Donald Trump will give a speech on the National Mall tonight to mark America's 250th birthday, an event he has branded "the rally to end all rallies." But a warm-up rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday revealed his preoccupations: baseless claims of election fraud, accusations of treason against the Senate, and bizarre tangents about a vandalized reflecting pool.
Trump Accuses Senate of Treason
The Senate last night approved a House motion symbolically ordering Trump to withdraw American troops from the Middle East. Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the motion "poorly timed and meaningless" and claiming he has "Iran on the ropes." He then accused the Senate of "providing aid and comfort to the enemy"—language that mirrors the US legal definition of treason.
Claims of Personal Intervention in California Election
At the Pennsylvania rally, Trump told the crowd he personally intervened in the California governor primary election, alleging "rigging." He claimed he called a US attorney in California to investigate after early results showed MAGA candidate Steve Hilton slipping to second place. "About an hour after the call, ladies and gentleman, Mr. Hilton has won," Trump said. However, Hilton did not win; he came second to Democrat Xavier Becerra. The US attorney in question is likely Bill Essayli, who has not been Senate-confirmed and has been ruled to be serving unlawfully.
Continued Rants About Rigged Elections
Trump also claimed to have "won three elections," insisting: "We did great on the second one. It was a rigged deal." He lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. He opened the rally by asking the crowd if he should run for a fourth term, which would be unconstitutional.
Vandalism Claims at Lincoln Reflecting Pool
Trump complained about vandalism at the newly refurbished Lincoln Reflecting Pool, where three ducks have died. He suggested someone slashed the surface with a box-cutter. Internal records from the New York Times confirm reports of "razor blade slashes" in the pool's expansion joints, but officials say these were not the cause of the surface peeling or algae growth.
Another General Steps Down
Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of US Army Europe and Africa, is unexpectedly stepping down after 18 months. He is the latest of nearly two dozen top military leaders to depart early under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who aims to reduce the number of generals.
Mamdani's Candidates Sweep New York Primaries
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's progressive slate swept Democratic congressional primaries, ousting two incumbents. Rep. Adriano Espaillat was defeated by Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Rep. Dan Goldman lost to Brad Lander. The results signal a shift leftward for the party ahead of November's midterms.
