Welcome to THE TRAIL 2016, your daily rundown from The Hill on all the latest news in the White House, Senate and House races.
In a stunning moment for the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump went into what could have been hostile territory for him and showed that he won’t shy away from a high-stakes gamble as he seeks a comeback against Hillary Clinton.
Standing on stage with Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City, Trump called for an end to the “humanitarian disaster” of illegal immigration.
In keeping with his recent addresses at campaign rallies, Trump traded his free-wheeling style for prepared text. He was quiet and restrained and made a point of praising his Mexican hosts, as well as their countrymen who have immigrated to the U.S.
But Trump was also direct and stuck to his guns as he outlined a five-point plan he said must be enacted to improve the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.
Trump said the nations must collaborate to bring an end to illegal immigration, whether it’s coming from Central or South America into Mexico, or Mexico into the U.S. He argued that every sovereign nation has the right to protect its borders, and that it is the U.S.’s intention under his leadership to erect a physical barrier between the U.S. and Mexico.
The issue of who pays for the wall will be negotiated at a later date, Trump said in a brief Q&A that followed the speeches.
It was an impressive performance that Trump’s supporters hope is game-changer as he seeks to convince skeptical voters that he’s up to the task of commander in chief.
Now, Trump’s whirlwind tour will take him to Arizona, where he’ll give a highly-anticipated speech laying out his immigration plan. Here are five things to watch for ahead of that speech tonight in Arizona.
Stay with The Hill for live coverage and breaking news updates all night on Trump’s big day.
RACE TO 1600 PENN
THEY’RE BRINGING GUNS, DRUGS: The Hill’s Rafael Bernal reports: No, it wasn’t Trump saying it. This time it was Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto, who criticized the U.S. as Trump stood by, saying the flow of illegal guns and money from the U.S. into Mexico is strengthening drug cartels and damaging his country. Extending the invitation to Trump was a risky move for the Mexican president, Bernal reports.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF TEST: The Hill’s Jonathan Easley reports: A few hours before Trump’s trip to Mexico, Hillary Clinton cast him as unqualified for the role of commander in chief, saying his trip was nothing but a ‘photo-op.’” In a speech to a veterans group meant to draw a contrast in leadership with the GOP nominee, she said he would bring only “name-calling and temper tantrums to Washington.” That won’t keep Trump from receiving his second classified briefing from U.S. intelligence officials.
EMAIL SAGA DRAGS ON: The Hill’s Rebecca Savransky reports: Hillary Clinton reportedly emailed classified information after leaving the State Department.
PULLING BACK: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: Donald Trump has only reserved about $5 million in television advertising for his latest campaign ad, about half of what the campaign promised at the start of the week.
ODDS AND ENDS
JUST HERE TO LISTEN: The Hill’s Rebecca Savransky reports: Donald Trump won’t give prepared remarks over the weekend when he visits an African-American church in Detroit.
OPPO RESEARCH: The Hill’s Ben Kamisar reports: GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence questioned why AIDS activists spoke at the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego in an article penned that year.
HIGH COURT: The Hill’s Reid Wilson reports: The Supreme Court has blocked a North Carolina voter ID law in a win for voting rights activists.
POLL POSITION
TRUMP GAINS: The Hill’s Lisa Hagen reports: Donald Trump is within 3 points of Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin, according to a new poll. A second poll of the Badger State released Wednesday put Clinton’s lead at only 5 points.
A NEW LOW: The Hill’s Mark Hensch reports: Hillary Clinton’s image is at its lowest point with Americans in her 25 years of public service, according to a new poll.
STEP DOWN: The Hill’s Julian Hattem reports: Former GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry is calling on FBI director James Comey to resign over his recommendation to not indict Hillary Clinton.
THE DAILY TRUMP
TWITTER WAR WITH MEXICO: The Hill’s Rebecca Savransky reports: Donald Trump and former Mexican President Vicente Fox exchanged shots on Twitter after the Republican presidential nominee announced Tuesday he would be taking a trip to Mexico.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The American liberal media is falling over themselves to defend Hillary Clinton. They are erecting a demon who is going to put nooses around everyone’s necks as soon as she wins this election, which she is almost certainly going to do.”
— Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, a fierce critic of the Democratic nominee.
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
STEER CLEAR: The Hill’s Mike Lillis reports: Democratic campaign officials advised House candidates to limit the number of Black Lives Matter activists at public events and promise no support for “concrete policy positions” on the campaign trail.
BLOWOUT: The Hill’s Lisa Hagen reports: Democrat Russ Feingold has opened up a 13 point lead over incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) in Wisconsin.
SORE LOSER: The Hill’s Cristina Marcos reports: Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Democratic challenger is refusing to congratulate her on her primary victory.
MONEY WATCH
BACK ON THE AIR: The Hill’s Jessie Hellmann reports: The top super-PAC supporting Hillary Clinton will air $6 million worth of ads targeting Latino and black voters in battleground states as Donald Trump seeks to broaden his appeal to those groups.
WHAT WE ARE WATCHING FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
(All times Eastern)
Donald Trump will give a speech on immigration at 9 p.m. on Wednesday in Arizona. On Thursday, Trump will hold a noon rally with supporters in Wilmington, Ohio, and at some point in the day will address the American Legion’s national conference in Cincinnati.
Vice President Biden will campaign for Hillary Clinton at a union hall in Warren, Ohio, at 11:45 a.m. and at 5:45 p.m. in Parma, Ohio.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine will hold four campaign events across New Hampshire on Thursday after his Florida swing was cancelled due to a tropical storm. He will be in Dover at 10:30 a.m., in Laconia at 12:45 p.m., in Manchester at 3:45 p.m. and in Nashua at 5:15 p.m.
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson will participate in a Facebook Live event from Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday. On Thursday, he’ll hold a 7 p.m. rally in Milwaukee, Wis.
TWEET OF THE DAY
— Former Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson
Write us with tips, suggestions and news: Jonathan Easley, Ben Kamisar, Jonathan Swan, Lisa Hagen.
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