Prime Minister Netanyahu extended his US visit to meet with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago after meeting with Biden and Harris in Washington DC yesterday. NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Andrea Mitchell provides background on the Israeli leader’s visit.
Trump supports congresswoman who called Harris “DEI Vice President”
President Trump tonight endorsed Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., for reelection, after he called Harris his “DEI Vice President” earlier this week.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Burchett as a “tireless defender” of his district and a “conservative fighter,” adding that he had his “full support.”
Burchett was first elected to Congress in 2018. He will run unopposed in Tennessee’s Republican primary on Aug. 1 and face Democratic candidate Jane George in November.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, D.C., appeared on “Meet the Press Now” and called on Democrats to rally behind Harris quickly and urged her to choose a running mate she feels comfortable with.
Trump-Vance team spends first week on defense
Senator J.D. Vance wasn’t enjoying much of a honeymoon period.
In his first week of campaigning as President Trump’s running mate, the Ohio Republican has had to compete for attention with a shuffle at the top of the Democratic field – Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’ elevation as the de facto nominee.
Much of the buzz around Vance has ranged from distracting to obnoxious. Progressives pounced on comments he made nearly three years ago about “childless, cat-loving women” — a criticism of Harris, a stepmother of two. Critics dwelled on polling data showing many voters still weren’t convinced by Vance. Others indulged in largely unfounded speculation that Trump already regretted picking him as his vice presidential pick.
Read the full story here.
Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former Justice Department officials endorse Harris
Loretta Lynch, who served as attorney general during the Obama administration, and dozens of other former Justice Department officials endorsed Harris today, calling her “the best choice to defeat Donald Trump and lead the country.”
The letter, signed by more than 40 senior government officials and former federal prosecutors, said Trump “poses a grave danger to our nation” and has “consistently demonstrated disregard for the rule of law” during his presidency.
The letter’s signatories include Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who was fired by Trump in 2017 after she instructed Justice Department lawyers not to defend an executive order that would have tightened restrictions on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. At the time, Yates said she was concerned the order was “not lawful.” The order was later amended.
Trump has repeatedly accused Biden of “weaponizing” the Justice Department, which has filed criminal charges against him in two separate cases led by special counsel Jack Smith.
Harris’ TikTok account surpasses 2 million followers in 24 hours
Harris’ TikTok account gained more than 2 million followers within the first 22 hours.
Harris has posted three videos so far on TikTok: announcing the launch of her account, a behind-the-scenes video from her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and a phone call with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in support of her.
The former Biden HQ Kamala HQ account also saw its follower count grow to 2 million, nearly double what it had on Monday.
Trump launched his own TikTok account on June 1, and has 9.2 million followers and five videos.
Trump says he’ll hold ‘massive’ rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
President Trump said this afternoon he will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, the city that was the target of an assassination attempt during a rally earlier this month.
“I will be returning to Butler, Pennsylvania to hold a huge and amazing rally to honor the spirit of our beloved firefighter hero, Corey, and the brave patriots who were wounded two weeks ago,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, referring to Corey Comperatore, a former Buffalo Township Fire Department captain who was shot and killed during a rally on July 13.
Trump did not disclose dates or locations for any upcoming rallies, but NBC News previously reported that the former president had no plans to hold large outdoor gatherings for the time being and would focus on indoor gatherings.
Exclusive: Harris calls Sonia Massey’s family
Governor Harris today called the family of Sonia Massie, a 36-year-old Black woman who was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy in her Illinois home, according to Massie’s family members who spoke to NBC News.
Massey was killed July 6 after calling the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office worried there might be someone wandering outside, her family’s attorney and Illinois State Police said.
“I’m feeling a lot better today,” said Massey’s father, James Wilburn.
Read the full story here.
Congressman supports Harris after backing House resolution criticizing her
Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina was one of six Democrats who crossed party lines yesterday to vote in favor of a House resolution condemning VP Harris’ border policies, and today endorsed the VP’s campaign.
“Today, I am announcing my endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president,” he said in a statement posted to X.
“At the same time, the Administration and Congress must address concerns on the southern border. These issues cannot be overlooked.”
The symbolic resolution passed by a vote of 220 to 196. It will not advance to the Senate.
Trump appears without bandages at meeting with Netanyahu
It was the former president’s first public appearance since the July 13 assassination attempt without a bandaged ear.
Trump appeared to be wearing nothing over his right ear during his Mar-a-Lago meeting with Netanyahu, in a photo tweeted by a New York Times photographer. Doug Mills Trump was seen showing off his injury to the Israeli prime minister, although the injury was not clearly visible in photos from today’s event because the top of his ear was covered by hair.
Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician and Texas Republican who treated Trump, said in a letter released by the Trump campaign that Trump was “recovering rapidly” and continued to reject FBI Director Chris Wray’s position this week that the injury may have been caused by shrapnel rather than a bullet. Jackson said that Trump’s medical records provided by the hospital on the night of the assassination attempt classified the injury as a gunshot wound to his right ear. “I completely agree,” Jackson said. The medical records have not been made public.
