Former President Donald Trump is set to host his first rally in New York since 2016, with an event scheduled in the South Bronx next week, coinciding with the final stages of his hush money trial.
The Trump campaign has secured a permit for an event in Crotona Park at 6pm on 23 May, with a capacity for 3,500 attendees. The last time Trump held a rally in his home state was in Buffalo in 2016.
This move is particularly audacious considering President Joe Biden's decisive victory in both the five boroughs of New York City and the state as a whole. Trump was in Florida on Friday for his son Barrons high school graduation, an event for which Judge Juan Merchan scheduled a day off from the court proceedings as the prosecution in Trumps criminal trial nears the conclusion of its case.
Later in the day, Trump held a rally in Minnesota where he falsely claimed victory in the state in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. He also criticized President Biden and CNN over the upcoming presidential debate. Trump has expressed his desire for Biden to undergo a drug test before their debate on 27 June.
Donald and Melania Trump were present at their son Barron Trumps high school graduation ceremony in Florida on Friday. The former president and first lady were among the audience at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, along with Melania Trumps father, Viktor Knavs, and other parents. Prior to the ceremony, Trump announced his attendance on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, Great student, wonderful boy! Very exciting!!!
In other news, Jared Kushner has received approval to construct a $500m luxury hotel on a former defence ministry site in Serbia. The Serbian government announced the deal, which will transform the bombed-out site of the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defence in Belgrade into a hotel complex. However, this development may not be well-received by local residents.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has criticized the Republican presidential candidate, accusing him of being racist, sexist, and homophobic. He also warned that the Labour Party, which is expected to win the next UK general election, must do more to challenge him. Despite Trump's bid for the presidency, Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy suggested during a trip to Washington DC last week that the Republican presidential candidate is often misunderstood on European policy. However, Khan insisted that Trump is far from misunderstood.
In a surprising turn of events, Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, Trumps lawyer, and a criminal defendant, has ventured into the coffee business as he deals with bankruptcy and a debt of $148m. Giuliani launched Rudy Coffee, offering three styles of coffee beans, with the first 100 bags signed by the former mayor.
Meanwhile, some New Yorkers are profiting from Trumps hush money trial by holding spaces in the queue for hundreds of dollars a day. Robert Samuel, owner of Same Ole Line Dudes, revealed that his team of more than 25 line sitters charge $50 per hour for the press and $25 per hour for the public.
With cameras not allowed inside Manhattan Criminal Court, courtroom sketch artists have been instrumental in bringing the proceedings to life. The drawings of professionals Jane Rosenberg, Elizabeth Williams, and Christine Cornell have captured key moments and helped illustrate the many twists and turns of the trial.
House Democrats are investigating Trumps alleged promise to reverse crucial climate policies to appease the fossil fuel sector in exchange for funding his return to the White House. In other political news, former 2024 Republican candidate and South Carolina senator Tim Scott is lobbying among Trumps inner circle in hopes of being his pick for Vice President. Scott is reportedly relying on Kellyanne Conway, Trumps 2016 campaign manager, as he positions himself as the top choice.
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