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Donald Trump's not backing off personal attacks ... remarking the Obamas were "taking shots" at him at the DNC -- so, why should he stick to policy?

The former POTUS took the stage in North Carolina Wednesday afternoon ... name-dropping Barack Hussein Obama -- using his presidential predecessor's full name -- and saying BO hit him with some touchy personal attacks.

ICYMI ... Former Prez Obama took a swing at the Republican presidential nominee during his DNC speech in Chicago Tuesday night -- saying Trump's been whining about his own problems since jumping in the political arena years ago -- pointing out he's more obsessed with crowd sizes than instituting real change.

The Democratic Party's looking to the future by giving influencers unprecedented access at the DNC ... so says a political influencer who's attending this week in Chicago.

Leigh McGowan -- better known by her social media handle @IAmPoliticsGirl -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... and, we asked her all about the Dems inviting her and other social media personalities into the political inner sanctum.

If you didn't know ... the DNC's allowing major political influencers into the convention for the first time -- featuring big names like Deja Foxx, Nabela Noor, and Carlos Eduardo Espina -- who are speaking and creating content at the event.

The Democratic National Convention has been absolutely star-studded, and at least 2 more A-listers will take the stage on Wednesday night ... Stevie Wonder and Kenan Thompson.

DNC officials tell TMZ ... Stevie Wonder will be performing one of his hit songs, sure to energize an already rambunctious crowd in Chicago.

This won't be Stevie's first rodeo at a DNC ... he performed at the 2008 convention in Denver, playing hits like "Signed, Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)." It's unclear what song he'll play tonight.

We're also told Stevie will take the podium and deliver a speech.

No cutting corners for Donald Trump’s first outdoor rally since the July attempt on his life -- the Secret Service is going all out with bulletproof glass and other measures to make sure the former president is safe and sound.

In addition to bulletproof glass at today’s Asheboro rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum, there’s a fortress of portable storage units and moving trucks stacked up behind the media riser.

The extra security ensures anyone not attending the rally would be stuck with a blocked view -- absolutely no peeking from a distance.

Donald Trump’s crash course in cocaine is taking the internet by storm -- mostly 'cause his clueless reactions made it obvious he’s totally lost on the subject!

You absolutely can’t miss the former Prez asking some hard-hitting questions about the topic ... wondering if it’s "down and dirty," or a "stronger up" than booze ... awkwardly chuckling with Theo Von on the comedian’s 'This Past Weekend' podcast.

The exchange is super laid-back -- Theo even straight-up calls Trump his "homie," and elaborates on the powder he used to take that made him feel like an "owl" -- wired and awake all night ... what he describes as a miserable feeling. Theo makes it clear he doesn't do it anymore.

Michelle Obama took a buzz saw to Donald Trump during her Democratic National Convention speech Tuesday, unloading a savage attack on the Republican presidential nominee to the rousing applause of the packed crowd.

The former First Lady and wife of the 44th President Barack Obama hit the stage for night 2 of the DNC -- and she couldn’t hide her contempt when she started talking about Trump and his racist rhetoric.

In perhaps the most memorable moment, Michelle told the audience that she and her husband know a little something about Trump trying to make people fear them.

Kamala Harris has her share of celeb endorsements ... but Lil Jon was the real MVP Tuesday night, cranking up the energy and hyping up the crowd during the Democratic National Convention roll call.

The rapper repping Georgia made an unexpected splash in Chicago ... dropping a few bars from his 2013 anthem, "Turn Down For What" -- electrifying the vibes with his musical salute.

The party didn’t stop there -- he also busted out "VP Harris … Governor Walz," set to the tune of another of his hits, "Get Low."

Thomas Matthew Crooks was casually strolling around the Butler, PA rally just hours before he attempted to assassinate Donald Trump ... new video shows.

Newly uncovered footage recorded at 4:26 PM shows Crooks in his final hours back on July 13 ... walking around the premises without his backpack -- or the rifle he later used in his failed assassination attempt on Trump.

In the footage, he’s seen gazing off into the distance in what was the calm before the storm.

Hillary Clinton could barely contain her glee when the Democratic National Convention erupted in a "Lock him up" chant after a pointed dig at Donald Trump ... and she appeared to revel in the karma.

The chant -- a remix of the "Lock her up" motto used by Trump and his supporters in the 2016 presidential election -- bubbled up from the crowd in Chicago and kept building ... after the former Secretary of State called out the former prez's multiple felony convictions.

While Clinton didn't address the crowd's outburst directly, she did take a moment to pause at the podium ... where she surveyed the masses, smiled and nodded as they continued.

The working title of President Joe Biden's farewell speech at the DNC: I Got Yer Sleepy Joe Right Here!

Well, it could've been, because, ironically, the guy who was forced out of running for another term, mostly due to a horrific late-night performance at the first presidential debate ... didn't even start speaking to the Democratic National Convention until after 10 PM in Chicago.

Biden's speech, coming on the first night of the DNC, was -- as expected -- a scathing attack on Donald Trump, a firm endorsement of his VP Kamala Harris' presidential campaign ... and also his swan song from American politics.

George Santos, who was expelled from Congress after being charged with nearly two dozen crimes, cut a deal with federal prosecutors, pleading guilty to two counts instead.

Santos reached the deal Monday ... pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud ... according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

The plea deal comes a few weeks before Santos was set to stand trial in New York ... and while the deal likely means there will be no trial, it remains to be seen how the judge will treat George at the sentencing.

Donald Trump might have some "Bad Blood" with Taylor Swift after his latest social media stunt ... as the former prez suggested the pop star has publicly endorsed him -- when she definitely has not.

Trump took to Truth Social Sunday evening to share several photos of women wearing "Swifties for Trump" T-shirts ... though, many of the images are clearly doctored.

Trump also shared an AI-created image of Taylor dressed as Uncle Sam that blared the caption, "Taylor wants YOU to vote for Donald Trump."

Republicans are shooting off at Tim Walz, trying to clown the Democratic VP nominee for using IVF by carrying around cups of fake semen ... yeah, we're serious.

Pictures have hit the internet of people outfitted in MAGA merch -- pictures of Donald Trump, bald eagles and American flags plastered on the chest -- and, in their hands they're holding sperm sample cups with J.D. Vance's face stickered on the front.

Next to his face, the cups read, "J.D. Vance Full Family Kit" ... basically saying the senator from Ohio has some strong swimmers -- after all, he's already got three children.

J.D. Vance's attacks on Kamala Harris ain't slowing down ... in fact, he's going even harder on the VP -- likening her to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Republican candidate for vice president made the controversial remark on "Fox News Sunday" ... starting in on Harris' economic record given soaring inflation during her time as vice president.

Vance says handing over the reins of economic policy to Harris is like having Epstein come up with human trafficking policy ... adding the American people know better than to believe Harris.

Kanye West is still riding for Donald Trump, but now he's doing it in a Cybertruck with new wife Bianca Censori ... and their surprise appearance at a Trump rally quickly got outta hand.

Ye and Bianca rolled up Saturday in Bev Hills, where supporters of the former president were waving American flags and "Make America Great Again" banners. They just stopped on the side of the road, but that was enough to fire up the crowd.

Check out the video ... a group swarms the Tesla, not realizing at first it's Kanye behind the wheel, but when they spot him, they go nuts and start chanting his name!

J.D. Vance's campaign plane, a Boeing 737 known as "Trump Force Two," has made an emergency landing ... adding to the year's already lengthy list of the company's jet issues.

The Ohio senator and his team were forced to touch back down in Milwaukee Friday ... after a door-seal malfunction was detected shortly after takeoff, his campaign rep Taylor Van Kirk confirmed.

The Vice Presidential hopeful was in Wisconsin -- a crucial swing state heading into November's Presidential election -- to attend a campaign event, where he spoke to the Milwaukee Police Association.