LIVE: Trump assaults Kemp and Raffensperger at Atlanta rally

7:19 p.m. Trump praises election board individuals, bashes Kemp and RaffenspergerFormer President Donald Trump praised 3 individuals of the Georgia State Election Board who’ve pressed for harder regulations forward of the November election – at the same time as he persisted to make false claims that the 2020 election used to be stolen.Election board individuals Rick Jeffares, Janelle King and Janice Johnston have pressed a chain of regulations they are saying are designed to extend transparency. Critics concern they’re making an attempt to pave the way in which for Republicans to reject the result of a Democratic victory within the presidential election.“The ones 3 individuals are improbable,” Trump stated.The 3 Republican-appointed board individuals drew grievance and a lawsuit once they met just lately to approve two election regulations regardless of issues from the Lawyer Normal’s Place of business that the assembly would violate the state Open Conferences Act. The board later agreed to revisit the principles at every other assembly.Trump additionally took every other shot at Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.“They don’t need the election to be fair,” he stated. “Personally, thy need us to lose.”Trump has made false allegations about vote casting fraud in Georgia for years, and Saturday used to be no other.“I received this state two times, individually,” he advised the gang.State and federal investigators have tested a large number of allegations of vote casting fraud following the 2020 election and located no proof to improve them. Amongst different issues, they’ve debunked claims that that tens of hundreds of lifeless folks voted, experiences of counterfeit ballots, allegations of unlawful poll harvesting and stories of election-night ballot-stuffing.- David Wickert7 p.m.: Trump blames Harris for Laken Riley’s deathFormer President Donald Trump blamed Vice President Kamala Harris in uncooked, scathing phrases for the brutal killing of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing pupil bludgeoned to dying at the campus of the College of Georgia.”Kamala Harris must now not be asking to your vote,” Trump advised hundreds of supporters all through a rally at Georgia State College’s enviornment in downtown Atlanta. “She must be begging Laken Riley’s circle of relatives for forgiveness.”ExploreHere’s why Laken Riley is essential to Donald Trump’s messaging for Georgia votersHe added that Riley’s “blood is on Kamala Harris’ fingers” and that she may as neatly had been “status there, gazing herself” the brutal slaying.Riley’s frame used to be found out Feb. 22 in a wooded space close to UGA’s intramural fields. The person charged in her killing, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, is a Venezuela nationwide who used to be arrested in 2022 after unlawfully coming into the USA, federal immigration officers stated. He has pleaded now not to blame.Trump and different Republicans have lengthy attempted to faucet into the fury of his celebration’s conservative base over immigration insurance policies guilty Democrats for her dying.And Trump’s marketing campaign introduced an advert blitz in Georgia and different battleground states this week blasting Harris over immigration. At her Atlanta rally this week, she vowed to restore a bipartisan border safety deal that Trump helped scuttle.-Greg Bluestein6:51 p.m.: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger replied to Trump’s on-line assaults Saturday.Georgia’s elections are safe. The winner right here in November will replicate the need of the folks. Historical past has taught us this kind of message doesn’t promote neatly right here in Georgia, sir. percent.twitter.com/G8yjxtvjPJ— GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) August 3, 2024

6:47 p.m. Trump discussed Fulton County District Lawyer Fani Willis, whose title drew loud “boos” at Saturday’s rally. Willis charged Trump and 18 others final yr for his or her roles in looking to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.Trump sought to tie Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to Willis.“, Fani Willis is a great good friend of your governor,” Trump stated. “I’m now not partial to your governor.”Later, he portrayed Atlanta as a crime-ridden hell.“Atlanta is sort of a killing box, and your governor should get off his ass and do something positive about it,” Trump stated.- David Wickert6:35 p.m.: Trump faced Democratic messaging positioning him as a risk to democracy, pronouncing, “I feel I were given shot as a result of that.” The group roared as he countered, “I’m going to save lots of democracy.”6:24 p.m.: “For all of you non-believers, that one used to be from God,” Donald Trump says, talking about his assassination try at a rally in Pennsylvania.6:15 p.m.: Donald Trump stated he’d love to “congratulate Vladimir Putin for making but every other nice deal.” This week, President Joe Biden secured prisoners held in Russia in a switch, and Trump has railed in opposition to the hostage deal.6:09 p.m.: Trump: ‘I don’t want celebrities’Trump drew a distinction between his rally and a Kamala Harris rally previous this week that featured quite a lot of celebrities.“I don’t want entertainers,” Trump stated. “I stuffed the stadium as a result of I’m making The united states nice once more.”Following grievance that he ceaselessly mispronounced opponent Kamala Harris title, Trump quipped, “There are lots of other ways of claiming it, she best likes 3.”Trump additionally criticizes the Georgia State College management pronouncing “we may have have compatibility extra folks in.”“In the event that they’re going to face in the way in which of admitting folks into our rally, simply believe what they’re going to do on election day.”- Michele Baruchman and Merrill Hart6:05 p.m. Former President Donald Trump simply walked on level.5:47 p.m. Trump is assembly with Black trade homeowners forward of his Atlanta rally.Taking place now: Trump is assembly with Black trade homeowners forward of his Atlanta rally. A number of say inexperienced power laws and inflation is “killing” their base line.
“We’ll be again,” Trump says. “We’ll be again the place we had been, however higher.” #gapol percent.twitter.com/i0UAWVY0E4— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) August 3, 2024

5:16 p.m. Protesters acquire out of doors Trump rallyMore than a dozen protesters are covered up around the boulevard from the conference middle, and organizers say they’ve been protesting Trump and Vance’s consult with since 3 pm. They plan to proceed protesting till the tip of Trump’s speech.Nate Knauf is an organizer with the Atlanta Bankruptcy of the Democratic Socialists of The united states. He stated they need to make it transparent that Trump and Vance aren’t welcome in Atlanta.“We’re right here protesting Trump and Vance as a result of we predict that fascists haven’t any position within the town of Atlanta,” he stated. “The Trump Vance platform it’s a racist, a sexist, anti-gay, anti-immigrant schedule which is enthusiastic about dividing operating folks to combat among each and every different. The actual combat is between the operating elegance and the only %.”Credit score: Ben HendrenCredit score: Ben HendrenThe team has been chanting “no justice, no peace, US out of the Center East” and different slogans. They need to see a ceasefire in Palestine and extra coverage of queer rights and immigrant rights.Trump supporters have countered the protests chants with “USA! USA!” and feature started status in entrance of the protesters. Over a dozen cops arrived to watch the protest.- Phoebe Quinton5:02 p.m.: Vance attracts on ‘hillbilly’ childhoodVance drew upon his formative years in Ohio, the topic of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” to say that the American dream is loss of life below the Biden and Harris management. He promised to rebuild American trade and combat for the ones suffering within the nation. ”It’s the little man who hurts essentially the most when Kamala Harris fails,” Vance stated.“I do know what it’s like to look at households fall aside below monetary tension,” Vance stated. “However I additionally know that our nationwide motto is ‘In God we agree with,’ and God tells us to not depression, however to pray. This state of Georgia goes to have a perfect recovery.”- Merrill Hart4:55 p.m. Trump bashes 3 Georgia RepublicansAhead of his rally, Donald Trump took to his social media platform to assault a trio of Georgia Republicans he blamed for his 2020 election defeat: Gov. Brian Kemp, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and previous Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.Trump praised the Georgia GOP for searching for to exile Duncan, whom he categorised as a “overall light-weight.” He renewed assaults in opposition to Kemp, pronouncing Georgia’s crime fee is “horrible” on his watch. And he framed Raffensperger as a traitor to the celebration.”We need to purge the Celebration of people who pass in opposition to our Applicants, and make it tougher for a well-liked Republican President to overcome the Radical Left Lunatics,” he wrote on his social media platform.- Greg Bluestein4:51 p.m. Vance portrays Harris as a Washington eliteVance situated Harris as a Washington elite, condemning her function within the Inflation Relief Act and greater fuel costs below the Biden management.”It’s now not the fee we pay for democracy, it’s the fee we pay for her failed management,” Vance stated.Pushing again in opposition to fresh Democratic language calling MAGA “bizarre,” Vance accused Harris of being “bizarre” through placing on what he noticed as a faux southern accessory all through her Atlanta rally.Vance additionally driven again in opposition to Democrats claiming that Trump supporters are disloyal to The united states.”Loyalty is protective Laken Riley, now not permitting an unlawful immigrant to take her lifestyles,” Vance stated.- Merrill Hart4:46 p.m.: Vance: ‘The united states isn’t going to elect a San Francisco liberal’JD Vance, Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee, took the level on the rally in Atlanta Saturday and in an instant steered Kamala Harris used to be now not rather situated for the highest of the Democratic price ticket.”She has now not won a unmarried vote for president,” he stated.Harris used to be so unpopular, he stated, that she didn’t even rank within the most sensible 3 applicants for president all through the Democratic number one in 2020.”The united states isn’t going to elect a San Francisco liberal who’s thus far out of doors the mainstream,” he stated.- Michelle Baruchman4:23 p.m. Lt. Gov. Jones tweaks his predecessor: ‘You’ll’t repair silly’There’s no love misplaced between Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and his predecessor, Geoff Duncan.For starters, Jones is an avowed Donald Trump supporter and Duncan is without doubt one of the few distinguished Republicans to again Vice President Kamala Harris. On Friday, the Georgia GOP took steps to exile Duncan from the celebration.Jones, on the other hand, didn’t need it to forestall there. He opened his speech at Saturday’s rally with a jab at Duncan.“I don’t need any person to confuse me with the previous lieutenant governor who used to be right here supporting Kamala Harris …” Jones stated. “Any individual requested me what I considered that, and I stated, ‘Infrequently you simply can’t repair silly.’”.-Greg Bluestein4:16 p.m.: Greene: Street to White Area is going thru GeorgiaU.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene turns out to believe Democrats on one level: “The street to the White Area is going at once throughout the state of Georgia.”However that used to be so far as the shared ideals went.“Our election, Georgia, used to be stolen from us,” she advised a crowd of Trump supporters Saturday to thunderous applause.Greene stated seniors have demanding situations paying hire and purchasing medicine whilst “younger folks would possibly by no means have the ability to come up with the money for a brand new house or the American dream.”Even though events could make their very own nominating regulations, Greene wondered the equity of placing Harris on the most sensible of the price ticket. “No longer a unmarried democratic voter has voted for this to occur,” she stated.- Michelle Baruchman4 p.m.: A bunch of Trump supporters marched alongside the out of doors of the conference middle, chanting “USA.”3:58 p.m.: Collins calls Harris ‘the Stacey Abrams of California’If there’s a reputation that’s positive to rile up a GOP target market in Georgia, it’s now not President Joe Biden and even Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s Stacey Abrams, the previous state legislator who two times misplaced to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, leaned into that on Saturday as he revved up the gang of hundreds of Donald Trump supporters. It used to be most likely his loudest applause line.”Kamala Harris is just like the Stacey Abrams of California … Georgia didn’t need Stacey and we don’t need Kamala,” he stated.- Greg Bluestein3:54 p.m. Brian Jack: ‘Donald Trump took a bullet for us’Congressional candidate Brian Jack painted a portrait of Donald Trump as an empathetic, worrying one who has long gone out of his solution to assist susceptible folks, together with in Georgia.Jack stated Trump heard a few circle of relatives in Burke County who used to be susceptible to having their house foreclosed upon.“I’ve by no means met you. I’m moved through your tale. I wanna assist,” Jack stated the previous president advised them.Jack additionally stated Trump prolonged a long “thanks” to the emergency staff who replied to the Interstate 85 bridge cave in, pronouncing “let’s get the ones heroes to the White Area.””That’s the President Trump I do know and that’s the guy we should re-elect,” he stated. ”Donald Trump took a bullet for us. The least we will be able to do is get out and vote for him.”- Michelle Baruchman3:46 p.m.: Perdue rallies Trump supportersFormer U.S. Sen. David Perdue persisted to tiptoe again onto the political scene, taking centerstage at Donald Trump’s rally for a temporary pep communicate to the gang.”I’m right here to inform you if we don’t do our activity,” stated Perdue. “President Trump isn’t going to be reelected.”The Republican has gave the impression at a trio of Trump occasions this yr, a few of his best political appearances since his back-to-back defeats for U.S. Senate and governor. Whilst he’s not going to run for public place of business, allies say he might be in line for a federal appointment if Trump wins.- Greg Bluestein3:30 p.m. MAGA pols prove for TrumpThe MAGA Georgia glitterati used to be out in complete drive on Saturday when former President Donald Trump holds his first joint rally in Atlanta along with his newly christened working mate U.S. Sen. JD Vance.Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper led the target market within the Pledge of Allegiance. U.S. Reps. Mike Collins and Marjorie Taylor Greene fanned out throughout the crowd. Former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins drew cheers anywhere he went.Lt. Gov. Burt Jones used to be front-and-center together with a couple of different Republicans who received Trump’s endorsement in 2022. So used to be Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones, who misplaced a U.S. Area race regardless of incomes Trump’s blessing.Simply as notable can be those that didn’t attend: A trio of Republican incumbents Trump attempted to oust two years in the past after blaming Gov. Brian Kemp and his allies for his election defeat.Lawyer Normal Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger despatched phrase thru aides they received’t be attending; Carr cited a circle of relatives legal responsibility. Likewise, a Kemp aide additionally stated he wouldn’t sign up for the rally at Georgia State College’s convocation middle.The fourth member of the GOP quartet who thwarted Trump-backed challengers within the 2022 number one is Insurance coverage Commissioner John King, who had skipped earlier rallies. Curiously, he sat close to the entrance of the level on Saturday.- Greg Bluestein3:20: Carter needs to assist defeat TrumpFormer Democratic President Jimmy Carter has extra on his thoughts than his a centesimal birthday on Oct. 1. He needs to assist defeat Republican Donald Trump.“I’m best looking to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,” Carter advised his son Chip this week, in step with his grandson Jason Carter.You’ll learn extra right here.- Greg Bluestein3:15 p.m.: Georgia ag commissioner addresses immigration at Trump rallyGeorgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper addressed the rising crowd at Saturday’s Trump rally in Atlanta.Harper stated that, below Donald Trump, “we received’t have illegals crossing the border.”He additionally emphasised Trump’s improve for women and men who serve within the U.S. army and led the gang within the pledge of allegiance to “honor the flag.””It’s time to position the educate at the proper tracks,” he stated.- Michelle Baruchman3 p.m. Marjorie Taylor Greene cheered at Trump rallyDonald Trump is the big name of Saturday’s rally. However in Georgia, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene may well be an in depth 2d.The Rome Republican used to be cheered in every single place she went inside of Georgia State College’s convocation middle, together with as she stepped onto the risers for a chain of media interviews.The MAGA loyalist is considered one of Trump’s maximum ardent allies and squashed a Democratic challenger two years in the past who raised greater than $16 million. She advised the AJC she needs Trump to nominate her to steer the Division of Native land Safety if she wins.2:40 p.m.: Trump now not backing clear of wondering Harris’ racial identityYou may nearly pay attention the groans from senior Georgia Republicans after former President Donald Trump used a discussion board with Black newshounds this week to query Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial id. If the backdrop of his Atlanta rally is any indication, Trump isn’t backing off his remarks wrongly pronouncing that Harris, the primary vp of Black and South Asian descent, “changed into” Black for political causes.Flat display TVs round Georgia State College’s convocation middle featured a 2016 Industry Insider headline that learn: “California’s Kamala Harris turns into first Indian-American US senator.”Want a sign former President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign is doubling down on wondering Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial id? This information clip seems on a number of monitors across the enviornment the place he’ll quickly rally. #gapol percent.twitter.com/u6GHxXxvfl— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) August 3, 2024

Harris, who has all the time highlighted her shared heritage, described the previous president’s feedback as “the similar previous display, the divisiveness and the disrespect.””Let me simply say,” she stated, “the American folks deserve higher.”- Greg Bluestein2:32 p.m.: Trump supporters go back and forth from around the regionTrump supporters from around the area traveled to Atlanta to look the previous president.When requested why he attended the rally, 65-year-old John Wilkins of Stockbridge gave a straight-forward resolution.“I like Trump, and I like what he stands for,” Wilkins stated. “And I hate the entirety that the Democrats do.”Wilkins indexed the border, the economic system and abortion as most sensible coverage priorities.Credit score: Merrill HartCredit score: Merrill HartErvin Boger, 69, had his son, a Georgia State pupil, drop him off sooner than the doorways opened at 1 p.m. He waited in line at the back of masses of different Trump supporters two blocks clear of the doorway of the convocation middle.“After which to seek out that the road is goodbye, I stated Wow I must’ve gotten right here previous!” he stated. “Everybody’s in order that satisfied and relaxed and ready their flip. It’s only a more than pleased, protected environment. Very supportive.”Mac and Wendy Mullins (53 and 50 years previous) drove an hour from Alpharetta to look Trump. They suspect he’ll completely win Georgia.“So long as there’s no humorous trade it must be alright,” stated Mac.“It’s simply going to be an issue of whether or not the machines had been corrected,” Wendy added.They stated taxes and financial freedom are considered one of their most sensible issues.Logan Lott, 23, of Conyers, stated he needs Trump to reestablish the economic system the rustic had below the Trump management and make elections honest once more.“My greatest factor this election is simply conserving elections honest and ensuring each and every unmarried vote is counted,” Lott stated.- Merrill Hart, Phoebe Quinton and Caleb Groves2:18 p.m.: Harris’ marketing campaign will get a pep communicate SaturdayWhile Republican Donald Trump rallied in Atlanta, Democrat Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign were given a pep communicate.U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, advised a bunch of volunteers at a Harris for Georgia marketing campaign place of business Saturday that Trump’s political schedule quantities to “the previous Jim Crow playbook.””They’re looking to take us again to the entirety that we didn’t have again within the day,” she stated.Crockett stated the stakes of the election aren’t simply who’s elected to the presidency, however who the president has the facility to nominate to the Superb Courtroom.”They don’t need us to get forward. And I once I say us, it’s now not simply Black folks. It’s any one who isn’t previous, white and already wealthy,” she stated.Crockett referenced the past due Georgia Congressman John Lewis and his paintings on vote casting rights. And she or he additionally emphasised the significance of the southern swing state.”Our collective freedoms are working all over Georgia,” she stated.- Michelle Baruchman2:05 p.m.: Trump supporters believe Kamala Harris’s riseTrump supporters had numerous critiques about how Kamala Harris’ emergence because the Democratic nominee would impact the presidential race.John Cherry, 75, from Buckhead, stated that he’s apprehensive concerning the momentum Harris has won within the first couple of weeks of her marketing campaign. However he thinks that it is going to now not final.“The Democrat celebration is all fired up and excited,” Cherry stated. “Two weeks in the past Kamala used to be the worst vp ever, now all of them love her. Best possible ever.”Dressed in a blouse emblazoned with former president Donald Trump elevating his fist after final month’s failed assassination try, 43-year-old Andrea McLean stated she doubts Harris as a brand new opponent will impact the election’s consequence.“I feel there’ll be a honeymoon duration,” McLean stated. “However I feel all in all, folks will see her for what she is — if we will be able to stay the web from erasing the entire historical past and issues she’s finished.”- Phoebe Quinton and Merrill HartCredit score: Phoebe QuintonCredit score: Phoebe Quinton1:40 p.m.: Hundreds of supporters line as much as see Trump in AtlantaThousands of Trump supporters waited to get into his rally at Georgia State College Saturday.Columbus resident Matthew Tayler, 33, drove into Atlanta at 6 a.m. to look former president Donald Trump at his first Georgia rally for the reason that Republican Nationwide Conference. He stated Trump’s messaging will “completely” exchange within the wake of the brand new Democratic opponent, bringing up Kamala Harris’ distinctive trail to nomination.“I don’t assume they went about democracy the proper manner,” Taylor stated. “They stole it from the sitting president, the incumbent.”Credit score: Seeger Grey / AJCCredit score: Seeger Grey / AJCBill Henderson, 51, used to be amongst a bunch of Trump supporters status below the Atlanta Olympic Cauldron Tower. Henderson, in provide chain control, drove down from Athens to spend the evening. “I simply got here down to look the gang and folks watch,” he stated. Henderson stated when Trump used to be in place of business, “We didn’t have the price of dwelling will increase we’ve got now.” The Georgian stated he isn’t apprehensive concerning the Democrats profitable this November. “Kamala appeals to the more youthful those that don’t in point of fact do analysis,” Henderson stated.- Merrill Hart and Caleb Groves12:30 p.m.” Democrats educate volunteersAs Trump supporters covered up for his rally in downtown Atlanta, the Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign used to be wrapping up coaching for volunteers who will canvas right through metro Atlanta.- Michelle BaruchmanAs former President Donald Trump prepares to land in Atlanta as of late, the @KamalaForGA marketing campaign is coaching volunteers to head out into metro Atlanta, knock on doorways and communicate to electorate. percent.twitter.com/XCtK6XesyD— Michelle Baruchman (@mlbaruchman) August 3, 2024

12:08: Trump, Vance Atlanta rally follows Harris’ consult with previous this weekFormer President Donald Trump will hang his first rally in Georgia along with his working mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, on the similar venue the place Vice President Kamala Harris headlined a raucous tournament previous this week.The back-to-back marketing campaign stops at Georgia State College’s convocation middle be offering a dramatic distinction because the rival campaigns scrap over one of the most country’s best battlegrounds.Trump’s rally is ready to start out at 3 p.m. Vance is scheduled to talk at 4 p.m. adopted through Trump an hour later. Whilst maximum of Trump’s most sensible Georgia allies are anticipated to wait, simply as notable are the high-profile GOP figures who’re skipping the development.Harris drew more or less 10,000 supporters to the downtown Atlanta middle on Tuesday, the largest Democratic crowd of this yr’s marketing campaign. Trump’s allies be expecting a equivalent target market to pack the venue on Saturday.The rally caps a momentous week as Trump sought to blunt Harris’ momentum through wondering her racial id at a convention of Black newshounds in Chicago.Harris, in the meantime, received sufficient delegates all through on-line vote casting to safe the Democratic nomination, making her the primary Black lady and primary individual of South Asian heritage to turn out to be a big celebration’s nominee.And she or he’s anticipated to announce her working mate through Tuesday, when she and her select headline a rally in Philadelphia after which kick off a swing thru battleground states that features a Friday prevent in Savannah.- Greg Bluestein

Author: OpenAI