Trump appears at Republican National Convention; Vance nominated as VP
Days after surviving an assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump made an appearance at the Republican National Convention (RNC) and named J.D. Vance his vice president pick. And the Secret Service director answers questions as the agency is under fire following the deadly shooting. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
Trump appears at Republican National Convention; Vance nominated as VP
The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just two days after former President Donald Trump survived the assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Day one saw Trump officially secure the GOP’s nominee for president with Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance becoming the party’s nominee for vice president.
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While Trump’s presence on the first day was not a guarantee when the event began, all questions were answered just after 9 p.m. central time, when the former president made his entrance. He was wearing a bandage over his ear and met with cheers from the emotional convention crowd along with chants of “we want Trump!” and “fight!”
Trump joined his running mate in the stands. During the Roll Call of the States earlier in the day, Trump received the delegates needed to become the GOP’s nominee, with his son Eric making it official.
“On behalf of our entire family and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that’s ever lived,” Eric Trump said. “And that’s Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for President of the United States of America.”
Speculation surrounding Trump’s VP pick came to an end not long after, with Vance officially joining the ticket.
Secret Service director, President Biden answer questions on security
As the investigation continues into the assassination attempt against former President Trump that left one spectator dead, the Secret Service is facing tough questions on its protocols and how the gunman was able to get so close to the former president. In her first network interview since the July 13, shooting, Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle spoke to ABC News, saying this was an incident that should have never happened.
“What I would say is the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president,” Cheatle said. “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service. It was unacceptable and it’s something that shouldn’t happen again.”
President Biden has ordered an “independent review” of the agency’s protocol, though Cheatle said she already plans to make immediate changes.
In an interview with NBC News on Monday, July 15, Biden was asked his thoughts on the Secret Service.
“Do you have confidence in the Secret Service,” Nightly News anchor Lester Holt asked. “Do you feel safe?”
“I feel safe with the Secret Service,” Biden assured him. “But look, you saw the — what we did see was the Secret Service who responded risked their lives responding. They were ready to give their lives for the president. The question is: Should they have anticipated what happened? Should they have done what they needed to do to prevent this from happening? That’s the question that’s — that’s an open question.”
In the interview, the president was also pressed on the calls from members of his party for him to step aside as the Democratic nominee. Biden said he’s holding to his decision to remain in the race, reiterating his performance at the June 27 debate was just a bad night.
Elon Musk to donate $45 million a month to new pro-Trump super PAC
Billionaire Elon Musk says he’s planning on donating $45 million a month to a pro-Trump super PAC, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The group, called America PAC, launched in June and is backing former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Records show Musk did not donate to it in June, and it’s unclear if he’s donated yet in July. Other backers of the PAC include former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and crypto billionaires Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.
In March, Musk said he would not contribute to either former President Trump’s or President Biden’s campaigns. However, on Saturday, July 13, following the assassination attempt, Musk posted to X that he fully endorsed Trump.
Trump-appointed judge drops classified docs case, special counsel to appeal
Special Counsel Jack Smith said he’ll appeal a federal judge’s decision to dismiss former President Trump’s classified documents case. Florida Judge Aileen Cannon — who was appointed to her seat by Trump — dropped the case Monday.
Cannon ruled Smith’s appointment as prosecutor for the case violated the appointments clause of the Constitution because he was given the job by Attorney General Merrick Garland. In her ruling, Cannon said the Constitution’s appointments clause requires “officers of the United States” be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Trump was accused of illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving the White House in January 2021. He had denied any wrongdoing.
Hacker group claims it leaked Disney’s Slack, internal info
Data from Disney’s internal Slack communications program has been leaked online by an activist hacking group, including discussions about ad campaigns and studio technology.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the hackers say they also published data that contains information about unreleased projects, interview candidates, some logins and images of employees’ dogs. The leak totaled roughly 1.2 terabytes of information dating back to 2019.
A spokesperson for the group, called NullBulge, said it targeted Disney for how it “handles artists’ contracts, its approach to AI and its blatant disregard for the consumer.”
In a statement, Disney said it’s “investigating this matter.”
Scientists discover cave on the moon that could shelter humans
A big discovery has been made on the moon. Scientists said they’ve discovered a cave that could be used in the future to shelter space explorers from the elements, such as cosmic rays and solar radiation.
The cave was found not far from where astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago.
In a paper published in “Nature Astronomy,” an Italian-led team said it found evidence of a sizable cave accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon. The pit is called the Sea of Tranquility, found about 250 miles from Apollo 11’s landing site.
So far, they’ve only gotten a look at the initial part of the cave, but scientists estimate it’s at least 130 feet wide and tens of yards long.
Tags: 2024 Elections, ABC, Aileen Cannon, Artificial Intelligence, Classified documents, Constitution, debate, Democrats, Disney, Donald Trump, Election, Elon Musk, Florida, Hackers, Italy, J.D. Vance, Jack Smith, Joe Biden, Mar-a-Lago, Merrick Garland, Moon, Moon Landing, NBC, nbc news, Republican National Committee, Republican Primary, Republicans, shooting, U.S. Senate, United States Secret Service, Wall Street Journal, Wisconsin, X
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION KICKED OFF MONDAY IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — JUST TWO DAYS AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SURVIVED AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT DURING A CAMPAIGN RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA.
DAY 1 SAW DONALD TRUMP OFFICIALLY SECURE THE GOP’S NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT WITH OHIO SENATOR JD VANCE BECOMING THE PARTY’S NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
WHILE TRUMP’S PRESENCE ON DAY 1 WAS NOT A GUARANTEE WHEN THE EVENT BEGAN – ALL QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED JUST AFTER 9 P.M. CENTRAL TIME – WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT MADE HIS ENTRANCE.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT WEARING A BANDAGE OVER HIS EAR – WAS MET WITH CHEERS FROM THE EMOTIONAL CONVENTION CROWD ALONG WITH CHANTS OF “WE WANT TRUMP!” AND “FIGHT!”
TRUMP JOINING HIS RUNNING MATE, JD VANCE, IN THE STANDS.
DURING THE ROLL CALL OF THE STATES EARLIER IN THE DAY — TRUMP RECEIVED THE DELEGATES NEEDED TO BECOME THE GOP’S NOMINEE — WITH HIS SON ERIC MAKING IT OFFICIAL.
ERIC TRUMP | FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S SON
“On behalf of our entire family and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that’s ever lived, and that’s Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for president of the United States of America.”
AND THEN THE SPECULATION SURROUNDING TRUMP’S VP PICK CAME TO AN END MONDAY – WITH SENATOR JD VANCE OFFICIALLY BECOMING THE GOP NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
“The question is on the motion that Senator J.D. Vance be nominated by acclimation. All those in favor signify by saying ‘aye.’ All those opposed signify by saying ‘no.’ In the opinion of the chair the ayes have it and the motion is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.”
OUR RAY BOGAN HAS MORE ABOUT TRUMP’S VP CHOICE ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SAN DOT COM.
AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP THAT LEFT ONE SPECTATOR DEAD – THE SECRET SERVICE IS FACING TOUGH QUESTIONS ON ITS PROTOCOLS AND HOW THE GUNMAN WAS ABLE TO GET SO CLOSE TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
IN HER FIRST NETWORK INTERVIEW SINCE SATURDAY’S INCIDENT – SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR KIM CHEATLE SPEAKING TO ABC NEWS.
CHEATLE SAYING THIS WAS AN INCIDENT THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
KIM CHEATLE | U.S. SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR
“Who is most responsible for this happening.”
“What I would say is the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president.”
“So the buck stops with you?”
“The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service. It was unacceptable and it’s something that shouldn’t happen again.”
PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ORDERED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE AGENCY’S PROTOCOL – THOUGH CHEATLE SAYS SHE ALREADY PLANS TO MAKE IMMEDIATE CHANGES.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH NBC ON MONDAY – BIDEN WAS ASKED HIS THOUGHTS ON THE SECRET SERVICE.
LESTER HOLT | ANCHOR, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
“Do you have — are you — are you — you have confidence in the Secret Service? Do you feel safe?”
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“I feel safe with the Secret Service. But look, you saw the — what we did see was the Secret Service who responded risked their lives responding. They were ready to give their lives for the president. The question is should they have anticipated what happened. Should they have done what they needed to do to prevent this from happening? That’s the question that’s — that’s an open question.”
IN THE INTERVIEW – THE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO PRESSED ON THE CALLS FROM MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE – BUT BIDEN SAYS HE’S HOLDING TO HIS DECISION TO REMAIN IN THE RACE – SAYING HIS PERFORMANCE AT LAST MONTH’S DEBATE WAS JUST A BAD NIGHT.
BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK SAYS HE’S PLANNING ON DONATING 45 MILLION dollars A MONTH TO A PRO-TRUMP SUPER PAC — ACCORDING TO A WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORT.
THE GROUP — CALLED AMERICA PAC — LAUNCHED LAST MONTH AND IS BACKING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S 20-24 CAMPAIGN.
RECORDS SHOW MUSK DID *NOT* DONATE TO IT IN JUNE, AND, IT’S UNCLEAR IF HE’S DONATED YET IN JULY.
OTHER BACKERS OF THE PAC INCLUDE FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO CANADA KELLY CRAFT AND CRYPTO BILLIONAIRES CAMERON AND TYLER WINKLEVOSS.
IN MARCH — MUSK HAD SAID HE WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO EITHER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S OR PRESIDENT BIDEN’ CAMPAIGNS. ON SATURDAY — FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT — MUSK POSTED TO X THAT HE FULLY ENDORSED TRUMP.
SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH SAYS HE’LL APPEAL A FEDERAL JUDGE’S DECISION TO DISMISS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE.
FLORIDA JUDGE AILEEN CANNON — WHO WAS APPOINTED TO HER SEAT BY TRUMP — DROPPED THE CASE MONDAY… RULING SMITH’S APPOINTMENT AS PROSECUTOR FOR THE CASE VIOLATED THE APPOINTMENTS CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION — BECAUSE HE WAS GIVEN THE JOB BY ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND.
IN HER RULING — CANNON SAID THE CONSTITUTION’S APPOINTMENTS CLAUSE REQUIRES “OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES” BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
TRUMP WAS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY RETAINING HUNDREDS OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AT HIS MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE IN FLORIDA AFTER LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE IN JANUARY 20-21.
HE HAD DENIED ANY WRONGDOING.
DATA FROM DISNEY’S INTERNAL SLACK COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM HAS BEEN LEAKED ONLINE BY AN ACTIVIST HACKING GROUP — INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AD CAMPAIGNS AND STUDIO TECHNOLOGY.
ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL — THE hackers SAY the group ALSO PUBLISHED DATA THAT CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT UNRELEASED PROJECTS… INTERVIEW CANDIDATES…SOME LOGINS… AND IMAGES OF EMPLOYEES’ DOGS — TOTALING ROUGHLY 1 POINT 2 TERABYTES OF INFORMATION DATING BACK TO 20-19.
A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GROUP SAID IT TARGETED DISNEY FOR HOW IT QUOTE “HANDLES ARTISTS’ CONTRACTS, ITS APPROACH TO AI AND ITS BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE CONSUMER.”
IN A STATEMENT — DISNEY SAID IT’S “INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER.”
A BIG DISCOVERY HAS BEEN MADE ON THE MOON.
SCIENTISTS SAY THEY’VE DISCOVERED A CAVE ON THE MOON… THAT COULD BE USED IN THE FUTURE TO SHELTER SPACE EXPLORERS FROM THE ELEMENTS LIKE COSMIC RAYS AND SOLAR RADIATION.
THE CAVE WAS FOUND NOT FAR FROM WHERE ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG AND BUZZ ALDRIN LANDED 55 YEARS AGO.
AN ITALIAN-LED TEAM SAYS IT FOUND EVIDENCE OF A SIZABLE CAVE — ACCESSIBLE FROM THE DEEPEST KNOWN PIT ON THE MOON… AT WHAT’S KNOWN AS THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY, JUST 250 MILES FROM APOLLO 11’S LANDING SITE.
SO FAR, THEY’VE ONLY GOTTEN A LOOK AT THE INITIAL PART OF THE CAVE… BUT SCIENTISTS ESTIMATE IT’S AT LEAST 130 FEET WIDE AND at least TENS OF YARDS LONG.
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