Our live coverage of Trump’s rally has ended. Scroll through the posts below to see how the event unfolded.
President Trump just wrapped up his rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which he hosted instead of attending the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner in Washington, DC.
The President spoke for just shy of an hour and a half.
President Trump falsely claimed that babies in Wisconsin can be “executed” after the Democratic governor Tony Evers said he would veto a bill that would require doctors to provide medical care to babies born alive after a failed abortion attempt or face a large fine or/and imprisonment.
“But your Democrat governor here in Wisconsin, shockingly, stated that he will veto legislation that protects Wisconsin babies born alive. The baby is born, the mother meets with the doctor, they take care of the baby, they wrap the baby beautifully, and then the doctor and the mother determine whether or not they will execute the baby,” Trump said.
Trump’s claim that mothers and doctors are permitted to execute a baby after it leaves the womb is incorrect. The bill he is referring to would mandate that health professionals do all they could to keep a baby alive if it was “born alive” and would penalize anyone who lets a baby die.
Trump also referenced Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, whose comments earlier this year about third-trimester abortion sparked controversy. When describing what he thought happens during “late-term abortions,” Northam said this:
“No, it’s incredible. Until this crazy man in Virginia said it, nobody even thought of that, right?” Trump said at his rally tonight.
President Trump said the US is sending many people who cross the border illegally to sanctuary cities — adding that it was his “sick idea” to do so.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it is “strongly looking at” the possibility of releasing immigrants into so-called sanctuary cities in part to retaliate against Democrats.
The proposal is another example of Trump’s willingness to enact hardline immigration policies to deliver on border security, a key issue for his political base.
Some context: The term “sanctuary city” is a broad term applied to jurisdictions that have policies in place designed to limit cooperation with or involvement in federal immigration enforcement actions. Cities, counties and some states have a range of informal policies as well as actual laws that qualify as “sanctuary” positions.
During a riff about getting countries around the world to pay more for their own defense, President Trump defended his support for Saudi Arabia.
“They buy a lot from us – $450 billion they buy,” the President said.
“You have people wanting to cut off Saudi Arabia. They bought $450 billion. I don’t want to lose them!,” he told the crowd.
“But the military, we subsidize them,” Trump continued, getting back to his original point.
Trump then described his negotiation tactic with the king of Saudi Arabia.
He said the king asked him why he was calling, because nobody had made such a call.
“That’s because they were stupid!” The President said he replied.
President Trump made the case that the United States could not comply with the Paris Climate Accord because it would get sued, whereas countries like China would not.
“China can sign rules. They’re not going to be sued by Greenpeace,” the President explained at a rally in Green Bay.
“If Greenpeace goes to China, that’s the end of Greenpeace. You’re not going to see them again,” he said, adding, “We adhere to these things. It’s a little different.”
Trump said the United States, “would have lost our ass on that deal.”
He also made light of violent protests in the streets of Paris, and seemed to imply that the so-called Yellow Vest protesters were his “friends.”
“I say, take a look at Paris on a Saturday afternoon. How are they doing, good?” he asked rhetorically. “How are the yellow vests doing?”
President Trump brought White House press secretary Sarah Sanders on stage during his Green Bay rally after the crowed chanted “Sarah!”
Trump had made a reference to Sanders as talked about his campaign. That’s when the crowd started chanting her name, and Trump invited her to the podium.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” she said.
“Last year this night, I was at a slightly different event. Not quiet the best welcome. So this is an amazing honor,” she said, referencing the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The annual dinner is happening in DC tonight. This marks the third year in a row Trump has skipped it — and this year, the White House ordered administration officials to boycott it, too.
President Trump addressed rumors and speculation over whether he would leave the presidency peacefully after two terms.
“They don’t believe I’m leaving in six years,” Trump said to the crowd in Green Bay.
He mimicked his critics saying, “He wants to extend, he wants to have the presidency for life.”
“These are sick people,” Trump added.
He also attacked the “scum leading the top of government,” and again seemed to imply that officials at the Justice Department were leaving in the wake of the Muller investigation.
“These were dirty cops,” Trump said. “They’re just leaving because they got caught like nobody ever got caught.”
The President made similar comments yesterday to leadership at the NRA but has not said to whom specifically he is referring.
President Trump called Jussie Smollett — the “Empire” actor who had been accused of staging a hate crime and filing a false police report, but later had all charges dropped against him — a “third-rate actor.”
What Smollett alleged happened: Police said that the actor told detectives he was attacked earlier this year by two men near the lower entrance of a Loews hotel in Chicago. Police were told the two men yelled “‘Empire’ fa***t” and “’Empire’ n***er’” while striking him.
In a supplemental interview with authorities, Smollett claimed one of the attackers also shouted, “This is MAGA country,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.
President Trump brought up special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian inference in the 2016 election, calling it the “greatest political hoax in American history” and a “witch hunt.”
Some background: The Department of Justice released a redacted copy of Mueller’s report last week. Those close to him say Trump is furious at the people whose extensive interviews with the special counsel’s office created the epic depiction of a chaotic White House.
President Trump addressed the synagogue shooting in San Diego at the top of his rally tonight. He singled out an off-duty border patrol agent who officials say fired at the alleged shooter.
The President said the agent “bravely returned fire and helped disrupt the attack.”
Earlier on Twitter, Trump credited the agent for stopping the attack:
He also said he spoke with Mayor Steve Vaus of Poway and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. He said he told the two that “we stand together and will all get to the bottom of it.”
“We’ll got to the bottom of a lot of things happening in our country,” Trump said.
At least one person was killed and three more were injured in a shooting at a San Diego-area synagogue earlier today, the last day of Passover.
President Trump took shots at at least three of the Democratic candidates running for president in 2020: “Sleepy Joe,” “Crazy Bernie” and “Pocahontas.”
“I think Pocahontas, she’s finished, she’s out,” Trump said, using his long-running nickname for Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He again criticized her claim to some sliver of Native American heritage.
The President also mentioned “Sleepy Joe” Biden and “Crazy Bernie” Sanders and suggested they could not hold the kind of rallies he hosts.
“Can you imagine any of these people up here doing what I’m doing?” he asked the crowd.
President Trump addressed the deadly shooting at a California synagogue at the start of his rally, offering prayers for the victims and condemning anti-Semitism.
Trump said anti-Semitism and hate “must be defeated.”
At least one person was killed and three more were injured in a shooting at a San Diego-area synagogue earlier today, the last day of Passover.
President Trump just took the stage in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for his rally.
Trump is skipping the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner for the third year in a row — and the White House has ordered administration officials to boycott it, too.
Last year, President Trump also held a campaign rally instead of attending the White House Correspondents’ dinner. Speaking in Michigan, the President criticized Democrats and the media, and touted what he described as his accomplishments in office.
Here’s a look back at last year’s rally:
The White House has ordered administration officials to boycott the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, according to a senior administration official.
The order was issued Tuesday morning by White House Cabinet Secretary Bill McGinley, who announced that all Trump administration officials are being ordered to boycott the dinner, scheduled for Saturday night.
One thing to note: The President had announced earlier this month that he would be skipping the annual dinner for the third year in a row, instead holding his campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, that evening.
In previous administrations, both the President and vice president traditionally attended the gala event, which promotes the First Amendment. The last president to skip the dinner was Ronald Reagan in 1981, who declined because he was recovering from an assassination attempt.
President Trump is skipping tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner for the third year in a row.
What is the WHCD?
The black-tie dinner has long attracted presidents, dignitaries, journalists and entertainers. The annual fundraiser and awards event acknowledges the role of the free press and allows journalists to schmooze with sources and each other. News outlets pay for tables and invite administration aides, lawmakers, other government officials and the occasional Hollywood celebrity.
What happened to the comedians?
The annual Washington gala has traditionally featured comedians, who often use the forum to roast the guests, particularly those holding office. The presidents may also make light-hearted or comedic speeches, as former President Barack Obama did in 2015 with an “anger translator” bit.
Last year, with Trump absent, comedian Michelle Wolf lobbed biting jokes at the administration in a performance that drew some criticism.
Months after Wolf’s performance, the WHCA announced that it was doing away with the tradition of hosting a comedian. This year, instead of a comedian, the event will feature the author Ron Chernow.
President Trump will address a crowd of supporters at 8 p.m. ET in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Here are a few topics that could come up during the rally:
