Asian News from UK

Tag: Republican

  • Trump to focus on Unity in Republican convention speech  

    Trump to focus on Unity in Republican convention speech  

    Trump posted on Truth Social that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening” and that he would “fear not.” Again, in talking to the Washington Examiner, he invoked “God” for his deliverance…reports Asian Lite News

    Former President Donald Trump has made significant changes to his upcoming convention speech in response to an attempted assassination on Saturday, now focusing on a call for national unity rather than his original plan to critique President Joe Biden’s policies.

    In an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump reflected on the incident, emphasising his desire to use the moment to bring the country together. “The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,” he remarked. “Had this not happened, this would’ve been one of the most incredible speeches aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. Honestly, it’s going to be a whole different speech now.”

    Trump, who narrowly escaped the attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from Americans across the political spectrum. He recounted how he narrowly avoided the sniper’s bullet by momentarily turning away from the crowd to view data on a screen, a decision he believes saved his life. “That reality is just setting in,” he acknowledged. “I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?”

    Speaking from his plane in Bedminster, New Jersey, en route to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, Trump underscored the gravity of the event. “It is a chance to bring the country together. I was given that chance.”

    Early Sunday morning, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening” and that he would “fear not.” Again, in talking to the Washington Examiner, he invoked “God” for his deliverance.

    “This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together,” Trump continued in his interview with the Washington Examiner. “The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would’ve been two days ago.” The interview, originally scheduled to take place aboard his return flight from the rally, placed the reporter just feet away from Trump when the assassination attempt occurred.

    Trump paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who lost his life at the rally, and acknowledged the injuries sustained by supporters David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who are currently recovering in stable condition. Reflecting on his immediate response to the attack, Trump described raising his hand to reassure the crowd and the nation of his safety. “And that America goes on, we go forward, that we are strong,” he asserted.

    The photograph capturing Trump with a raised fist amid blood streaming down his face, surrounded by Secret Service agents, has already become an iconic image of the 2024 election cycle. If Trump delivers a message of unity in Milwaukee, it would evoke memories of President Ronald Reagan’s resolve following the 1981 assassination attempt on him in Washington, DC.

    Recalling the moment when he addressed the crowd after the attempt, Trump emphasized the importance of conveying strength and resilience. “The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there; it’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking. I knew that history would judge this, and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” the Washington Examiner reported. (ANI)

    ALSO READ-Biden tells Americans to ‘cool it down’

  • Republicans file contempt charges against Biden’s ghostwriter

    Republicans file contempt charges against Biden’s ghostwriter

    The contempt proceedings are the latest Republican legal salvo against Biden and his family…reports Asian Lite News

    House Republicans advanced a resolution Thursday that would hold President Joe Biden’s ghostwriter in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over records related to the special counsel investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents.

    The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to recommend contempt charges against Mark Zwonitzer, who worked with Biden on his two memoirs and through him was exposed to material that was deemed classified. The committee action paves the way for a possible floor vote by the House to refer Zwonitzer for criminal contempt.

    Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, the chair of the Judiciary committee, issued a subpoena to Zwonitzer in March after he had refused to voluntarily turn over documents, including audio, video and transcripts of his interviews with Biden for the 2007 book “Promises to Keep” and 2017’s “Promise Me, Dad.”

    “Zwonitzer continues to withhold all documents and materials in his possession that are responsive to the subpoena from the Committee,” the resolution states. “The materials requested from Zwonitzer are crucial for the Committee’s understanding of the manner and extent of President Biden’s mishandling and unlawful disclosure of classified materials, as well as Zwonitzer’s use, storage and deletion of classified materials on his computer.”

    The contempt proceedings are the latest Republican legal salvo against Biden and his family. Earlier this month, Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for his refusal to turn over audio from the special counsel interview with Biden. The White House had blocked the release of the audio weeks earlier by invoking executive privilege. It said Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings “to chop them up” and use them for political purposes.

    In a letter to Jordan on Tuesday, White House counsel Ed Siskel accused Republicans of not engaging with officials to accommodate their request before targeting Zwonitzer publicly.

    “The Committee’s actions are an obvious example of the very weaponization of government for political purposes that you claim to decry,” Siskel said in the letter obtained by The Associated Press. “Putting a private citizen in your political crosshairs and threatening him with criminal prosecution, simply because you refuse to engage with the Executive Branch, is out of bounds.”

    Republicans opened their investigation into Biden after the February report by special counsel Robert Hur said that Biden was sloppy in his handling of classified material found at his home and former office. Hur said Biden shared classified information with Zwonitzer while the two were working on Biden’s second book.

    Hur’s report concluded that no criminal charges were warranted against Biden. Prosecutors did consider charging Zwonitzer with obstruction of justice because the ghostwriter destroyed recordings of interviews he conducted with Biden while they worked on his second memoir together once he learned of the documents investigation.

    But Hur said Zwonitzer offered “plausible, innocent reasons” for having erased the recordings and cooperated with investigators, meaning the evidence against him was likely “insufficient to obtain a conviction.” Investigators were also able to recover most of the deleted recordings from Zwonitzer’s laptop.

    But Republicans maintain that further review of Zwonitzer’s access to classified materials is warranted to determine if legislative reforms need to be put in place for the storage, handling and disclosure of sensitive documents by members of the Executive Branch. Prolonging the investigation also keeps attention on parts of Hur’s report that were politically damaging to Biden as he seeks re-election against former President Donald Trump in November.

    Beyond the bitingly critical assessment of Biden’s handling of sensitive government records, Hur offered unflattering characterizations of the president’s memory in his report, sparking fresh questions about his competency and age that cut at voters’ most deep-seated concerns about Biden seeking a second term.

    ALSO READ: US, Russian embassies warn against Lebanon travel

  • McConnell to Step Down as Republican Leader in Senate

    McConnell to Step Down as Republican Leader in Senate

    Having achieved the distinction of becoming the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in 2023, McConnell has played a pivotal role in shaping Republican politics….reports Asian Lite News

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Wednesday his decision to step down from the GOP leadership position in the Senate come November, signalling the conclusion of a significant era on Capitol Hill and initiating a consequential race for his successor, CNN reported.

    McConnell, a stalwart figure in Washington, DC, 82, expressed that “the end of my contributions are closer than I prefer.”

    Despite stepping down from the leadership role, McConnell affirmed his commitment to serving in the US Senate, emphasising the importance of allowing “the next generation of leadership” to assume control of the Senate Republican Conference.

    Having achieved the distinction of becoming the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in 2023, McConnell has played a pivotal role in shaping Republican politics.

    However, recent months have seen internal discord within his party, particularly concerning additional US funding for the war in Ukraine. Additionally, McConnell’s strained relationship with the GOP’s presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump, has been evident, with reports indicating that the two had not spoken in over three years, as reported by CNN.

    In his floor remarks, McConnell reflected on his decision, stating, “As I have been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work. A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. That day arrived today.”

    The announcement garnered a standing ovation, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer approached McConnell to extend congratulations, symbolising a rare moment of bipartisan recognition.

    Throughout his tenure as Senate majority leader during former President Donald Trump’s administration, McConnell played a crucial role in guiding three Trump-nominated Supreme Court justices to confirmation–Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. His influence also extended to the confirmation of numerous conservative judges to the federal bench, significantly impacting the federal judiciary.

    Despite these accomplishments, McConnell’s relationship with Trump has been marked by significant disagreements. Following the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, McConnell attributed blame to Trump for provoking the attack. However, during the subsequent impeachment proceedings, McConnell voted to acquit Trump of inciting an insurrection. McConnell, typically aligned with Trump during his presidency, led the Senate’s certification of the presidential election that the Capitol rioters sought to overturn and strongly condemned the violence, according to CNN.

    McConnell’s decision to step down comes amidst health concerns, including a concussion in March following a fall in a Washington, DC hotel. Subsequent episodes, where McConnell appeared to briefly freeze up while speaking with reporters, raised questions about his fitness to lead the Senate Republican Conference.

    Explaining the timing of his decision, McConnell cited the recent tragedy of his wife Elaine Chao’s youngest sister, Angela, who died in a traffic accident earlier this month.

    He emphasised the introspection accompanying the grieving process, stating, “Perhaps it is God’s way of reminding you of your own life’s journey to reprioritize the impact of the world that we will all inevitably leave behind.”

    Acknowledging his wife of 31 years, McConnell referred to her as the “love of my life” and expressed eternal gratitude for her companionship. Concluding his speech, McConnell assured his critics that he still had “enough gas in my tank to thoroughly disappoint,” pledging to maintain his active role as a thorn in their side.

    The announcement has now set the stage for a closely-watched race for McConnell’s successor, with three prominent Senate Republicans–John Thune, John Cornyn, and John Barrasso–emerging as potential candidates. Barrasso, referring to the upcoming election, emphasized that his focus was on securing the presidency, the Senate, and the House, while Thune and Cornyn sidestepped questions about their potential candidature.

    Rick Scott of Florida, a vocal critic of McConnell, remained non-committal about running for Republican leader, stating that his primary focus was on reelection as his Senate term concludes this year, CNN reported. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Biden, Trump Prevail in Michigan Primaries

  • Nikki Haley Emerges as Strongest Republican Contender Against Biden in 2024

    Nikki Haley Emerges as Strongest Republican Contender Against Biden in 2024

    Fresh out of the first Republican primary debate late last month, Haley told CBS News that she, and not Trump, is going to be the party’s 2024 presidential nominee…reports Asian Lite News

    Indian-American Nikki Haley has emerged as the only Republican presidential candidate who can beat President Joe Biden in the 2024 US elections, a new poll has revealed.

    Haley, the only woman running for the Republican nomination, had a six percentage-point lead over Biden in a CNN/SSRS poll released on Thursday, with the President trailing Haley 49 per cent to 43 per cent in a hypothetical match between the two.

    “Hypothetical matchups suggest there would be no clear leader should Biden face one of the other major Republican contenders, with one notable exception: Biden runs behind former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley,” CNN reported.

    The Haley campaign welcomed the polls saying: “This poll confirms what many Democrats and Republicans are saying: Democrats are terrified of running against Nikki Haley.”

    “Nikki Haley is our best hope in taking back the White House. We only have one shot. It’s time to play to win,” Ken Farnaso, Haley’s Press Secretary, said responding to the CNN poll.

    Fresh out of the first Republican primary debate late last month, Haley told CBS News that she, and not Trump, is going to be the party’s 2024 presidential nominee.

    According to the CNN polls, the other Republican candidates polled neck-and-neck with Biden with former president Donald Trump, who is widely ahead in the party primary, drawing 47 per cent against the Biden’s 46 per cent.

    On a potential rematch between Trump and Biden, 47 per cent of those polled said they would choose the former President and 46 per cent said they would choose the latter.

    In contrast, 44 per cent said that any Democratic nominee would be better than Trump, while 38 per cent said the former President is better than any Democratic pick.

    Former Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Tim Scott both drew 46 per cent to Biden’s 44 per cent, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie received 44 per cent to Biden’s 42 per cent.

    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tied with Biden at 47 per cent, while Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trailed at 45 per cent against Biden’s 46 per cent.

    ALSO READ-Judge Holds Trump Liable in Defamation Suit by E. Jean Carroll

  • Coulter’s racist rant targets Nikki Haley

    Coulter’s racist rant targets Nikki Haley

    Born Nimrata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa, Haley announced her presidential bid on February 14 in a video message where she proudly talked about her Indian heritage.

    Calling Indian-American Nikki Haley a ‘bimbo’ and ‘preposterous creature’, conservative pundit and author Ann Coutler asked the Republican presidential candidate to return to India.

    “Why don’t you go back to your own country?” Coulter said, making an appearance on the ‘The Mark Simone Show’ podcast this week.

    Born Nimrata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa, Haley announced her presidential bid on February 14 in a video message where she proudly talked about her Indian heritage.

    She had said that as a brown girl, growing up in a black-and-white world, she saw the promise of America unfold before her.

    “Her candidacy did remind me that I need to immigrate to India so I can demand they start taking down parts of their history,” Coutler said.

    Coutler’s rants did not stop at just Haley, she targetted India as well, the NBC News reported.

    “What’s with the worshipping of the cows? They’re all starving over there. Did you know they have a rat temple, where they worship rats?”

    Coulter said that Haley’s decision to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of South Carolina’s Statehouse following the 2015 mass shooting at a predominantly black church in Charleston, angered her.

    She slammed Haley, calling her a “Bimbo” and a “preposterous creature” for her decision.”This is my country, lady,” she said.

    “I’m not an American Indian, and I don’t like them taking down all the monuments,” NBC News reported Coutler as saying.

    Haley, so far, has not responded to Coutler’s comments.

    Haley has been a rising star in the Republican party and long expected to run for the White House, IANS reported earlier.

    She is a former two-term Governor of South Carolina, one of America’s most conservative states, and former Ambassador to the UN, a cabinet-rank position she held in the administration of then President Donald Trump.

    Haley is the third Indian American to seek the Week House, following Bobby Jindal in 2015-16 and Kamala Harris in 2019-20.

    ALSO READ: Nikki Haley says she is a proud daughter of Indian immigrants