Over the course of a mere three months, the political landscape of America has been ravaged by an ongoing slew of governmental upheavals, all culminating into what is now one of the most divisive and sharply contested election seasons this generation has seen. Compiled here is a list of the most critical events that have occurred while school has been out of session.
Trump’s New York hush money trial, May 30
Former President Donald J Trump was found unanimously guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, making him the first former or sitting US President to be charged with a felony. This concluded the ongoing Daniels saga, both making history and severely damaging Trump’s campaign.
Hunter Biden conviction, June 11
Hunter Biden was convicted of three felonies for lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on his application regarding his drug usage, and having possessed the weapon illegally for eleven days. While sentencing is still under deliberation, the Biden family has decided to file an appeal and “continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.”
CNN’s presidential debate, June 27
The first and last political debate between Trump and incumbent Biden was held at CNN studios in Atlanta. The debate was vicious from the start, with neither candidate pulling any punches. Personal attacks were levied against the other ruthlessly while each debater took their stances, often with varying degrees of truth. With a shaky and hoarse voice reportedly due to a cold, Biden continually trailed off in his thoughts, often leading to incomprehensible statements. Despite his strong finish, these incidents led many democrats to raise concerns about his age in earnest, with several governors calling for Biden to leave the race in the coming days.
Supreme Court immunity trial, July 1
The Supreme Court ruled on the case Trump Vs. United States in a landmark decision, officially providing immunity for presidents acting in an official capacity within their “core constitutional powers.” Yet the decision has been considered ambiguous and raises questions as to whether the former president can be prosecuted for certain acts relating to the January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack. Protestors gathered outside the Supreme Court during the ruling, with many voices arguing against the decision.
Biden’s ABC Interview, July 7
Biden held a 22-minute interview with Goerge Stephanopoulos on ABC to combat growing fears about his age and viability as both a candidate and president. While no major blunders were made as seen in the CNN debate just a week and a half prior, his performance was unable to stop dissent from his own party and strengthened many democratic leaders’ call for his removal from the race.
Trump assassination attempt, July 13
Trump was the target of an assassination attempt and was shot at and injured at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The assailant, Thomas Crooks, was neutralized by Secret Service agents 42 seconds after the first shot was fired but had managed to hit three others, with one fatally wounded and later declared dead. The former President had narrowly avoided a similar fate and was reported to be “fine,” following the attack. Support flooded in for Trump from both sides of the aisle, with a similar theme of peace and unity. With this support also came questions about how this could have happened in the first place, eventually culminating in the resignation of Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle. At this time there is still no clear motive for the attack.
Trump names J.D. Vance as running mate and accepts RNC nomination, July 15
Only two days after his assassination attempt, Trump chose “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance to be his vice-presidential pick. The Ohio senator had reportedly been chosen after “lengthy deliberation and thought,” despite his previous status as a “never Trumper,” and accepted his nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Trump followed suit and was officially elected to be the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, calling for unity in his acceptance speech, stating that he is “running to be president for all of America, not half of America.”
Biden’s Withdrawal from Election, July 21
On July 21, Biden announced the end of his campaign for the 2024 election cycle, severely changing the political landscape and positioning Kamala Harris to be the next democratic nominee. This comes on the heels of an increasingly tenuous time for the Biden administration, which seemed unable to combat the strong sentiment that he was not fit to serve another four years and growing backlash for his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Kamala Harris announces her campaign, July 21
Riding the shock waves of Bidens’ stepping down, Harris announced her own bid for the presidency, receiving the incumbent’s endorsement. While facing a difficult battle so late in the race, Harris is set to become the Democratic party’s primary choice for their nomination and has been positively accepted by the general democratic populace.
Harris names Tim Walz as running mate, August 6
Harris officially named Tim Walz as her vice-presidential pick for this year’s election season. The choice came just 16 days after her campaign announcement, marking an incredibly quick turn-around, but one that could prove fruitful due to Walz’s record of winning in historically Trump-voting districts. The former Minnesota governor seemed enthusiastic about his nomination, writing “I’m all in” on X.
Harris and Walz accept democratic nomination at 2024 DNC, August 23
At the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Harris and Walz formally accepted their democratic nomination for this election season, marking an end to the four-day convention. Harris accepted her nomination in a show of unity, stating “On behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks… I accept your nomination for… president.” She was joined on stage by her close family members, and aimed attacks at her opponent, calling Trump “an unserious man” and asking the room to “imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails,” referencing the recent Supreme Court immunity decision.
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr suspends his campaign and endorses Trump, August 23
Independent candidate Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. formally suspends his campaign for president and endorses Republican nominee Trump. Kennedy cited Trump’s stance on the war in Ukraine, free speech, and what he believes to be the “war on our children.” The former candidate also described his lack of a clear path to the Whitehouse a main contributing factor, stating that he “cannot in good consciousness ask my staff and volunteers to keep working.” This was not met with support inside the Kennedy family, with several members of his family describing the move as “a betrayal,” and may cause damage to the Trump campaign as it is being contested as to whether Kennedy can remove his name from the ballot in certain states.
With what is shaping up to be an incredibly eventful season, be sure to keep updated on any new developments at the Paisano-online.com and in our weekly newspaper.
