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On an atypical, historic day that saw former President Trump walk into a New York courthouse to be arraigned on 34 felony counts, it was business as usual at the White House.

President Biden and his team all but ignored the developments that enraptured much of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday as Trump — Biden’s predecessor and likely 2024 opponent — surrendered to authorities as both pro and anti-Trump protesters swarmed lower Manhattan.

“The president’s going to focus on the American people like he does every day, this is not something that is a focus for him,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said as she fielded a host of questions from reporters during the daily briefing that was occurring at the same time the nation was transfixed on Trump’s surrender.

Moments after Trump arrived for his arraignment, Jean-Pierre took questions from reporters on gun laws, the detention of a Wall Street Journal reporter in Russia, gas prices and a Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down in February.

Afterward, Biden met with a group of science and technology advisers about the future of artificial intelligence, the type of low-key White House event that garners little national attention.

The dueling scenes amount to a very intentional effort by the White House to show Biden is focused on what he believes matters to the public while his predecessor and potential 2024 opponent is at the center of a legal circus, dragging much of the GOP with him.

“This is unquestionably the right playbook. Between hush money to a porn star and campaign finance violations, each move Trump makes in this ridiculous saga turns off independents and moderates on both sides and presumably turns them right toward Biden,” said Scott Mulhauser, a partner at Bully Pulpit Interactive and former senior aide to then-Vice President Biden.

“So there’s not much of a better move than letting Trump focus on himself … while Biden continues to show what being a president who actually does the job can mean for economic growth in states across the country,” he said.

When news of Trump’s indictment broke last Thursday, Biden was preparing for a tour of tornado damage in Mississippi. Over the weekend, his administration declared a disaster declaration for the state of Arkansas which also faced devastating tornado damage, highlighting that the president had spoken to that state’s governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who also happens to be Trump’s former White House press secretary.

On Monday afternoon, when cable networks were all fixated on Trump’s plane landing in New York City, Biden was touting the benefits of a new manufacturing investment during a trip to Minnesota. He briefly addressed a reporter’s question that day about potential unrest in New York due to Trump’s indictment, saying only that he had confidence in the New York Police Department to keep things from getting out of hand.

Also on Tuesday, the president’s Twitter account stayed far away from Trump news, instead being filled with posts about his economic agenda, the lack of a budget proposal from House Republicans and the results of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments.

“I think they are doing it correctly so far, and I hope it continues, which is basically to not get into the story,” said Matt Bennett, a co-founder of the centrist think tank Third Way.

While Democrats widely agree it is in the White House’s best interest to stay out of the way while Trump reminds voters of his various legal issues, there is some frustration within the party that Biden’s efforts to focus on his agenda and issues relevant to the public is being drowned out by media coverage of the former president.

“If folks want to talk about Trump and 2024 that’s fine. But wall to wall coverage of his motorcade to the airport, his plane landing, bags being taken off the plane, and then his caravan to his apartment? C’mon. Do better,” Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison tweeted.

The efforts to contrast the Trump saga with Biden’s competence and focus on the job hearken back to the 2020 campaign, when Biden’s team was happy to sit back and let Trump grab the spotlight with incendiary remarks about the pandemic or civil unrest.

The president has largely not commented on the Trump indictment, aside from the short comments about potential unrest. 

Jean-Pierre repeatedly rebuffed questions at the White House on Tuesday, refusing to answer why the administration would barely acknowledge the historic event, citing repeatedly the “ongoing” nature of the investigation.

Fox News and The New York Times both questioned Jean-Pierre on why she didn’t have more to say, noting that it is the biggest news story in the country and that Biden has never shied away from commenting on the riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, despite those also being ongoing investigations.

“I think the American people should feel reassured that when there is an ongoing case like this one, that we’re just not commenting,” Jean-Pierre said in response.

When it comes to Jan. 6, she said, “the president will never shy away when it comes to our democracy … it was a different, different moment and a different time.” Officers discuss moments before taking down Nashville school shooter Tim Scott gets Senate GOP nudge for 2024 bid

She added though that Biden inevitably will stay up to date on the developments, giving the nature of the media coverage of the former president.

Biden allies insist the White House declining to comment on Trump is a better strategy.

“Why put energy on something that was in the past and done by someone who knows better?” said a former official under former President Obama. “At the end of the day, the White House has to run the country, not entertain foolishness. No person is above the law.”

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Sports

Sovereignty rallies to win Jim Dandy at Saratoga

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Sovereignty rallies to win Jim Dandy at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champion Sovereignty rallied after losing position heading into the final turn to win the $500,000 Jim Dandy by a length at Saratoga on Saturday.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty ran nine furlongs in 1:49.52 and paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favorite against four rivals, the smallest field of his career.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Sovereignty would be pointed toward the $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23 at the upstate New York track.

Approaching the turn, there were a few tense moments as it appeared Sovereignty was retreating when losing position to the advancing Baeza and deep closers Sandman and Hill Road, leaving Sovereignty in last for a few strides.

Alvarado said he never had a doubt that Sovereignty would come up with his expected run.

“It was everybody else moving and at that time I was just like, ‘Alright let me now kind of start picking it up,'” Alvarado said. “I had 100% confidence. I knew what I had underneath me.”

Baeza, third to Sovereignty in both the Derby and Belmont, finished second. Hill Road was another 9¼ lengths back in third. Mo Plex was fourth and Sandman fifth.

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UK

Man suffers cardiac arrest onboard boat trying to reach UK

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Man suffers cardiac arrest onboard boat trying to reach UK

A man has died after suffering cardiac arrest onboard a boat attempting to reach the UK.

The vessel turned back towards Equihen beach on the French coast yesterday morning.

A nurse tried to resuscitate the man but was unsuccessful.

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

French authorities have now launched an investigation into the circumstances.

A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has criticised authorities on both sides of the Channel.

Jacob Burns said: “Yet again we have a tragedy in the Channel, that is the consequence of the deadly, costly and ineffective security policies implemented by the UK and France.”

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Later on Saturday, a lifeboat carried migrants who have made the voyage into the Port of Dover.

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Photographs showed them huddled under blankets and orange life jackets on board.

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Protesters clash over asylum hotels

Provisional statistics from the Home Office suggest almost 24,000 people have arrived on small boats in the UK so far this year.

Towns and cities across the UK have seen protests in recent days, primarily outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers.

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US

Michigan: 11 people stabbed in US supermarket – with six in critical condition

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Michigan: 11 people stabbed in US supermarket - with six in critical condition

At least 11 people have been stabbed at a Walmart supermarket in Michigan, with six in a critical condition.

Officials say a suspect is in custody – and at this stage, it is believed the attack was a “random act” that involved a folding-style knife near the checkout area.

Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters: “Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn’t more.”

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

The suspect, who is from Michigan, is not known to police – and was captured within three minutes thanks to “citizen involvement”.

The attack unfolded in Traverse City – and Tiffany DeFell, who was in the car park at the time, described scenes of chaos.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies.”

Beyond the six people in a critical condition, it is believed the remaining five were seriously hurt. All 11 are still being treated in hospital.

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Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

A Walmart spokesperson added that the retailer is working closely with law enforcement.

“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” a statement said.

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

At this stage, the ages of the victims is unclear – but it is not thought any of the victims were Walmart employees.

Traverse City is about 255 miles northwest of Detroit.

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