Trump Gets A Primary Challenger – Former Congressman and radio host Joe Walsh announced that he would be running against President Trump for the Republican nomination for president in 2020. Walsh, who represented an Illinois district and was a tea-party favorite, has been a frequent critic of Trump and often claims that many other Republicans privately are too. Walsh has no chance of beating Trump in the primaries, as the president enjoys tremendous support within the Republican party.
Mixed Messages – President Trump made comments that had investors wondering how committed he is to continuing his trade war with China. After the stock market took a big hit following China’s announcement of retaliatory tariffs on American products, Trump told reporters that he was having “second thoughts” regarding his elevation of rhetoric between the US and China. But White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told reporters that the only second thoughts or regrets Trump was having was not raising tariffs higher and faster on Chinese imports.
North Korea Tests New Rocket Launcher – In an escalation of hostilities, the North Korean regime announced that it had successfully tested a new ‘super-large multiple rocket launcher’. The test is more evidence that Kim Jong Un’s regime continues to expand its arsenal of weapons even as President Trump attempts to negotiate with them. For his part, Trump waved away concerns about the test, telling reporters that Kim Jong Un likes testing missiles and that it wasn’t a big deal.
Meeting With Iran? – President Trump said that there is a distinct possibility that he would be meeting with Iranian President Rouhani in the coming weeks to discuss ongoing tensions in the Gulf region and Iran’s secretive nuclear program. French President Emmanuel Macron tried to orchestrate a meeting between Trump and Rouhani at the G-7 summit, but it never occurred. Israeli leaders are reportedly concerned about these reports, fearing that Trump may strike a deal with Iran that would not be optimal for Israel. Rouhani has said that he will not meet with Trump until the US lifts sanctions from Iran.
Gillibrand Drops Out – New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand dropped out of contention for the Democratic nomination for president after her donor and poll numbers failed to qualify her for the next round of Democratic primary debates. Gillibrand, who ran as a working-class mom, failed to resonate among voters, as she was overshadowed by other big-name candidates like Biden and Warren.
Hurricane Dorian Threatens Florida – Florida residents are bracing for Hurricane Dorian which is expected to make landfall this weekend, bringing with it devastating winds and a possibly dangerous storm surge. The hurricane is still strengthening in the Atlantic and could potentially become a Level 4 storm before hitting Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency across the entire Florida. President Trump said he was cancelling a planned trip to Poland to monitor the situation. VP Pence was sent to Poland in Trump’s place.