics say tone deafcommentary on the issues that grip America. But she is not as popular as her eldest brother Don Jr., who has waded happily into these battles and emerged a natural successor to his father. Ivanka Trump reportedly no longer desires a career in politics and her social posts are few and far between. But she still commands a large following on Twitter and Facebook, and they are highly engaged. If she chooses to enter the political arena, Ivanka will have an impressive head start on social media.

Typical post:

"This afternoon, I gratefully received my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting fully vaccinated is the best way to end this pandemic and protect ourselves and one another."

Followers: 6,098,638Posts: 805Engagements: 14,360,869

Another Fox host who remains steadfastly behind Trump, Lahren said in February: "Trumpism is here to stay." At 28 years old, Lahren is the youngest person on the ranking. Through her platform on Fox Nation, a youth-targeted streaming service spun out of Fox News, she has built a considerable audience on the right. Lahren recently insisted Trump is still a "winning man" and America First a "winning message"backing a 2024 runin a clip she amplified through her Twitter profile. In another recent post she said Trump was "still the head of the conservative movement." Since Trump's bans, Lahren has lamented "censorship" by Big Tech while using her own social media reach to boost the former president's rhetoric and agenda. Lahren is a voice for young, Trump-supporting conservativesand also a gateway to them through her Fox Nation platform.

Typical post:

"Big tech can purge conservative but can't do anything about child porn? Weird. #Priorities"

Followers: 6,838,726Posts: 135Engagements: 6,482,807

Carlson, 52, is the reigning king of Fox News. Hosting America's most-watched cable news show, night after night Carlson tees up the social conversation the following day. Fans and critics alike clip and share moments and monologues from Carlson's show, which then bathes in the ensuing controversy, be it over racism, vaccines, gender, or any other red hot issue. Carlson is a favorite among Trump supporters and even has the ear of the man himself. The Fox host is credited with pulling Trump back from the brink of all-out war with Iran. Despite this, Carlson lags his network colleague Hannity on social engagement. Still, Carlson is the biggest name in cable news right now and holds significant sway with Trump supporters, making him a powerful ally or a fearsome enemy for prominent conservatives.

Typical post:

"Dem leaders have decided that 74 million Trump voters didn't simply back the wrong guy or have the wrong opinions. No. The threat they pose is graver and more dangerous than that. These 74 million Trump voters are in fact terrorists."

Followers: 9,898,683Posts: 3,731Engagements: 48,245,071

The Fox News host, 59, commended Trump's work ethic in an interview with the former president in April, saying he is "working as hard" now as he did in the White House. And throughout Trump's presidency, Hannity worked hard himself in energetically backing the former commander-in-chief, who has described the Fox stalwart as a "terrific supporter." From friendly interviews with Trump and his loyalists to a barrage of criticism leveled at Biden and other political foes, Hannity remains committed to the "America first" agendaand deploys his social clout to amplify the MAGA message under a Democratic administration. Hannity's voice still counts in the conservative world and his platform makes him an essential ally for those who want to pick up Trump's mantle

Typical post:

"WATCH: 'Donald Trump will be acquitted. This is another colossal waste of time with a pre-determined outcome. A show-trial predicated on psychotic rage from the radical left.'"

Followers: 6,142,918Posts: 402Engagements: 24,803,634

The 32-year-old Trump-supporting activist rose to prominence with the Turning Point conservative student organization. She has since carved out her own space in digital conservatism, founding the Blexit campaign to encourage Black voters to quit the Democratic Party and hosting her own show Candace on The Daily Wire. Owens tends to focus on race issues, pushing back against liberal arguments and assumptions about the status of people of color in American society. She is arguably the highest-profile Black conservative activist, wielding significant influence on Twitter and Facebook, two platforms on which her posts can spark or steer a trend. Still young, and with a formidable social presence, Owens is well-positioned to transition into electoral politics in a GOP still enthralled by Trump.

Typical Post:

"We've turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon. We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet. We've got Cardi B named as woman of the year. But we're convinced it's white supremacy that's keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be?"

Followers: 10,081,234Posts: 1152Engagements: 67,522,012

Donald Trump Jr., 43, is the new top Trump on social media. A staunch defender of his father, who is a regular focus of his posts, Trump Jr. uses social media to attack critics and wage the conservative war on woke. Tirades against liberals and the media are reminiscent of the former president's own tweet assaults, as is the full-throttle tone of his diatribes. Last year, the BBC described him as "Trumpier than Trump"and while outdoing his father on social media is a tough task, he's certainly working to fill the void, emerging as the heir apparent.

Typical post:

"So the ayatollah, and numerous other dictatorial regimes can have Twitter accounts with no issue despite threatening genocide to entire countries and killing homosexuals etc... but The President of the United States should be permanently suspended. Mao would be proud."

Followers: 12,051,714Posts: 932Engagements: 64,710,276

The evangelical leader, 68, is a key supporter of Trump's, helping to deliver the former president his vast community of conservative Christian voters. Graham's social output is largely centered on his religious views and work. But he still posts supportively of Trump to his following, and echoes some of the former president's rhetoric, such as a tweet in April declaring "the swamp has won" after a speech by President Joe Biden. However, Graham also recently suggested to Axios that Trump may be too old and unhealthy to run for president in 2024, a pronouncement that could diminish his influence among MAGA diehards. That suggests Graham's future presidential endorsement might be up for grabsand with it a huge chunk of support from the evangelical communityif anyone chooses to challenge Trump.

Typical post:

"Shame, shame on the ten Republicans who joined with @SpeakerPelosi & the House Democrats in impeaching President Trump yesterday. After all that he has done for our country, you would turn your back & betray him so quickly? What was done yesterday only further divides our nation."

The starting point for the ranking was the most-followed accounts in Trump's orbit. But there are a number of rising stars in TrumpWorld who, while not as well-followed as others, are still making a splash. Here's some of the bigger figures to emerge.

A former Secret Service agent who protected Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Bongino is now a pro-Trump pundit whose life's purpose, as his Twitter bio says, is to "Own The Libs." He was a regular fixture on Hannity's Fox show but graduated to his own primetime Saturday slot on the networkUnfiltered with Dan Bonginoas well as a three-hour radio showThe Dan Bongino Showon Fox Nation alongside his own popular podcast, Bongino Report. But the 46-year-old didn't have enough followers to crack the TrumpWorld top 20. Still, he is a major player on Facebook, regularly topping its trending charts, and is quickly establishing himself as a bright star in conservative media.

Greene, 46, is a far-right Republican congresswoman from Georgia who has openly touted discredited conspiracy theories, such as QAnon, and endorses Trump's false claim that Biden stole the 2020 election. She is a prolific, disputatious user of social media, regularly taking aim at political enemies, while also posting workout videos. Her incendiary statements got her booted from House committee assignments but have found a home on social platforms.

Boebert, 34, is a gun-toting Republican congresswoman from Colorado who aggressively champions the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms. She caused a stir in Washington shortly before taking office in January with a promise to carry a loaded Glock into Congress. Boebert also tweeted,"Today is 1776," before the storming of the Capitol. Another prolific user of social media, Boebert is growing in popularity with TrumpWorld.

The gay 33-year-old Republican activist rose to prominence with his cleanup events, starting in Baltimore after Trump called the city a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess." His chipper style is unorthodox in the polarized world of politics, but resonates on social media. Still, Presler is full-blooded MAGA: His Twitter bio says "I helped defeat Hillary," with a background image that asks, "Why do Democrats choose illegal aliens first?"

See original here:

Who's the Top MAGA Influencer Six Months After Trump Social Media Ban? A Newsweek Ranking - Newsweek

Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail with a rally in Ohio on Saturday night, campaigning against a Republican who voted for his impeachment and trailing his own candidacy for president in 2024.

Trump repeated his baseless election 2020 grievances and painted a dystopian picture of the country under Democratic control, while in another echo the past, the crowd chanted Lock her up at the mention of Hillary Clinton, the Democrat he defeated in 2016.

The rally outside Cleveland on Saturday was to support Max Miller, a former White House aide challenging Anthony Gonzalez, a former college football and NFL star censured by his state party for voting for Trumps impeachment.

While he praised Miller as an incredible patriot and a great guy who loves the people of Ohio, Trump spent much of the rally fixating on the 2020 election, which he insists he won. This is despite top state and local election officials, his own attorney general and numerous judges, including some he appointed, saying there is no evidence of the mass voter fraud he alleges took place.

The 2020 presidential election was rigged, he told the crowd, which at one point broke into a Trump won! chant. We won that election in a landslide.

When Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia known for her incendiary rhetoric, asked the crowd who their president is, they boomed loudly, Trump!

President Trump is my president, too, she said.

The event had many of the trappings of the rallies Trump held as a candidate and as president. There was the eclectic playlist, the same stage design, and many familiar volunteers.

In the lead-up to the event, Trump told the conservative Newsmax channel: Were giving tremendous endorsements.

Fake Republicans, anybody that voted for the impeachment doesnt get it. But there werent too many of them. And I think most of them are being primaried right now, so thats good. Ill be helping their opponent.

Trumps first impeachment, for abusing his power in approaches to Ukraine, attracted one Republican vote, that of the Utah senator Mitt Romney. In his second, for inciting the deadly US Capitol attack, 10 House Republicans and seven in the Senate voted for Trumps guilt.

Trump was acquitted twice but banned from major social media platforms over his role in the Capitol attack. Regardless, he dominates the Republican party.

All bar one of the House Republicans who voted against him have attracted challengers. The 10th, John Katko of New York, co-authored a proposal for an independent, 9/11-style commission to investigate the 6 January attack on Congress, in which a mob roamed the Capitol, looking for lawmakers to capture or kill in an attempt to overturn the election. Senate Republicans blocked it.

By Saturday afternoon, traffic was backed up from the fairgrounds into town, where pro-Trump signs dotted residents lawns. On street corners, vendors sold Trump 2024 flags and other merchandise as supporters arrived.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right congresswoman from Georgia who was stripped of her committee assignments over a number of extreme comments, mingled with attendees and took pictures.

Trump has said he didnt win the election but has not formally conceded defeat by Joe Biden and continues to voice his lie that the loss was the result of electoral fraud.

On Friday he told Newsmax he would be making an announcement in the not too distant future about whether he will run again, and said supporters were going to be thrilled by election results in 2024.

We want a little time to go by, maybe watch what happens in [2022], he said.

In those midterm elections, Republicans hope to retake the House and Senate.

Trumps legal problems mounted on Friday, as his own lawyer confirmed that charges are likely in the investigation of the Trump Organization by the Manhattan district attorney. The companys chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, and the company itself are in prosecutors sights.

Many observers point out that Trumps many legal problems did not stop him winning the presidency in 2016 and are unlikely to put off many Republican voters should he run for the White House again.

In his Newsmax interview, the former president referred to his problems and to those affecting Rudy Giuliani, Trumps lawyer and loyal ally. The former New York mayor this week saw his law license suspended, over his advancement of Trumps election fraud lie.

Right now, Trump said, Im helping a lot of people get into office, and were fighting the deep state, and were fighting [the] radical left. Theyre after me, Theyre after Rudy, theyre after you, probably. Theyre after anybody.

The deep state conspiracy theory holds that a permanent government of bureaucrats and operatives exists to thwart Trump. Steve Bannon, Trumps campaign chairman in 2016 then a White House strategist and chief propagator of the theory, has said it is for nut cases.

Theyre vicious, Trump went on, and they dont do a good job and theyre very bad for the country But Ive been fighting them for five and a half years.

Since I came down the escalator [at Trump Tower in New York in June 2015, to announce his run for president], Ive been fighting them. These are vicious people I honestly believe they dont love this country.

Trump has spent much of his post-presidency at his Florida resort and his golf course in New Jersey. He also told Newsmax he was working very hard not only for 2024, but were working very hard to show the corruption of what took place in 2020, and then we see what happens.

Trumps rallies have been an instrumental part of his brand since he launched his 2016 campaign. The former reality star often test-drives new material and talking points to see how they resonate with crowds. His political operation uses the events to collect critical voter contact information and as fundraising tools.

The rallies have spawned hardcore fans who traveled the country, often camping out overnight to snag prime spots. Some such supporters began lining up outside the Ohio venue days early this week.

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Donald Trump returns to campaign trail with rally ...

McConnell decries Beshear's plan surrounding unemployment benefits

McConnell met with local officials about the best ways to incentivize workers to return to the workforce.

Michael Clevenger, Louisville Courier Journal

Former President Donald Trump slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for not contesting the 2020 presidential electionin a statement Monday, saying the Kentucky Republican "blew it for the Country."

"Had Mitch McConnell fought for the Presidency like he should have, there would right now be Presidential Vetoes on all of the phased Legislation that he has proven to be incapable of stopping," Trump said.

Trump has continued to claim the 2020 election which saw President Joe Biden win the popular vote and Electoral College was fraudulent and encouraged his followers by sharing disproven information before and after the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January.

Since acknowledging Biden's win when he secured the Electoral College, McConnell has notpublicly suggested the presidential election was illegitimate, though he did not vote to convict Trump when he was impeached for his role in the riots.

More McConnell: McConnell pans Beshear's 'back-to-work' incentive, urges end to $300 unemployment benefit

McConnell did say afterthe insurrection that"The mob was fed lies.They were provoked by the president and other powerful people."

In his latest statement, Trump also blames McConnell for Republicans' losses in two special elections in Georgia that swung control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats.

"He never fought for the White House and blew it for the Country," the statement reads. "Too bad I backed him in Kentucky, he would have been primariedand lost!"

McConnell's last serious primary challenge was mounted in 2014 by former Gov. Matt Bevin, who declined to run for Senate again in 2020 in the wake of a pardon scandal at the end of his gubernatorial term. The longtime senator had seven primary opponents in 2020 but won easily. He then crushed Democrat Amy McGrath in the November general election.

Trumpgoes on to allege "based on press reports" that McConnell worked with then-U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr "to get the corrupt (based on massive amounts of evidence that the Fake News refuses to mention!) election done, over with, and sealed for Biden, ASAP!"

Emails: Trump White House pressured Justice Department to back claims of voter fraud

That portion of the statement appears to reference conversations between Barr and McConnell in which the then-Senate Majority Leader urged Barr to refute Trump's false claims of voter fraud that was reported in the Atlantic on Sunday in an excerpt from an ABC News' journalist's new book.

ABC's Jonathan Karl confirmed the conversations with McConnell and Barr, he says in the Atlantic.

Trump, who is banned from most major social media outlets, has releasednumerous brief statements like Monday's since he left office, targeting various issues and political figures.

He's targeted McConnell before previouslycalling him an "unsmiling political hack" and "gutless and clueless."

The former president is also back to holding rallies, appearing in Ohio on Saturday.

USAToday and Courier Journal reporter Morgan Watkins contributed to the reporting of this story.

Reach reporterMary Ramsey atmramsey@gannett.com, and follow her on Twitter@mcolleen1996. Support strong local journalism in our community bysubscribing to The Courier Journaltoday.

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Still reeling from election loss, Trump says Mitch McConnell 'blew it' for America - Courier Journal

Donald Trump issued a statement denying a report in The Daily Beast that he was so upset over his portrayal on Saturday Night Live that he inquired with advisers whether the Justice Department or the FCC could take action.

In a statement, the former president said, The story that I asked the Department of Justice to go after ratings challenged (without Trump) Saturday Night Live, and other late night losers, is total Fake News. It was fabricated, there were no sources, and yet the Lamestream Media goes with it.

The Daily Beast didnt go as far as reporting that Trump asked the DOJ to go after SNLbut that the then-president asked about it. The Beast cited two unnamed sources in reporting that in 2019, Trump asked advisers and lawyers whether the government entities could do to probe or mitigateSNL, Jimmy Kimmel, and other late-night comedy mischief-makers.

Trumps upset with the show and other late-night comics was no secret. Around the time, he tweeted, Its truly incredible that shows like Saturday Night Live, not funny/no talent, can spend all of their time knocking the same person (me), over &, over, without so much of a mention of the other side. Like an advertisement without consequences. Same with Late Night Shows. Should Federal Election Commission and/or FCC look into this?

As he had done before, Trump appeared to be referring to the FCCs Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to present balanced points of view. But the Fairness Doctrine was abandoned in the 1980s. Ironically, the FCCs existing Equal Time Rule, which requires stations to give candidates equal airtime on non-news programming, forced some NBC outlets to give other GOP hopefuls airtime when Trump hosted SNL in 2015.

In his statement, Trump also blasted Alec Baldwin, who portrayed him on SNL, as no talent, certainly when it comes to imitating me. The one who had what it took was Darrell Hammond.

Trump also said that the late-night shows were one-sided and should be considered an illegal campaign contribution from the Democrat Party. Capitalizing on the attention that the SNL story is getting, Trump also reiterated his unfounded claims of election fraud and added the phrase, 2024 or before! The latter is a reference to claims swirling through right-wing media that Trump somehow will be reinstated to the White House.

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Donald Trump Denies That He Asked Justice Department To Go After Saturday Night Live - Deadline

A number of supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory are claiming that Donald Trump can be seen in the reflection of a window in a photo posted on the POTUS Instagram page showing President Joe Biden inside the Oval Office.

Influential advocates of the radical movement with large followings on messaging service Telegram shared the Instagram picture showing Biden on the phone to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer while urging people to look at the figure whose back can be seen in the window reflection.

"Did you see who's in the reflection?," QAnon Telegram account We The Pepe, which has more than 75,000 followers, wrote. "Go see for yourself."

MelQ, another major QAnon figure on Telegram with 140,000 followers, told people to look at the reflection after sharing a similar post from another account with more than 88,000 subscribers on the app.

The posts were met with hundreds of replies agreeing that the person seen is somehow Trump, a savior-like figure for QAnon supporters who they believe will be reinstated as president. Others said the photo is probably an edited image from Trump's time in the White House.

"Proof that patriots are running the show. Doctored up an old photo of Trump, inserted Biden, left the reflection of Trump in the window to tie to Q post," Telegram user MySearchfor Truth wrote.

Another user said: "Did they just photoshop mumbles Biden into a picture that was taken while DJT was in office. Asking for my fren [friend] that questions everything."

Telegram user Barbara Limandri added: "That ain't Biden's head/shoulders. That's DJT...rightful POTUS!!"

As is usually the case with many of their claims, the popular QAnon advocates pointed to old posts from their mysterious leader known as "Q" to justify their latest conspiracy.

The QAnon conspiracy emerged as people began decoding cryptic messages that emerged on controversial messageboard site 4chan in October 2017. The posts claimed to be from a government official with access to top security clearance. The first post suggested that Hillary Clinton would soon be arrested, a prediction that never came to fruition.

Over the next few years, thousands of the cryptic messages were posted on 4chan, before moving to similar messageboard sites 8chan and 8kun, which were deciphered by QAnon supporters to form the basis of movement's beliefs, including that there exists a secret cabal of satanic pedophiles that leading Democrat figures are part of.

However, the frequency of these messages drastically slowed down after Trump lost the election in November, with there being no new post from "Q" since December 8. The final message on 8kun is merely a YouTube link to a pro-Trump video containing Twisted Sister's song "We're Not Gonna Take It."

It is also alleged that the mysterious figure who has been writing the posts on 8kun was not a high-ranking government official, but Ron Watkins, the site's former administrator, which he has frequently denied.

The lack of new posts hasn't deterred QAnon, whose followers now merely decipher the catalogue of thousands of existing messages as a form of confirmation bias to justify their beliefs and suggest any world event was actually long predicted by Q.

In this case, Trump appearing in a reflection of an Oval Office was foretold by Q posts from March 2019 which state: "Find the Reflection inside the castle" and "reflections are important."

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QAnon Followers Think They See Donald Trump in White House Window Reflection - Newsweek

The new wordof the dayto describe Donald Trump in the mainstream media is "diminished."The former president, after weeks of threats, finally had a rally Saturday in Ohio anditwas a merely a shadow of what he was able to pull off when he was president.As Heather "Digby" Parton writes, "nobody really cared" beyond the "MAGA faithful." The rally was"reflective ofhow diminished Mr. Trump has becomein his post-presidency, and how reliant he is on a smaller group of allies and supporters who have adopted his alternate reality as their own," writes Jeremy Peters of the New York Times.Trump's speech was "low-key, digressive and nearly 90 minutes long," Petersadds, noting that"[s]cores of people left early"due to the tedium.

On Saturday,Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post also reported that "some around him and in senior positions" in the GOP want Trump to be sparing in his endorsements and attempts to get attention by leeching onto state and local campaigns. They are "fearful that losses and a diminished brand could backfire by allowing Democrats to maintain control of the House and Senateand weaken his standingbefore the next presidential contest," the Post reporters write.

This round of "Trump-is-diminished" reporting follows a similar round just three weeks ago, in which similar stories in the New York Times and Washington Postcovered the seeming paradox of Republican politicians cowering in fear of Trump, even though, as Philip Bump of the Post wrote, "his actual voice has been enormously diminished."

No doubt, in the eyes of people who are not fascism-curious,the rally in Ohio Saturday was a pathetic-seeming affair. Trump's speech was a rambling, whiny mess, in which he predictably harped on the Big Lie, and rambled on about the same obsessions he trots out in every speech, right down to the "lock her up" chants aimed at Hillary Clinton in 2016. The crowd was mostly cranks, the kind of people you'll cross a streetto avoid being trapped in a conversation with. And the opening act, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was even more unsubtle than usual about being a racist weirdo.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

But in this, nothing is new.

Trump has always been a tedious, long-winded narcissist, and his fans always get visibly bored listening to his ever-longer bellyaching sessions he calls "speeches." Yet they show up anyway, again and again. They showed up at the polls in 2020 in eye-popping numbers, only beaten because Democratic voters were even more determined to throw Trump out. And while it is undoubtedly boring to listen to Trump go on and on with his lame conspiracy theories accusing Biden of stealing the election, the Big Lie has real power to propel Trump to victory in both the 2024 Republican primary and in the race for the White House.

That's because Trump supporters, whatever he might like to believe, are not attracted to his non-existent wit or charm. Trump's appeal has always been about what he represents. His followers see the country morphing into a more egalitarian and diverse nation, and feel deeply threatened, believing that white conservatives should have an unquestioned right to rule over the rest of us. Trump is popular mainly because his followers believe that, due to his shamelessness and unending aggression, he's their best vehicle for establishing the authoritarian rule that is their only real hope of retaining control over a changing nation.

A new poll from Monmouth University shows that 32% of Americans essentially the Trump base claim to believe Trump's Big Liethat Biden stole the election. This number remains unchanged since January, despitea total lack of evidence, a multitude of debunkings, and repeated accounts by GOP officials in the states confirming that the election was fair.

Evidence doesn't matter to Trumpers, however, because the Big Lie isn't really about the literal truth about what happened in the 2020 election.

Like most myths, both religious and secular, Trump's Big Lie speaks more to a deeper belief held by the right, which is that they and they alone deserve to rule. Anyone who votes against them, therefore, is inherently illegitimate. As Adam Serwer recently wrote in the New York Times, Republicans view the Democratic coalition of people of color and white liberals as "usurpers" and "Americans they consider unworthy of the name." Their belief that the election was stolen feels true, even if it is not literally true, because they ultimately don't think the people who voted for Biden should have had that right in the first place.

Biden himself trotted out the D-word recently, insisting that "the Republican Party is vastly diminished in numbers" after Trump. The comments were widely criticized becauseTrump's showing of 74 million voters, while fewer than Biden's 81 million, was still more people who voted for a Republican than ever before in the history of this country. At the same time, Biden was correct in saying that Trumpers are a "significant minority of the American people," as that 32% number attests. Of coursethat 32% believe, through Trump, that they can install themselves, perhaps permanently, as the ruling faction, much in the way that authoritarians across the globe are seizing control of democratic governments.

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They're not wrong to believe this. The pathway to forever-Trumpism is not mysterious. Trumpers already control the GOP, with the majority of Republican voters citing a belief in the Big Lie to the Monmouth pollsters. Barring some major intervention, such as being arrested, Trump's path to the nomination is clear. Once he gets it, he'll be able to rally massive support. It's not just because he turns out crackpots who otherwise don't vote. Traditional Republicans, even the ones who told pollsters they don't believe the Big Lie, would clearly rather vote for a fascist than a Democrat, as the 2020 election showed. Plus, Trump's pathway to stealing the electionis being cleared by Republicans in state legislatures who are passing oodles of laws meant to keep Democrats from voting or invalidating their votes if they do turn out anyway.

Trump's massive ego leads him to believehe presents a terrifying threat, but his real superpower is getting his opponents to underestimate him. It's just hard to listen to that bloviating gasbag whineand believe that anyone could bother to give him the time of day, much less the power of the presidency.

But it's not about Trump. It never was. It's about a very real movement of people who have a visible and soundstrategy for undermining democracy and installing themselves into a position of permanent minority rule. Most of them may not show up at rallies to listen to Trump complain about nonsense for an hour and a half, but they definitely vote. With the aid of GOP voter suppression, they can overcome the majority that is Democratic. The Trumpers may be falling out of sight, but they are still there and ready to strike. That threatshould never be out of mind.

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Reports of a "diminished" Trump are greatly exaggerated he can ride the Big Lie to a 2024 win - Salon

Michael Bender goes on to quote sources who were familiar with the relationship between Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani. For reasons that mystify some, it sounds like Giuliani was desperate to be part of the group.

"Rudy never wanted to be left out.If you were ever between Rudy and the president, look out. You were going to get trampled" (via Business Insider).

Part of the reason Giuliani might have clung so tightly to Trump could be that the treatment he received wasn't always so harsh. The book also alleges that when White House aides began complaining about Giuliani's press conferences and gaffes, Trump pushed back. "Trump barked that at least Giuliani was out there fighting for him.Everyone shut up after that."

Giuliani defended Trump in quite a few high-profile cases, including defending Trump against allegations that he paid hush money to Stormy Daniels and duringRobert Mueller's investigation into whether or not Russia helped Trump win the 2016 election.

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Is This What Donald Trump Really Thinks Of Rudy Giuliani? - The List

WELLINGTON, OHIO (The Borowitz Report)Holding his first campaign-style rally in months, an out-of-practice Donald J. Trump forgot to strand the events attendees in a parking lot Saturday night.

Blaming the failure to strand the rally crowd on rustiness, a member of Trumps inner circle apologized for not delivering a signature feature of Trump rallies.

People have come to expect that, at the conclusion of one of our rallies, they will be marooned in the middle of nowhere for hours, often in inclement weather, Harland Dorrinson, a Trump aide, said. On Saturday night, we didnt get it done.

Dorrinson said that the entire Trump team would be conducting a postmortem of the rally to find out why attendees were able to leave the event without incident.

Saturday night was our first rally in a long time, and we werent in fighting shape, Dorrinson said. But thats no excuse. I want to promise all future attendees: if you come to a Trump rally, you will be stranded for hours afterward with no buses anywhere in sightperiod.

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Out-of-Practice Trump Forgets to Strand Rally Crowd in Parking Lot - The New Yorker

Don Peay is no stranger to controversy and negotiating his way around differences of opinion.

As founder of the powerful Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife lobbying organization, hes gone the rounds with bureaucrats and politicians for most of the past 30 years, fighting for wildlife habitat, conservation and the rights of hunters and fishermen.

Other groups hes started or been affiliated with, such as the nonprofit Big Game Forever and Hunt Expo, have definitely called for sharp elbows.

And then theres his more recent affiliation with a certain politician.

Peay was Donald Trumps Utah campaign manager when he was elected in 2016, and an avowed supporter throughout the Trump presidency. He became an adjunct part of the administration when he was named to the national Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council by Trumps Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.

But of course all that came to a crashing halt once the Bidens were in and the Trumps were out.

So whats he doing to decompress from Trump life?

Taking care of veterans, as it turns out.

Peay and his wife, Susan, were the main organizers of an event called Bonfire that took place earlier this week at a venue in Hobble Creek Canyon. Hundreds of people turned out to support a charity called Best Defense and honor dozens of veterans, including a number of Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, who were special guests at the affair.

The Best Defense Foundation was started in 2018 by retired NFL linebacker Donnie Edwards, who spent 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. Edwards and Peay brought in other former NFL players, including the legendary Bo Jackson and Utahns Jim McMahon and Haloti Ngata, all of whom spoke at the event. Country music singer Craig Morgan, himself an Army vet, performed for the crowd and 97-year-old World War II veteran Jack Foy, who fought alongside Patton, rounded out the speakers.

Because the only compensation any of the headliners required or received was airfare, an estimated $150,000 was raised in the one-night event. Plans are already underway for a similar fundraiser in 2022.

Peays affection for the military traces back to his father, Edward, who was a colonel in the Utah National Guard.

If I have one regret its that I didnt pursue going to one of the military academies, said Peay, 61, who grew up during Vietnam and did not serve in the military. This is our familys way of giving back to veterans who actually did.

I take great strength from being around these warriors, he continued. This is some payback to people who at a moments notice will jump into a firefight that they know can cost them their life. This puts our lives into perspective. If we think weve had a hard day, these guys have had hard days, day after day after day. Whatever we have to deal with is nothing compared to what theyve been through.

Which brings us back to Peays experience being on the front lines with Donald Trump, through good times and bad.

Actively supporting such a polarizing politician took a toll and left a mark, he freely confesses.

It got very personal at times. Our children were attacked, a family member was fired supposedly because of my affiliation. But thats a small price to pay for standing for what you believe.

If he had it to do it all over again, Id fight even harder.

I loved Trumps policies, including dollar-seventy-five gas, he said. But we know his tone and his getting down in the weeds and fighting over stupid stuff in the internet hurt him.

But that was then and this is now, and hes taking a hiatus from even thinking about all of that. This fall he has plans to take some of the veterans who were honored this week on hunting trips, and really get away from it all.

I find real peace dealing with veterans, he said. I feel like Im on vacation. Its a nice break from the trench warfare of politics.

Does that mean hes retiring?

Ill always be involved in issues related to wildlife, he said. But the rest of it? Yeah, you could say Im officially retired for a while.

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From Trump to vets: Its a nice break from trench warfare of politics - Deseret News