Trump celebrates 78th birthday with fee-paying fan club as questions linger over mental capacities: Live updates

Trump was again in Washington DC on Thursday to satisfy with the Home and Senate GOP, who introduced him with a cake that includes 47 candles in tribute to his hopes of changing into America’s forty seventh president.

It was his first time time again on Capitol Hill since January 6 2021, a reality not acknowledged by both the person himself or his Republican allies, who have been heckled as “bootlickers” and suggested to not “drink the Kool-Help” by protesters.

However Bennie Thompson, who served because the chairman of the Home choose committee that investigated the Capitol riot, put out an announcement that stated Trump “nonetheless presents the identical dire risk to our democracy that he did three years in the past — and he’d be smart to move again to Mar-a-Lago and await his sentencing.”

Right here’s Eric Garcia and Katie Hawkinson on what these current stated Trump talked to them about, from abortion and immigration to the struggle in Ukraine and the US financial system.

Donald Trump turns 78 as we speak and can reportedly have a good time his birthday within the firm of his “Membership 47” fan organisation in West Palm Seashore, Florida, with the company paying between $35 and $60 for the pleasure of paying courtroom to the presidential candidate.

Turning a 12 months older is not going to assist Trump’s argument that it’s he that’s younger at coronary heart and mentally vigorous and Joe Biden who is just too senile or cognitively impaired for the White Home at 81.

Right here’s Jesse Watters on Fox Information making an attempt to pre-empt the argument that Trump’s current ravings about electrical boats and sharks are actually simply “widespread sense” being unfairly spun by the media.

And, for steadiness, listed below are Michael Cohen’s sweary ideas on the identical incident.

In the event you missed that wild anecdote from his current Las Vegas rally, right here’s my report on the response it bought.

South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace is as soon as once more the victory of a Republican major election towards an opponent backed by a outstanding foe.

The congresswoman received the Republican major in South Carolina’s 1st congressional district over challengers Catherine Templeton and William Younger; as votes got here in, Mace pulled to an early lead and was declared the victor early on Tuesday night.

Her victory comes after former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy focused her as one of many eight Republicans answerable for kicking him out of the speaker’s chair final fall.

John Bowden was following the race:

Others shouted out “bootlicker” and “don’t drink the Kool-Help.”

One other protester in a bear costume held up an indication studying “larger tax breaks, larger revenue.”

Alex Woodward stories on the scene:

Eric Garcia and Katie Hawkinson report:

Donald Trump met with Home Republicans on Thursday, marking his first go to to the Hill since earlier than the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

The previous president met with members of his celebration behind closed doorways, simply weeks forward of the Republican Nationwide Conference — the place Trump will likely be named the celebration’s presidential nominee — and 5 months forward of the 2024 election.

Dueling protesters heckled Republicans as they filed into the Capitol Hill Membership, the place Republicans usually maintain their conferences.

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump informed his celebration’s members that Democrat Nancy Pelosi ‘sdughter stated the 2 could be “good collectively” – a remark that drew the fast ire of her household.

“Nancy Pelosi’s daughter is a whacko,” Trump allegedly stated on Capitol Hill on Thursday whereas chatting with Home Republicans. “Her daughter informed me if issues have been completely different Nancy and I might be good collectively.”

Kelly Rissman has the story:

A person’s try and trademark the phrase “TRUMP TOO SMALL” has run its course after the Supreme Courtroom dominated that the legislation defending people from having their identify trademarked with out their consent doesn’t violate the First Modification.

In a unanimous determination on Thursday, Justice Clarence Thomas stated the legislation limiting the trademarking of names displays the, “historic rationale of figuring out the supply of products” to make sure “prospects know the supply of a product”.

“A celebration has no First Modification proper to piggyback off the goodwill one other entity has in-built its identify,” Justice Thomas added.

Ariana Baio stories on the courtroom’s determination:

Talking concerning the weapon, Kimmel stated on his Wednesday present: “That may very well be a violation of his parole and may very well be one other potential felony.” He then joked: “Who does this man assume he’s, Hunter Biden?”

Kelly Rissman has the story:

Former Republican Rep Liz Cheney took to X to share her ideas on Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell and former president Donald Trump making peace having not spoken since December 2020 — prior occasion to the January 6 assault on the US Capitol.

She wrote: “Mitch McConnell is aware of Trump provoked the violent assault on our Capitol after which ‘watched tv fortunately’ as his mob brutally beat cops and hunted the Vice President.

“He is aware of Trump refused for hours to inform his mob to go away and ‘even then with cops bleeding…he stored repeating his election lies and praising the criminals.’

“He is aware of Trump dedicated a ‘disgraceful dereliction of obligation’ and is a hazard to our Republic. Trump and his collaborators will likely be defeated, and historical past will bear in mind the disgrace of individuals like @LeaderMcConnell who enabled them.”

Cheney was one in every of two Republicans — alongside Adam Kinzinger — who joined the Home choose committee that investigated the occasion of January 6.