02:45 Trump supporter explored event location with drone
The Trump assassination attempter reportedly scouted the location with a drone, according to a report by the "Wall Street Journal," just before the act. He was capable of taking aerial images of the fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, only a few hours before the attack, the paper reported, citing law enforcement sources familiar with the matter. These findings could raise further questions about whether the venue was adequately secured.
01:39 Prominent Biden supporter parts ways with advisor
Reid Hoffman, a prominent Democratic donor and billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, is parting ways with his longtime political advisor Dmitri Mehlhorn. Mehlhorn says his views on the future of the Democratic Party have become a "distraction." The two were the spearhead of major donors encouraging Democrats to hold firm to President Biden as their party's candidate.
00:29 More Democrats call on Biden to step down
Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico is urging President Biden to "step aside to give the Democrats the best chances to win in November." Vasquez, who faces a tight re-election battle for his House seat, joins a chorus of other endangered Democrats who have called on the President to withdraw from the race. Ten Democrats in Congress have joined the chorus of party members urging Biden to drop out today.
23:20 Harris tries to calm nerves of top Democratic donors - fails
Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to reassure the Democratic Party's biggest donors by telling them during a video call that there was little cause for concern about President Biden's campaign. Several participants in the call told the "New York Times" that they found the meeting overall unproductive and sometimes even condescending. Many believe, according to the report, that Harris' message ignored the legitimate concerns of donors about Biden's campaign.
22:21 Trump makes first campaign appearance since assassination attempt with VP Vance
A week after the assassination attempt, former US President Donald Trump held his first campaign appearance on Saturday with his vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Trump was nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate at the US Republican Convention and received a triumphant welcome.
21:50 Union foreign policy spokesman Hardt: We may have to adjust to new Republican ideology
The foreign policy spokesman for the Union faction, Jürgen Hardt, expects the Republicans to realign ideologically under their presidential candidate, regardless of the November election result. Trump's campaign promises, he said, were a "miracle."
21:23 While calls for Biden's withdrawal grow louder: Harris enjoys ice cream with Tyra Banks
As calls for Biden to withdraw as the Democratic candidate for the US elections in November grow louder, even from within his own party (see entry 20:56), his potential successor Kamala Harris spent time with her nieces at an ice cream shop. In Washington D.C., former supermodel Tyra Banks opened a pop-up ice cream parlor "Smize&Dream." Harris and her two nieces enjoyed ice cream served personally by the ex-model.
20:56 Democrats openly call for Biden to withdraw
More and more Democrats are openly urging U.S. President Joe Biden to withdraw from his presidential campaign for the U.S. elections in November. In the past few hours, Representatives Betty McCollum from Minnesota, Kathy Castor from Florida, Zoe Lofgren from California, and Greg Landsman have given statements calling on Biden to retire. Shortly before that, Democrats Jared Huffman from California, Mark Veasey from Texas, Chuy Garcia from Illinois, and Mark Pocan from Wisconsin - Democratic representatives from the U.S. House of Representatives - had recently expressed their support in an open letter for Biden to "pass the torch to a new generation of democratic leaders."
20:18 Biden to go back on campaign trail next week
U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he would be back on the campaign trail next week and would win the election in November. Recently, Biden had paused due to Corona symptoms. In the past few days, the number of Democratic Party members calling on the 81-year-old to retire and make way for a more promising candidate had grown.
19:33 CNN analyst: These Democrats could beat Trump
If U.S. President Joe Biden were to decide to withdraw from his candidacy, the Democrats would have no reason to worry - they have a women's duo in the party that could still beat the likely Republican candidate Donald Trump, according to Julian Zelizer, CNN political analyst and Princeton professor, in a commentary on CNN. Zelizer believes that Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate and Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, as her vice president would have the best chances of leading the party through this crisis. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is being discussed as a top contender for the Biden succession in the U.S. presidential elections in November. Whitmer is one of the rising figures in the Democratic Party. Furthermore, Zelizer sees the potential for a campaign by these two Democrats to excite voters and achieve a historic result.
18:17 Report: Biden family discusses withdrawal scenarios
Members of the Biden family have discussed how a withdrawal from his campaign could look. NBC News reports this based on two people familiar with the discussions. The talks reportedly focused on withdrawal options for Biden. The people NBC News cited describe two conditions for a potential withdrawal plan that were a "general tenor" of the discussions: If Biden were to make this decision, it should put the party in the best position to defeat former President Donald Trump. It is also important that Biden leaves the office with dignity. That Biden is even considering withdrawing and discussing potential withdrawal plans with his family is a new development, NBC News reports.
17:03 Could Kamala Harris beat Trump?
The pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden from within his own party is growing. According to polls, his vice president Kamala Harris has better chances against the Republican and challenger Donald Trump. But does she have what it takes to be the most powerful woman in the world?
16:23 Team Speaker: Biden takes Democrats' concerns seriously
According to his team, US President Joe Biden will return to campaigning in the next week after completing his isolation due to mild Corona symptoms. Jen O'Malley Dillon, the head of his campaign team, made the announcement in an interview with MSNBC. "He's absolutely in it," she says. The 81-year-old is taking the concerns of some Democrats seriously but is determined to fight for a second term. In recent days, pressure on Biden has increased. Many representatives of his Democratic Party have publicly questioned Biden's physical and mental fitness for a candidacy and his chances of winning. Biden has withdrawn to his home in Delaware due to a Corona infection.
15:38 Kamala Harris counters Trump's unity promise
In his speech at the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, the presidential candidate Donald Trump aims to unite the deeply divided American population. In response, Vice President Kamala Harris writes clearly on social media: "If you claim to stand for unity, you must do more than just use the word." Harris writes that he can't just claim to stand for the unity of the USA when he follows an agenda that denies fundamental freedoms, opportunities, and dignity to entire groups of Americans.
14:33 Media report: Biden considers dropping out of the race
According to media reports, the ailing US President Joe Biden is now considering withdrawing from the race for the White House. The "New York Times" cites several sources from Biden's entourage, who say the 81-year-old is beginning to accept that he may not be able to win the election against his rival Donald Trump in November. "Reality is setting in," the "New York Times" quotes from Biden's entourage. It is not surprising if Biden soon supports Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate, the source adds. However, another person close to the president emphasizes that Biden has not yet made a decision.
13:50 Attacker informed himself about other school shooters
The Trump assassin informed himself about another school shooter, who shot and killed four students at a high school in Michigan in 2021, and the charges against his parents, according to CNN, citing FBI and Secret Service sources.
13:17 Hulk Hogan pays tribute to "Gladiator" Trump in bizarre speech
As a professional wrestler, Hulk Hogan became a folk hero in the USA in the 80s and 90s. Advertising and film appearances followed. Now, Hulk Hogan enters the presidential campaign in a spectacular way. At the Republican Party convention, he pays tribute to Donald Trump in a wrestling-style speech.
12:36 Spahn praises Trump's foreign policy positions
Union Vice-Fraktion leader Jens Spahn expresses praise for Trump's positions in foreign policy. Spahn mentioned approximately Trump's stance on containing China and the existence of Israel in an MDR interview. The former Health Minister also addressed Trump's announced peace initiative for Ukraine. He said Europeans should "be part of these talks" and should not be content with the spectator role. Spahn emphasized, as an observer at the Republican Party convention, that Trump "is often right in foreign policy." "Our Iran policy was wrong in retrospect, his was right. Our policy on Nord Stream 2 was wrong, he had warned us." Trump has been calling for "Europe to do more for its security" since many years, said Spahn. "We have kept our eyes closed for too long."
11:52 Communication expert: Trump strikes "unusual tones"
Trump's nomination speech, which lasts over 90 minutes, is the longest to date. It's not just the "typical campaign with a ton of fake news," says communication expert Christian Galvez, but also "unusual tones" for the Republicans:
11:26 Trump's performance recalls "Life of Brian" for security experts
According to security expert Christian Mölling, the content of the statements made at the US Republican Party convention is not the most significant thing. "When you see that people are really clinging to this band. [...] That's just like in Life of Brian," he says in the "Stern" podcast "The Situation." "There's a scene at the end where everyone is chasing after someone's sandal, who has somehow become an icon, an object of veneration, whether it's a sandal or a band: Trump is being stylized as a savior and he is stylizing himself that way, and that's why the contents, I believe, are rather banal."
10:55 Politologist on Trump's calculation: "Arithmetic carries immense risk"
How surprising or expected was Trump's speech at the Republican Party convention? Thomas Jäger takes a look at the potential consequences of his announcements for Ukraine and other US allies. He also assesses whether Biden will still be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate next week:
10:19 Trump accuses Biden of causing greater damage than "ten worst presidents" combined
Trump actually didn't want to mention Biden in his speech, but he deviated from his script again. "The damage he has caused to this country is unimaginable," Trump said about the incumbent president. When the "damage" caused by the ten worst presidents in US history is considered together, it is not as great as the damage caused by Biden.
09:51 When Trump deviates from the script, chaos ensues
In Milwaukee, Trump told a story about the assassination attempt against him; he seemed tired, but then let himself be cheered on by the delegates and did not always stick to the script - "old tunes come through." NTV reporter Hanna Klouth shares her impressions of Trump's nomination speech as the now official Republican presidential candidate:
09:15 Trump makes over 20 false claims in speechCNN counts over 20 false claims in Trump's party convention speech. Many of them were previously made by the presidential candidate, some for years. The topics affected include Economy, Immigration, Crime, Foreign Policy and Elections. The statement that he left the Biden administration a world at peace is labeled as "absurd" by the network. Trump also repeated the allegation of election fraud against the Democrats - even though, according to the report, it was not included in the speech manuscript.
08:45 Trump obfuscates Taiwan issue in speechChina was mentioned only once by Trump in a national security context in his speech. He said, "The land surrounds Taiwan" - without specifying whether his administration would come to Taiwan's aid if he is re-elected and China attacks the country. Trump has not yet committed on this issue.
You can read about all previous developments [here].**
1. The U.S. Intelligence Agency is investigating the attempted assault on Donald Trump, which occurred in Wisconsin.
2. Joe Biden is facing calls from within his own party to step down as the United States Presidency Election 2024 candidate, as Republicans and Democrats express concerns about his fitness for office.
3. The Republicans are rallying behind their presumptive 2024 presidential candidate, while some Democrats are looking towards potential alternatives such as Vice President Kamala Harris or Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
4. The efforts by Republicans to secure victories in key states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania could be affected if the U.S. Intelligence Agency finds that the venue for the Donald Trump event was inadequately secured.
5. The United States of America is entering a critical period in its politics, with the future of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the country at stake as the 2024 election approaches.
6. The attempted assault on Donald Trump has raised questions about the state of political discourse in the United States, with some Democrats and Republicans expressing concern about escalating tensions and violence.
