The move to suspend political communications is common following a significant event like what happened at the Republican candidate’s event, where he was apparently grazed by a bullet.

The president shared both a statement and made public remarks Saturday evening. He and numerous other members of both parties have spoken out to wish Trump the best and to decry political violence.

One member of the crowd was killed, as was the shooter. Another audience member remains in critical condition.

“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” Trump said on Truth Social in his first statement on the incident. “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

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The president said that he was thoroughly briefed and that he had tried to contact Trump on the phone, but that he hadn’t had the chance to speak with Trump yet.

“It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country,” Biden said.

When asked whether this was an assassination attempt, Biden said that he had an opinion, but didn’t have the facts yet. He added that if he speaks with Trump, he will again update the press.

“I have tried to get a hold of Donald. He’s with his doctors. Apparently he’s doing well,” Biden said. “I plan on talking to him shortly, I hope, when I get back to the telephone.”

“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” the president continued. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

“I want to thank the Secret Service and all the agencies, including the state agencies, that have been engaged,” Biden added. “We have more detail to come relative to other injured — other people may be injured in the audience. I don’t have all that detail. We’ll make that available to you. I may be able to come back a little later tonight, but we’ll put out a statement if we don’t — if I’m not able to, if it’s not convenient for you all.”

“But the bottom line is that the Trump rally was a rally that he should have been able to be conducted peacefully without any problem,” the Democratic candidate lamented. “But the idea, the idea that there’s political violence, or violence in America like this is just unheard of, is just not appropriate.”

“Everybody must condemn it. Everybody,” Biden added. “I’ll keep you informed. And if I am able to speak to Donald, I’ll let you know that as well. So far, it appears he’s doing well.”

Concluding his remarks, Biden said, “I’m going back to my phone to speak with the federal agencies that are being put together, again, to give me an updated briefing if anything happened, if they learned more in the last couple hours. So thank you very much, and I hope I get to speak to him tonight, and I’ll get back to you if I do.”

In an earlier statement, Biden wrote, “I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety,” the president’s statement continued. “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

Trump had been speaking for approximately five minutes when shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear before he was told to duck by Secret Service agents. Trump had blood running down his face and mouthed “Fight” at the crowd several times following the shooting.

A member of the audience was killed, as was the shooter, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told press outlets. Another audience member remains in serious condition.

The shooting was swiftly condemned by politicians from across the political spectrum. “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” former President Barack Obama wrote. “Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”

Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan delivered one of the most emotional responses, writing, “F–king unacceptable. Zero tolerance for violence of any sort. I pray the former President is ok and all attendees. I don’t give a s–t what ur politics are. The competition is at the ballot box, not with guns. Let’s pray for peace and nonviolence in America.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, himself a former presidential candidate, issued a statement that read, “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”

The post President Biden Says Trump Shooting Is ‘Sick’ in Live Remarks | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well,” Biden said in a statement. “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety,” the president’s statement continued. “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

Biden appeared live in front of press and cameras shortly after the statement was issued, offering further remarks.

“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” the president said. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

Vice President Kamala Harris shared her relief that Trump was not seriously injured.

“Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” Harris said in a statement. “We are grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their immediate action. Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”

Numerous other political leaders were quick to condemn Saturday’s shooting, an apparent assassination attempt of Trump, at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Former President Barack Obama tweeted, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”

Former president Bill Clinton also immediately condemned the shooting. “Violence has no place in America, especially in our political process,” he said, adding that both he and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are “thankful that President Trump is safe.”

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was attacked in an act of political violence (that was later mocked by Trump), said she knows “firsthand” it doesn’t have any place in our society.

“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” she said on X. “As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former President’s rally today are unharmed.”

Sen. Mitt Romney said, “Relieved the former President is safe and doing well. Outrageous and tragic that anyone would make such a heinous and evil act. Grateful for the quick response from Secret Service agents. This is a deeply sad day for America.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote, “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also commented, “In this horrible moment, encouraged to hear President Trump’s team indicate that the former president is doing well. An entire nation must speak with one voice today to completely and unequivocally reject all political violence.”

Liz Cheney echoed sentiments expressed by Obama and Sanders. “Reports of the shooting in Pennsylvania are horrifying,” she said. “Violence of any kind has no place in American politics. We are grateful for the reaction of Secret Service and other law enforcement and pray for the former president and all those injured.”

Ted Cruz shared a photo of Trump bleeding from his right ear with his fist raised and wrote, “Extraordinary. God bless President Trump.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blamed Democrats in a heated message posted to X. She wrote, “Democrats wanted this to happen. They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen. Just this congress, Reps. Troy A. Carter Sr., Barbara Lee, Frederica Wilson, Yvette D. Clarke, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jasmine Crockett, Joyce Beatty, and Steve Cohen all cosponsored legislation to TERMINATE Trump’s Secret Service protection.”

“Why would they want that? You know the reason. Others may have been killed —innocent people that were there supporting President Trump and all they wanted was to Make America Great Again and they may have been murdered for it. Thank GOD Secret Service was there for Trump and everyone else at today’s rally.”

Speaker of House Mike Johnson wrote, “Kelly and I are praying for President Trump and all the attendees of the campaign rally today in Pennsylvania, and we send our gratitude to the law enforcement who responded at the scene.”

“I have been briefed by law enforcement and am continuing to monitor the developments. This horrific act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned.”

The post Biden ‘Grateful’ Trump Is Safe, Obama and Other Politicians Condemn Violence appeared first on TheWrap.

The Secret Service neutralized the shooter, who is now dead. One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured.

Trump had been addressing the crowd for around five minutes when shots rang out. He seemed to grab at his right ear before he was told to duck by Secret Service agents who jumped on top of him.

Following the shots, Trump appeared to have blood on his face as he held up his fist and mouthed “Fight” at the crowd several times while being led away by his Secret Service detail. The crowd broke into a “USA” chant.

“During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” the Secret Service said in a statement.

The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of investigation.”

“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump said in his first statement after the incident, which he shared on Truth Social after being taken to be checked out by health professionals.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump said. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.

CNN reported that pool reporters at the rally heard “a series of loud explosions or loud bangs,” followed by Secret Service agents rushing in to protect Trump. “The Secret Service went and immediately covered President Trump. Pool heard residual bangs afterward,” a press pool report read. “Agents grabbed Trump, who was seen waving his fists in the air.”

NBC’s Dasha Burns described the moment that shots rang out. “We were in the middle of all of this as this all transpired. We were getting off of the press riser, getting to the ground level where all of the attendees are on the grass here at this venue. We heard at first what I thought might have been fireworks. I even saw a little bit of smoke — wasn’t sure what was going on.”

“My producer Bianca and I then realized this might be something more serious. We then got ourselves behind a barricade for safety. Trying to make sure our colleagues and peers around us were safe. Everyone ducked down. As you see in that video, the former president ducked down. Secret service came and protected him. People in the audience hear those who were attending — initial confusion.”

“This is not something you are expecting when you are at an event like this. We get down on the ground. We hear those continued pop, pop, pop, pop, pops. They kept going. It felt like for a long time for those of us who were here on site,” Burns concluded.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram tweeted that Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser said that it appeared multiple members of the crowd may have been shot.

CBS’s Scott MacFarlane commented, “Let me be unequivocal about something. This is a security failure of epic, historic proportions, that there was some type of explosive noise.”

Biden and other politicians rush to condemn violence

Following what appeared to be an attempted assassination of the former president, politicians and other notable public figures released a flood of statements in support of Trump and decrying the violence.

“I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well,” Biden said in a statement. “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”

Biden appeared live in front of press and cameras shortly after the statement was issued, offering further remarks.

“Look, there’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick,” the president said. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

Vice President Kamala Harris shared her relief that Trump was not seriously injured and condemned the act.

“Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence,” she said.

“There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy,” former President Barack Obama wrote. “Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”

Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan delivered one of the most emotional responses, writing, “F–king unacceptable. Zero tolerance for violence of any sort. I pray the former President is ok and all attendees. I don’t give a s–t what ur politics are. The competition is at the ballot box, not with guns. Let’s pray for peace and nonviolence in America.”

However, some took the moment to go on the attack, notably far-right Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

“Democrats wanted this to happen,” she wrote. “They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen.”

She went on to list members of Congress who she said had cosponsored legislation to end the former president’s Secret Service protection.

“Why would they want that? You know the reason,” the representative continued. “Others may have been killed —innocent people that were there supporting President Trump and all they wanted was to Make America Great Again and they may have been murdered for it. Thank GOD Secret Service was there for Trump and everyone else at today’s rally.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, himself a former presidential candidate, issued a statement that read, “Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery.”

Former presidential candidate and Biden transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “In this horrible moment, encouraged to hear President Trump’s team indicate that the former president is doing well. An entire nation must speak with one voice today to completely and unequivocally reject all political violence.”

Elon Musk seized the moment to endorse Trump for president. In a short post shared on X that included video of Trump from after the shooting, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

“Reports of the shooting in Pennsylvania are horrifying,” Rep. Liz Cheney wrote. “Violence of any kind has no place in American politics. We are grateful for the reaction of Secret Service and other law enforcement and pray for the former president and all those injured.”

Meghan McCain wrote, “Please join me and my family in immediately praying for our great nation and the entire Trump family.”

The post Donald Trump Grazed, Shooter and Audience Member Killed at Pennsylvania Rally appeared first on TheWrap.

House GOP leaders will be among those in attendance. That includes Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Majority Whip Tom Emmer as well as Reps. Elise Stefanik, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Whip John Thune, Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso and Nikki Haley are notably absent from the speaker lineup.

Other high-profile political speakers on the lineup include Sen. Katie Britt, who delivered this year’s Republican response to the State of the Union in a widely mocked rebuttal; potential Republican VP candidates Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen J.D. Vance and Gov. Doug Burgum; and former Republican primary candidates Gov. Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott.

The RNC will also welcome speeches from Senate candidate Kari Lake, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Byron Donalds, Rep. Nancy Mace, former White House doctor Rep. Ronny Jackson, Kellyanne Conway, Dr. Ben Carson, New Gingrich, former WWE head Vince McMahon’s wife Linda McMahon and Gov. Kristi Noem, who became infamous after trumpeting that she had once shot and killed a dog.

Additional speakers include so-called “everyday Americans” such as Michael Morin, the brother of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five who was killed while jogging in August, and Anne Fundner, whose son died after he took fentanyl-laced pills. Shabbos Kestenbaum, a recent Harvard graduate who sued the school for failing to protect Jewish students from discrimination, is also slated to appear.

This year’s convention will be held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15-18, this Monday through Thursday. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event which will conclude after the 2,400 delegates officially designate Trump and his running mate, who has not yet been announced, to the party’s ticket. Both candidates will also address attendees.

Donald Trump is expected to accept the party’s nomination on the final night of the convention, and his vice presidential candidate, who will speak on Wednesday, is expected to be announced Monday.

Each night of the convention is themed. Monday night’s theme is “Make America Wealthy Again” and will center on how “President Trump’s America First economic policies slashed cumbersome regulations, cut tax rates, and reworked trade deals to create a fairer playing field for American industry and workers.”

Tuesday’s theme is “Make America Safe Once Again.” The night’s focus will be on crime rates in cities that the campaign has described as “hollowed out, dystopian nightmares.”

Wednesday will be “Make America Strong Once Again” night before the convention concludes with “Make America Great Once Again” on Thursday.

The full list of keynote speakers and headliners is below.

Family:

• Donald Trump Jr.
• Eric Trump
• Co-Chairman Lara Trump
• Kimberly Guilfoyle

Entertainers, Celebrities, & Industry Leaders:

• Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition
• Tucker Carlson, Television Host
• Savannah Chrisley, TV Personality and Criminal Justice Reform Advocate
• Franklin Graham, Renowned Faith Leader
• Lee Greenwood, Country Music Star 
• Alina Habba, Trump Campaign Senior Advisor
• Diane Hendricks, Owner of ABC Supply 
• Tom Homan, Former Acting ICE Director
• Chris Janson, Country Music Star
• Perry Johnson, Businessman 
• Charlie Kirk, CEO of TPUSA
• Sean O’Brien, President of TEAMSTERS 
• Vivek Ramaswamy, Businessman  
• Amber Rose, Rapper & Influencer
• David Sacks, CEO of Yammer
• Bob Unanue, CEO of Goya Foods 
• Dana White, CEO of UFC
• Steven and Zach Witkoff, Businessman

RNC Leadership:

• RNC Chairman Michael Whatley 
• COA Chairwoman Anne Hathaway 
• Host Committee Chairman Reince Priebus

GOP Officials & Candidates:

• U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) 
• U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) 
• U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) 
• U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) 
• U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) 
• U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), NRSC Chairman 
• U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) 
• U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) 
• U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) 
• U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) 
• U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Kari Lake (R-AZ) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Banks (R-IN) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy (R-MT) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Sam Brown (R- NV) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno (R-OH) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Dave McCormick (R-PA) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Hung Cao (R-VA) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Eric Hovde (R-WI) 
• U.S. Senate Candidate Gov. Jim Justice (WV) & Babydog
• U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-4) 
• U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-1) 
• U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-6) 
• U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-9), NRCC Chairman 
• U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), House GOP Conference Chair 
• U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-1) 
• U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-6) 
• U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) 
• U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19) 
• U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21) 
• U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) 
• U.S. Rep. John James (MI-10) 
• U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2) 
• U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-1)
• U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) 
• U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) 
• U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-38) 
• Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) 
• Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) 
• Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) 
• Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) 
• Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) 
• Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA)
• Attorney General Brenna Bird (R-IA)
• Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R-NC)
• Mayor Eric Johnson, Mayor of Dallas & Former Democrat 
• Mayor Trent Conaway, Mayor East Palestine, Ohio 
• Dr. Ben Carson, Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• Kellyanne Conway, Former Counselor to President Donald J. Trump
• Ric Grenell, Former Acting Director of National Intelligence 
• Peter Navarro, Former Director of United States Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy
• Mike Pompeo, Former U.S. Secretary of State 
• Linda McMahon, Former U.S. Administrator of SBA  
• Newt Gingrich, Former U.S House Speaker
• Lee Zeldin, Former U.S. Rep. (NY-1)

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“Black America Votes: The Biden Special” will premiere on the network at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. Biden will be interviewed by the award-winning journalist Ed Gordon, marking his first on-camera interview on the channel.

“The conversation will focus on critical issues impacting our community and discuss why Black Americans should continue to support his candidacy amidst growing public concerns and calls for him to withdraw,” the network said in a statement.

The half-our interview also promises to address “the growing concern over President Biden’s fitness for office, the state of the economy for Black families, the Project 2025 conservative policy agenda, and the fight to engage Black voters.”

“Black America Votes: The Biden Special” is produced by Jason Samuels and is a complement to BET’s “We V.O.T.E.” campaign.

The special will land two days after Biden’s on-camera interview with NBC on Monday, which itself followed his sit-down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on July 5. Following Biden’s performance in that interview, Stephanopoulos told an inquirer on the streets of New York City that he doesn’t think the president can serve another four years.

The string of television engagements — including a high-profile press conference at NATO on Thursday — all came in the aftermath of the president’s dismal turn against former President Donald Trump in CNN’s live debate last month. Calls for Biden to step down from the Democratic ticket have mounted as concerns over his age and fitness for office escalates to an all-time high.

The Black vote helped push Biden over the finish line in 2020 against Trump, and his exclusive interview with BET is certainly the campaign’s latest effort to drum up support from those same voters once again.

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“Received many comments and questions on press conferences. Important to note that WH staff prepare for press conferences by creating lists of questions they expect could be asked for the president,” O’Donnell explained. “They look at questions asked in briefings and of staff, stories reporters are doing, and known areas of interest. It is their job to anticipate questions reporters would ask. Staff interact with reporters every day and are very familiar with reporter subject areas. That is their job. Standard. It’s their task to prepare for likely questions.”

Conservatives in particular have previously shared a viral photo from a previous press conference with Biden holding a card that included a photo of the reporter, with a question listed below. But rather than the question being provided in advance, what was written appeared to be what the White House staff believed might be asked.

O’Donnell elaborated, “I am saying that staff game out anticipated questions that they think specific reporters may use because they talk to those reporters daily, know their work and previous questions posed to the WH team. Any of us around the WH every day can anticipate what many reporters would likely ask based on their specific reporting assignments and current news issues.”

“A photo card with an anticipated question is prepared for the president to review,” O’Donnell noted, specifically replying to concern over a viral image of one of those photo cards that included a potential question for the president. “Overlooked is that question was not actually asked as written because it was staff written.”

Biden’s Thursday press conference of the year on Thursday to mixed reactions. At the end of his introduction, he commented, “I’ve been given a list of people to call on here.”

O’Donnell explained that the president “has a list of media who are credentialed in advance” and his staff are aware of who will be in the room before a press conference begins. As the president noted Thursday, he had a list of reporters to call on — which was prepared by his staff, including a variety of different media outlets representing different platforms. His staff also preps Biden with questions they believe reporters may ask, based on their knowledge of those journalists.

This was a followup to O’Donnell looking to debunk the idea that White House reporters would provide questions in advance on Thursday. She labeled the idea a “false charge.”

However, speculation about Biden getting the questions in advance wasn’t helped by recent interviews targeting the Black community, where it was revealed that the hosts were sent questions by the campaign in advance and agreed to ask those questions.

Biden appeared much stronger at the press conference than at his June debate against Donald Trump. He also reiterated that he has no plans to drop out of the presidential race.

The post NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell Debunks Speculation Biden Gets White House Reporters’ Questions in Advance appeared first on TheWrap.

Maher picked four of the younger Democrats waiting on the bench for the elderly party leaders to retire — Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

All of them had strengths and weaknesses, though Maher clearly favored two of them — but the main thing, he argued, is that whatever is going to happen needs to happen fast. Or, as he put it when he kicked off the segment, “new rule: Stop f—ing around.”

Marher argued that the issue isn’t who will replace Biden, “because he is not going to be the Democrats candidate for president in 2024, all due respect.” The issue, Maher said, is that “the one thing I know for sure about America is this: It’s run by mean girls” who will keep picking Biden apart until the campaign is destroyed, and so he’s “toast.”

But the HBO host asserted that the spectacle of Biden stepping down as the Democratic Party’s nominee and being replaced on the ticket this close to the election isn’t necessarily as scary as it sounds. “Replacing a president as his party’s candidate this late will seem like a big deal for about three days, and then we’ll all be over it. It’ll be like when a coworker gets her tits done.”

“At first, it’s oh my god, and a week later, they’re just her tits. America is going to do this. We’re going to get new tits,” Maher declared, teeing up his evaluation of the possible replacements.

“Kamala Harris, Vice President, will get all of Biden’s campaign money and on the Democrats’ best issue, abortion, she’s a walking reminder to women that Republicans are coming for the abortion pill. She won’t just protect Plan B. She is Plan B,” Maher joked.

He also argued that as a former prosecutor, she has massive strengths in the current climate, and that’s on top of the fact that if elected, she “would be the first woman president, first black woman president, and first Asian president.”

“But,” he cautioned, “I don’t vote for who will be the first. I vote for who will win, and for whatever reason, Harris has never been popular. You can count the number of delegates she won in the 2020 primaries on one hand, as long as that hand has no fingers. In three years as Vice President, she’s been quieter than an electric car, and like an electric car, your MAGA uncle can’t explain why she fills him with homicidal rage. She just does.”

“Sometimes life isn’t fair. It’s not fair that she’s not popular. She’s intelligent and accomplished,” he added, before joking about how the one thing she was put in charge of — the border — hasn’t worked out.

Then he turned his attention to Newsom, who he called “The only governor, with the possible exception of Kristi Noem, who looks like they could do porn.”

Listing Newsom’s conventional, physically attractive attributes, Maher also dinged him for his apparent ambitions. “I don’t want to say he really, really wants to be the guy who steps in if the current nominee goes down, but he gets an alert on his phone every time Biden can’t think of a word.”

Maher also noted that being the governor of California comes with some negatives, including the risk he’d be blamed for the homelessness problem, but he had a solution. “There’s a response to that: ‘The homeless can live anywhere but they choose California. Nine out of ten machete wielding meth addicts say they wouldn’t be unhoused anywhere else.”

But Maher praised Newsom as “the best communicator in the party, with a history of standing up to bullies, and his name lends itself to the best slogan since “I like Ike: ‘I’m having Gavin.'”

Next up, Whitmer, who Maher joked “is a very attractive choice: High profile female governor who owns dogs but doesn’t shoot them,” a dig at Noem. Maher had pretty much nothing but positive things to say about her as a politician and as a leader, noting her various victories and concluding, “voters who don’t yet know her will say she already was president because of all the TV shows where the President was played by an actress who looks just like Gretchen Whitmer.”

Finally he reached Buttigieg, who he also considered “impressive” for his military record, his political successes and academic and professional achievements. “And he’s only 10 years old,” Maher joked. “He’s perfect for the moment, because, as our transportation secretary, Pete has experience cleaning up train wrecks, and he has the balls to come on Fox News, although it’s no secret that he brings something that makes Fox conservatives very uncomfortable: Facts.”

Ultimately, Maher argued, “we need some new characters on this sitcom we call the country. Americans like new and these guys, all you need to know is they’re moderates. They’re under 100 years old and they have a D next to their name.”

“Sure, it would be fun and probably a winner if Michelle Obama ran, but she’s off living her best life. We’re not going to get a superstar. We’re not going to get a superstar in this draft. We’re at the airport, and at this point, we just need to be sure we get the last rental car. Something reasonably safe, relatively clean and not Trump. If there isn’t a dead Girl Scout in the trunk, we’re good to go,” Maher concluded.

Watch the whole clip above.

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The former president and presumed Republican nominee in November went on “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” Friday to discuss what he calls Biden’s “big boy press conference.” One of the cohosts Clay Travis asked the embattled politician if he follows the current “palace intrigue” and what his response was to Biden’s inner circle publicly asking him to step down. 

“It’s really kind of wild. In the two weeks since you knocked him out in the debate, I mean, they have just spun completely out of control,” Travis said. “Can you believe how much of a dumpster fire they are right now?”

Trump told the cohosts that Clooney’s piece was an act of betrayal.

“I thought George Clooney was very disloyal, because whether you like Biden or not, you know, he’s been nice to Clooney. I thought it was very disloyal. Backstabber. A third-rate movie actor,” Trump said.

Clooney, a prominent donor and lifelong Democrat, called for a “new nominee” in his piece in the Times Wednesday. His strong stance sent a shock through the Democratic Party, causing more Hollywood elite and prominent democrats to express their concern. 

Clooney hosted a successful, record-breaking fundraiser for the president, where many in attendance have since expressed Biden did not appear fit for another four-year term. The June 15 fundraiser raised $28 million overnight for the reelection campaign. 

“He was a television actor and never made a really good movie,” Trump added of Clooney, an Oscar-winning actor who got his start on “ER.”

You can watch the full episode of “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” here.

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Biden’s first solo press conference of the year aired from around 7:30 p.m. ET to 8:30 p.m. ET and was broadcast on eight difference television networks. That includes ABC, which delayed the start of its ESPYs sports awards coverage as a result. 

A majority of the viewership was in the 55+ age range, where 19.2 million viewers watched the event live. In the 18-34 age range, just over 1 million viewers saw the event, and of adults in the 35-54 age range, 3.6 million viewers watched live.

Breaking down the ratings, Fox News topped all news networks with 5.67 million total viewers and 835,000 in the 25-54 demographic. ABC News came in second with 4.98 million total viewers — however, the broadcast network topped Fox News in the 25-54 demographic with 879,000 viewers. CBS News came in third, drawing 3.60 million total viewers, and 611,000 viewers in the 25-54 age range.

NBC News drew 3.55 million total viewers and 319,000 in the 25-54 demo, while MSNBC drew 2.52 million total viewers and 319,000 in the demo, giving NBCUniversal a wide reach across its platforms that would put it in second to Fox News when combined. With viewership from CNBC added in, NBC’s networks drew 6.25 million viewers. CNN saw 2.22 million total viewers and 439,000 in the demo.

In comparison, Biden’s debate against Republican candidate Donald Trump in June, which reignited fears about the president’s capabilities, drew over 51.3 million total viewers across all broadcast and cable networks that simulcasted the debate.

Additionally, Biden’s recent interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos brought in 8.5 million total viewers, topping its timeslot across major demographics.

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