| | | | The peculiar endorsement 'strategy' of Donald Trump | | On Tuesday afternoon, en route back from a summit in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to offer some endorsements.
"Mark Sanford has been very unhelpful to me in my campaign to MAGA," Trump tweeted about the race in South Carolina's 1st District. "He is MIA and nothing but trouble. He is better off in Argentina. I fully endorse Katie Arrington for Congress in SC, a state I love. She is tough on crime and will continue our fight to lower taxes. VOTE Katie!"
And another: "I strongly endorse Adam Laxalt for Governor of Nevada. Adam is smart, works hard, and knows how to win. He will be a great Governor. Also, will fight hard to lower your taxes and is tough on crime!"
What's odd about these endorsements? The primaries in South Carolina and Nevada are today! Polls close in South Carolina at 7 p.m. Eastern! (And at 10 p.m. Eastern in Nevada.) In short, Trump is giving people hours -- at most -- to be influenced by his endorsement. (And that doesn't count voters in South Carolina who voted absentee and the 178,000 who voted early in Nevada.)
So why do it? When it comes to Trump, it's hard to know. But here are my potential explanations: - He just wants to be on the record for/against people. And particularly in the case of Sanford, Trump wants to get back at someone who has said bad things about him. (If/when Laxalt and/or Arrington win.)
- This was the only time he could do it. Trump has been in Quebec and then Singapore steadily since last Friday. This may be the first time he sat down and thought about it. (I doubt this explanation because, well, Twitter is 24/7.)
- He's playing the long-ish game -- particularly as it relates to South Carolina. Sanford has two challengers, meaning that it's possible he could finish first today but with less than 50% -- meaning a runoff likely against Arrington. If that came to pass, a Trump endorsement could actually make a difference.
Which is it? Some part of more than one of these options? None?
The Point: Trump's political instincts are quite good. His political know-how is often less, um, good. He's also a creature of instinct -- which sometimes works for him and sometimes works against him.
-- Chris | | ICYMI: THE SINGAPORE SUMMIT WAS SURREAL | | As Chris noted in his story today, history was made on Monday night when an American President met with the leader of North Korea for the first time. Here are Chris' takeaways from President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un's meeting at the historic Singapore summit. - Kim was very happy just to be there
- Trump was suppressing his natural Trump-ness
- The one-on-one meeting was more show than work
- Both men really want this to work out
Read more from Chris here; and more news about the summit in CNN's reporting here. Also read this, by CNN's Clare Foran: Häagen-Dazs, hotels and Dennis Rodman: Scenes from the US-North Korea summit. | | | Leigh Munsil listened to this jam about the social media game while Instagram was down earlier: "Everyone's Doing Better Than Me" by Matthew Wright. | | | Today's topic: President Trump saying nice things about Kim Jong Un running his country, disregarding HOW he runs his country. | | ⚽️ TRUMP'S WORLD CUP PROMISE ⚽️ | | Teams are getting ready to kick off the 2018 World Cup in Russia later this week -- and President Donald Trump is looking to the sporting event's future.
CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi reports: "President Donald Trump is promising soccer's international governing body that foreign teams, officials and fans will be able to travel to the US for the 2026 World Cup if North America wins the bid to host the tournament.
"Since March, Trump has sent US soccer officials three letters addressed to FIFA, assuring that World Cup organizations and its fans won't face restrictions coming to America for the World Cup in 2026 if their country qualifies, the United Bid, the group overseeing the US-Canada-Mexico application, said in a statement."
Read more here. | | Another celebrity has expressed interest in jumping into the political arena. Alec Baldwin, known most recently for impersonating Trump on "Saturday Night Live," has declared he'd have a solid shot at the White House should he run.
As CNN reported, "during an interview with Howard Stern on Monday, Baldwin said that if he made a bid for the White House, he would 'one-thousand percent' prevail as the winner over President Donald Trump. 'If I ran, I would win,' Baldwin said. 'I would absolutely win.'"
In other #2020 news, GQ ran a huge profile on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti with the headline: "Eric Garcetti is the Anti-Trump, Pro-Star Wars Man We Need." While the story mostly highlights Garcetti's accomplishments, it also touches on one issue that may prove to be a challenge should Garcetti run for president: Homelessness in Los Angeles. Tom Hogen-Esch, a political scientist at Cal State, Northridge, is quoted as saying: "When people see the scale of the homeless situation driving around Los Angeles, it doesn't convey the sense of a strong mayor who's in control of problems in the city." | | MCCONNELL MAKES SENATE HISTORY | | CNN's Ted Barrett reports: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reached a key Senate milestone Tuesday, surpassing former Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas to become the longest-serving Republican leader in the chamber's history.
"McConnell, who is 76, has been determined and willing to take tough steps to achieve his political and legislative goals. He did that when he boldly blocked Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's choice for the Supreme Court, and worked to install Trump's pick Neil Gorsuch instead. He's also patient and willing to do the plodding groundwork needed for legislative victories, like the ones he's trying to set up this summer when he canceled the August recess, a step he believes will give voters reasons to keep Republicans in control of the Senate. They include clearing a backlog of nominations and passing several lower-profile bills that McConnell says are evidence of good governing."
Read more about McConnell's milestone here. | | Happy 94th birthday to former President George H.W. Bush, who turned 94 today! Per CNN's reporting: "Bush is celebrating at his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, as he has in years past, family spokesman Jim McGrath said. It is a 'very low-key day with family, which, as you know, is perfection as he sees it,' McGrath said."
He's now the first former president to reach that age, though former President Jimmy Carter will celebrate his own 94th birthday on October 1. | | | From Brenna: "There it is, folks. In the words of The Point's own Leigh Munsil: GIFstory. It's like history, but also a GIF. President Trump met North Korea's Kim Jong Un. It was a BFD." Also a BFD: The Point. Tell people you know to subscribe. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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