Sen. J.D.
Vance (R-OH) spent much of this week trying to preempt Vice President Kamala Harris's public events, turning up to speak in Philadelphia on Tuesday and Michigan on Wednesday before big Democratic Party rallies in the same locations. But some are arguing the strategy is proving problematic. In Philadelphia, Vance spoke to a group of people in front of a blue sign that was intended to be an attack on Harris, but had part of its messaging obscured by attendees.
All that could be seen was the huge name KAMALA above Vance's head. And in Michigan on Wednesday morning, the Republican spoke outside a police station where he attacked Gov. Tim Walz's (D-MN) 24-year military career as "stolen valor.
" Read Also: Why ‘vanilla’ Tim Walz is the ingredient to beat Trump: Dem lawmakers The camera had tight focus on Vance as police officers stood behind him. But Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger observed that there was no massive rally crowd. He shared a photograph taken shortly before he spoke which showed police officers mingling and one woman off to the side.
"Are we sure this isn’t Four Seasons Landscaping, Shelby County?" asked political consultant and former Joe Biden campaigner Cliff Schecter , referring to a much-ridiculed 2020 press conference held by Trump supporter Rudy Giuliani at the Four Season Total Landscaping business in Pennsylvania. The Lincoln Project agreed , posting a photo of the Pennsylvania setup Giuliani had before his infamous event. "Not a great sign of Republican enthusiasm when their VP candidate is holding events set up for a dozen people in a municipal parking lot," said Democratic pollster Matt McDermott .
The stage size was what struck influencer "Florida Chris," who has more than 38,000 X followers. "Look at that itty bitty stage," he quipped. The U.
S. Supreme Court made it impossible to try Donald Trump on election interference charges before he faces voters in November, but one former prosecutor said it's not too late to indict his alleged co-conspirators. District judge Tanya Chutkan had the case returned to her after eight months, and she appears to be quickly moving forward to determine which charges will stick after the conservative justices granted Trump immunity, but legal expert Randall Eliason published a column on his Sidebars blog urging special counsel Jack Smith to issue charges against additional defendants to shed new light on the case.
"When Smith brought his case for the events of January 6 , he indicted Trump alone," wrote Eliason, a professor at George Washington University Law School. "By contrast, the Georgia state case based largely on the same events charged nineteen defendants, including Trump. A case of that size, with nineteen defense attorneys all filing motions and making arguments, is inherently slow and unwieldy.
Even before the case was sidetracked by allegations over the DA’s potential conflict of interest, it was destined to move at a glacial pace." ALSO READ: Why ‘vanilla’ Tim Walz is the ingredient to beat Trump: Dem lawmakers Smith charged only the former president but listed six co-conspirators he decided not to charge to streamline the prosecution, but the Supreme Court stalled the case for months before seriously weakening it with their immunity ruling, and Trump could kill it altogether if he wins a second term in office. "The election deadline and corresponding need to fast-track the case are now off the table," Eliason wrote.
"And that means it would be a good time for Jack Smith to revisit charging some of Trump’s co-conspirators." The indictments list six alleged-conspirators widely believed to be Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, and Kenneth Chesebro, while Eliason suspects the final suspect as Mike Roman. "These same six individuals were indicted as co-conspirators with Trump in the Georgia state case , where Chesebro and Powell have already pleaded guilty," Eliason said.
"Giuliani, Eastman and Roman were also among those indicted in a state case in Arizona based on the scheme to overturn the election results there." Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator in the Arizona case, where the grand jury reportedly wanted to indict the former president, and Chesebro has been indicted in Wisconsin on similar charges. "The D.
C. indictment already spells out how these individuals allegedly were part of a conspiracy with Trump to overturn the presidential election by different unlawful means," Eliason wrote. "It would be relatively easy for Smith to return to the grand jury and obtain a superseding indictment that turns some or all of these unindicted co-conspirators into indicted ones.
Smith may also have other co-conspirators in his sights who were not specified in the indictment and could also be added." Although Clark served in the Department of Justice at the time, so some of Trump's interactions with him might plausibly covered under the presidential immunity ruling, but the others were private attorneys or a political consultant working for Trump and his campaign. "In the event Trump wins the election, having indicted his co-conspirators now will at least serve as a public declaration from the grand jury and Justice Department that criminal charges against those individuals were appropriate," Elias wrote.
"If Trump is going to kill the case, he should have to take the full political heat for dropping indictments of a number of individuals, not just himself." Former Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) responded to the selection of Gov.
Tim Walz (D-MN) as the Democratic vice presidential nominee by claiming the Minnesota governor signed a law requiring students to "hate white people" in her state. "What they did is they infused all the school curriculum with wokeism," Bachmann told the War Room on Wednesday. "It's now mandated in law by Tim Walz.
" "It's basically teaching George Floyd hate whitey curriculum," she continued. "Everything is about race. It's hate white people.
White people are evil. And that's in all of the curriculum." Bachmann claimed that "wokeism" was "mandated into law" by Walz.
"And so you lose a society pretty fast when you lose the education system," she added. "Ours is completely gone." As governor, Walz signed a law mandating free school breakfast and lunch for all students.
He also instituted a $1,750 per-child low-income tax credit and a financial aid program for college students of families earning less than $80,000 a year. ALSO READ: Texas sheriffs engage conspiracy theorist who created Trump enemies 'target list' The Minnesota governor has opposed book bans. "Who's asking for this crazy stuff?" Walz told MSNBC .
"Who's sitting in a bar in Racine, Wisconsin, saying, 'You know what we really need? We need to ban Animal Farm.' Nobody is!" Watch the video below from Real America's Voice or click the link here. Golden sneakers .
Nonfungible tokens . Jingoistic Bibles . Much ado has been made about the baubles and bibelot a cash-strapped Donald Trump keeps peddling to MAGA-heads.
But one can wear a Trump shoe, auction a Trumpy digital asset and ponder Matthew 19:24 and 1 Timothy 6:10 while reading the Lee Greenwood version of the Good Book. The downside for Trump? All cost money to produce. ALSO READ: 8 ways Donald Trump doesn't become president Which is perhaps why Trump is increasingly offering prospective 2024 presidential campaign donors trinkets and honorifics with effectively no discernible value at all — in exchange for a cash contribution.
Raw Story has assembled a running list, as drawn from Trump's various fundraising emails and text messages during the past many months, as he seeks to defeat Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris and win back the White House: Gold card Upside: The "NEVER SURRENDER 2024 GOLD LIMITED EDITION" card sure is shiny. It's also made of "METAL." Downside: You may be a fool if you believe that metal is really gold.
You'll also get more mileage from any credit, debit, ATM or senior discount card found in your wallet. Source: Donald Trump campaign Platinum card The "TRUMP 2024 BALLOT DEFENDER PLATINUM LEVEL METAL LIMITED EDITION" is advertised to a "TOP SUPPORTER" who has earned Trump's "PLATINUM RATING." That Trump's campaign sent it to anyone subscribed to his email list, including journalists, should provide adequate evidence about its exclusiveness.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Black card Just like the gold card and the platinum card. Except it's black. The Trump campaign did not respond to Raw Story's several requests for comment.
Among the questions Raw Story asked Trump's team: What are the differences among these cards other than the color? Do donors receive a physical card in the mail upon making a donation or just a digital image they can print out at home? How long does it take for someone to receive a card if physical cards are offered? Is there a minimum amount one must donate to receive a card? Do the cards entitle the bearer to any benefits or perks, and if so, what? Source: Donald Trump campaign Life member A "2024 Trump Life Membership" might seem like a pretty sweet deal. After all, this membership is being offered to you by a man who owns hotels and golf courses and luxury resorts. Unfortunately, the "life membership" comes with a 100 percent guarantee that if you enter Mar-a-Lago using this as your lone credential, your visit will be brief.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Diamond Club member If diamonds are forever, why not just get a Trump life membership and save yourself some confusion? Source: Donald Trump campaign Day One member This will signify your membership to what Trump is calling the "Trump National Committee" — a joint fundraising arrangement between Trump's presidential campaign committee and the Republican National. The only tangible benefit? A lighter wallet. Source: Donald Trump campaign Trump Advisory Board member Excited to support a self-styled "day one" dictator but aren't ready for a full-time gig? Buy your way onto the "2024 Trump Advisory Board" and become a "trusted" adviser to the man who wants to become our nation's 47th president.
But rest assured that if you do, the person who Trump is pictured talking to on the phone will not be you. Source: Donald Trump campaign Vice Presidential Advisory Board member All the pomp and lack of circumstance of the Trump Advisory Board membership — but with J.D.
Vance's photo instead of Trump's. Source: Donald Trump campaign President's Trust member A cool $35 will snag you this gig. No details whatsoever on what rights or responsibilities this will entail.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Campaign Cabinet member Most of the members of Trump's presidential Cabinet aren't too jazzed about the former president again seeking the White House. Enter the "OFFICIAL TRUMP CAMPAIGN CABINET." This new Cabinet "will be made up of my most ELITE, PATRIOTIC , and TRUSTED supporters that are up for the ULTIMATE challenge – providing my team and I with valuable insight and advice as we make some of the most important decisions leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election and BEYOND," Trump writes.
What's the catch? Just donate "ANY AMOUNT IMMEDIATELY," and you, too, can start channeling your inner Wilbur Ross and begin taking lots of naps . (Trump might even say you're as " dumb as a rock .") Source: Donald Trump campaign 47 Club member Oh, you think you're special because you're in the Official Trump Campaign Cabinet? Turns out that folks in the "Official Trump 47 Club" also get invited to be among the "select few Patriots" who Trump will "rely on and will provide me with the insight and support to RECLAIM America.
" Source: Donald Trump campaign 100 Club member Same as the 47 Club, but with a bigger number. Source: Donald Trump campaign Gold Club member For those who really love element No. 79 but need more than a card.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Platinum member For those who really love element No. 78 but need more than a card. Source: Donald Trump campaign Sustaining member This membership requires a little extra.
"To be certain that we have a consistent stream of funds every single month, I'm asking you to become a Sustaining Member of our 2024 presidential campaign by making a monthly contribution of any amount ...
even $1 or $5," Trump writes. The membership does not appear to come with a public television-esque tote bag or John Tesh CD. (Sad!) So what, exactly, does this particular membership, or any Trump these memberships, entitle one who is granted a membership? Do different memberships come with different benefits, if they come with any benefit at all? The Trump campaign did not respond to Raw Story's several requests for comment.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Trump Donor Wall For years now, Trump's campaign has been promising a "select" group of supporters that they would have their name etched on a "wall" in Trump's office. Perhaps forgetting that they've run this promotion before, or perhaps hoping that supporters themselves have forgotten this fact, Trump is again promising to "build a beautiful wall at my office dedicated to a select group of donors who stepped up at this critical time." Like another wall — say, one on the southern border — it'd be reasonable to question why the Trump Donor Wall hasn't already been built.
One thing is for certain: Mexico can't pay for the Trump Donor Wall, because foreign campaign contributions are illegal, per federal election law. Source: Donald Trump campaign 45 ambassador If Trump seems to be putting the "meh" in memberships, he's got something way cooler — ambassadorships! Get ready to channel your inner Benjamin Franklin , Anthony Wayne Jerome Phillips-Spencer or Spock when you "secure your status as an Official 45 Ambassador before it's too late." No, you will not have access to a State Department jet or even " Trump Force One .
" Source: Donald Trump campaign Golden Trump Status So, you've already got a Trump gold card. And you're also a Trump Gold Club member. But like Trump himself, you really, really love gold.
What's a MAGA gold digger to do? Achieve Golden Trump Status, of course. "Golden Trump Patriots like you WILL BE THE REASON we take back our Country from the WORST, and most CORRUPT, President in HISTORY," Trump explains in offering this opportunity. Golden Trump Status may be achieved for the low, low pyrite-esque price of $20.
24, according to a Trump campaign email. Source: Donald Trump campaign America First Lifetime Achievement Award for Patriotism Americans of a certain age may remember those grifty letters your parents would receive via U.S.
mail informing them that their little Johnny or Katie had been named to the Who's Who of Upper Midwestern Left-Handed 7th Graders. Just send a check for $99 plus shipping and handling and the publisher would send back a book where your name — misspelled, of course — would appear in four-point font on page 743, printed on paper half a micron thick. The America First Lifetime Achievement Award for Patriotism appears to work similarly.
Even though the invitation states that Donald Trump Jr., the former president's own son, has nominated you for this "MAGA Movement Honor," there's a catch. "$35 — DONATE THIS AMOUNT TO ACCEPT" a black button with white letters informs you when you click to accept the award.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Signed poster One day, you're watching a football game in your wood-paneled basement rec room, and you decide the vintage, autographed posters of Bernie Kosar and Cheryl Tiegs look a bit ...
dated. Time for an upgrade. Lucky for you, a modest campaign donation will snag you a "signed poster from Donald J.
Trump, the best President of all time!" Unlucky for you, Trump's signature is simulated. Curiously, the poster also shouts the words "NEVER SURRENDER!" across Trump's black-and-white mugshot from when Trump quite literally surrendered himself to law enforcement in Fulton County, Ga., on charges related to his alleged effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Source: Donald Trump campaign Mystery gift Free rounds at a Trump golf course? A guest pass to Mar-a-Lago? A virtual high-five from Vivek Ramaswamy? There's no telling what Trump's "mystery gift" to you will be — unless you donate at least $20.24. Source: Donald Trump campaign This article first appeared on April 11, 2024, and has been updated to reflect new Trump campaign offerings and developments in the 2024 presidential campaign.
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