Trump speaks at rally; Republicans discuss Biden’s health

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Doral, and Republicans hold a meeting to discuss President Biden’s health.

Trump holds rally in Doral

While it was a make-or-break time for President Joe Biden’s political future Tuesday, his presumptive Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, prepared to rally in South Florida.

Biden is under enormous scrutiny as the Nato summit kicks off in Washington, D.C. 

There are still concerns about the president’s debate performance and his health, but the summit could provide Biden with an opportunity to highlight how he and Trump differ on international issues.

Meanwhile, Trump will be speaking in Doral, just outside Miami — his first major rally since June 28. 

Trump says he will be picking a running mate either this week, or next week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Sen. Marco Rubio, a Miami-native who is on the list of possible picks for vice president, will be at the rally along with other Florida politicians.

But Rubio said on Sunday, that even he has no idea who will be chosen.

Also during the rally, Trump is expected to touch on Biden’s handling of immigration and the economy.

He’ll also talk about how Florida is impacted by issues at the U.S. border

House Republicans discuss Biden’s health

House Republicans held a press conference Tuesday morning about President Joe Biden’s health. 

Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that Democrats have been concealing this issue for years. 

The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, requesting a transcribed interview and documents from his February report.

O’Connor, Biden’s White House physician, issued a memo late Monday dismissing speculation that Biden has been seeing a Parkinson’s disease expert.

He wrote in the memo to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that neurologist Dr. Kevin Cannard was among a range of specialists who has examined Biden during his annual physicals. Biden, 81, has not seen a neurologist outside of his physical, O’Connor said.

O’Connor added that Cannard, the neurology consultant to the White House Medical Unit since 2012, has held regular neurology clinics at the White House for years for the thousands of active-duty military members assigned to White House operations.

“Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,” O’Connor wrote.

O’Connor noted that Cannard’s assessment of Biden during his physical was made public in February. 

“An extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy,” O’Connor wrote in Biden’s health summary then.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain condition that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.

O’Connor’s memo came hours after The New York Times reported on Cannard’s visits to the White House and reporters pressed Jean-Pierre for details during Monday’s White House briefing.

Jean-Pierre stressed that Biden is not being treated for Parkinson’s, but she declined to elaborate on Cannard’s presence at the White House, citing privacy concerns. She would not confirm the doctor’s name. 

TSA officials testify about Cuban airport visit

Florida leaders had questions after representatives of the Cuban government were recently given a tour of Miami International Airport.

Cuba was restored to the list of state sponsors of terrorism by the Trump Administration in 2021. 

Tuesday, Transportation Security Administration official told a House subcommittee that a recent visit by Cuban authorities to Miami’s airport was routine, but they did pledge to be better at communicating any future visits. 

“I would like to acknowledge the TSA could have done a better job coordinating with the Miami Airport and local officials for the most recent engagement with the Cuban aviation authorities,” Executive Assistant Administrator for TSA Security Operations Melanie Harvey said. “While Cuba has visited U.S. airports six times since 2011, we did not fully socialize this trip. I’m committed to making sure that does not happen again.”

Harvey testified that the group was at Miami International Airport in May for two to three hours, and did not receive any sensitive security information. 

She said since 2011, TSA officials have visited Cuban airports 22 times, and that Cuban officials have visited American airports six times, and that visits are aimed at sharing information to make sure flights are secure.

She added that restricting access to Cuban delegation visits could result in Cuba denying TSA officials access to their airports. 

“I disagree with you, because that’s a lifeline to the Cuban regime,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez said. “They need those flights. They want those flights. It supplies them with much needed revenue, cash and it kind of keeps them afloat. So I disagree with you. Seeing that I’m Cuban, I kind of know what I’m talking about.” 

Though Cuba is still designated a state sponsor of terrorism, there are direct flights from the U.S. to and from Cuba. 

Democrats pointed out that the last U.S. airport trip by a Cuban delegation came when Donald Trump was president.

“The tour was much more extensive in 2018 when they visited,” Harvey said. “They did visit the Federal Air Marshal Training Center in 2018. They saw cargo operations, and they received a briefing on how we do covert testing as well.”

Harvey testified that she did not know of any upcoming trips by a Cuban delegation to visit U.S. airports, but said that TSA inspectors plan to visit Cuban airports later in the year.