17:15 Expert: The USA are closer to a civil war than any of us think.
Political scientist Barbara Walter renewed her warning that the United States are closer to a civil war "than any of us would like to believe." She fears political instability or violence in the United States for one or two decades, which could involve the murder of politicians and judges and the rise of militias, as reported by the "Frankfurter Rundschau." The reasons are political polarization, cultural tribalism, acceptance of conspiracy theories, and the availability of weapons in the United States. Walter challenges the false sense of naivety and innocence in American society. One makes the mistake of thinking the United States are "too good" for such things.
16:35 Sharon Stone on US Elections: I am deeply concerned
Hollywood star Sharon Stone expressed her concern about the future of her homeland in the face of the intensifying US elections. "I am a proud American. I love my country, and naturally I am deeply concerned," said the 66-year-old at the Taormina Film Festival in the eponymous vacation spot on Sicily. It's the first time someone has built their campaign on the basis of hate and suppression, she continued. She didn't name any names. However, she likely meant former President Donald Trump, who was recently nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate for the upcoming election. In recent months, he has made controversial statements and escalated his rhetoric on the topic of immigration.
15:45 Man arrested for threats against Trump and Vance
A man has been arrested for alleged threats against Donald Trump and his vice president J.D. Vance. The suspect threatened to murder the Republican presidential candidate and Vance, according to the Jupiter Police Department. The man reportedly made his threats on Facebook. The posts also contained threats of bodily harm against the families of Republicans.
15:05 Trump holds first rally since the attack
Donald Trump will hold his first rally since the attack on his person today in Butler. The 78-year-old will appear in Grand Rapids in the contested state of Michigan with his vice president J.D. Vance. This will be their first joint rally as official Republican presidential candidates. Unlike his last rally in Butler, which took place outdoors, this event will take place in a hall. The US intelligence community declined to comment on the security measures for the Grand Rapids rally.
14:22 Expert: "Trump is an extremist"
Peter Neumann, leading extremism researcher at King's College in London, considers Donald Trump an extremist. "He is not willing to accept a lost election. That is the prerequisite for a democracy to function," he told "t-online." Neumann recognizes clear authoritarian tendencies in Trump. "If it were up to him, you wouldn't need Congress, the courts, the media, or even the parliament," he added. Regarding a potentially violent escalation in relation to the presidential election on November 5, Neumann stated, "There are 350 million guns in the US in private hands. The potential for violence is enormous." The greatest danger, according to Neumann, is the moment after the election, if Trump were to lose and refuse to accept the result. Neumann can easily imagine "that it could lead to a confrontation that could escalate."
13:45 Democrat Strategist: Biden Donors in "Panic"According to Lindy Li, a Democrat strategist, Biden donors are currently in a state of "panic," she told Sky News. The "blue wall" of President Biden in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin seems to be "cracking." The term "blue wall" refers to US states where traditionally the Democrats have won.
13:13 Author T.C. Boyle: "Trump takes blame for his own shots"The US author T.C. Boyle sees shared responsibility between Donald Trump and his Republican Party for the shooting at Trump's campaign rally. "He [Trump] took the blame for the shots in Pennsylvania upon himself," says the 73-year-old bestselling author to "wochentaz." The Republicans are "the party of gun nuts." "They want absolutely no controls. They even want to repeal the laws that today limit automatic weapons." Biden's retirement as the Democratic candidate for the presidency in November is suggested by Boyle. "There are so many great younger, energetic people who could beat Trump," he says. Among others, he mentions Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
12:39 Jagger: "Michelle Obama is the only one with better values than Trump"Will Biden stay in the race or withdraw his candidacy? Political scientist Thomas Jagger speaks of a "self-destruction of the Democrats" and a "campaign led by Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama." No one has better chances of beating Trump than Biden.
12:04 Trump Critic Christie: "He hated what he said"The Republican politician Chris Christie criticizes Trump's convention speech. The US presidential candidate failed to unite the nation, says Christie to ABC. Although Trump showed restraint when speaking about the shooting at his rally, "he hated what he said," according to Christie regarding Trump's appeal for national "unity." The former governor of New Jersey Christie is one of Trump's sharpest critics within the Republican Party.
11:02 Pistorius: Germany would be "even more demanded" after Trump winAccording to Bundesverteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius, Germany's military role in Europe would be required independently of the outcome of the US presidential election. "Should Donald Trump become US President, the weights within the NATO are likely to shift even faster," he told the "Tagesspiegel." The Federal Republic as the largest economy in the EU would "then be even more demanded." This development should also be reflected in the federal budget.
10:23 Biden follows Trump speech angry at home - and angryIn a lengthy thread on X, US President Joe Biden sharply criticizes Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention. "Since I'm at home with Covid, I had the misfortune of seeing Donald Trump's speech at the RNC," Biden writes, who is currently recovering from a Covid-19 infection. Biden criticizes Trump's tax policy. "He [Trump] said he would start with 'debt forgiveness' and further reduce taxes," so Biden. "Trump exploded the deficit in his first term, and his tax cut plan would make it even worse in a second term." Biden also accused Trump of wanting to be a dictator.
09:41 Historian Snyder: "Trump has chosen a far-right ticket"For historian Timothy Snyder, Donald Trump is "entirely responsible" for the political climate of violence in the USA. He does not believe that the attack on the US presidential candidate could unite the country. With the selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate, Trump "has chosen the far-right," says Snyder in an interview with ntv.de. "He cannot use the attack as a unifying theme, as Vance has already falsely accused the Democrats."
The full interview with Timothy Snyder appears at 15.00 on ntv.de
08:51 Biden in video: "I'm looking forward to going on the campaign trail"The debate over a possible withdrawal of US President Joe Biden from the campaign is heating up. Leading Democrats are trying to convince the 81-year-old to withdraw to improve their chances against former President Donald Trump. But Biden intends to campaign next week.
07:51 Democrat: Biden no longer recognized meCongressman Seth Moulton is part of a group of Democrats calling for US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the campaign. In an opinion piece for the "Boston Globe", he justifies his position with doubts about Biden's fitness. "Recently, I saw him in a small group in Normandy on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. For the first time, I didn't recognize him," writes Moulton. "Of course, that can happen with increasing age, but when I watched the disastrous debate a few weeks ago, I had to admit that what I saw in Normandy was part of a deeper problem."
06:47 Voter group announces initiative for DemocratsWhile some major donors to US President Biden have withdrawn their financing, the liberal umbrella organization "America Votes" announces that it will spend $40 million in the next two weeks. The money will be used to win voters and voters in five contested states for the Democratic Party, according to a press release. "Our partners know how to beat Trump and Co., because they have done it in three consecutive elections," says Daria Dawson, head of the group, in a quote from the "New York Times." The democracy is at stake in the November election.
05:31 Pelosi against direct nomination of Harris, if Biden drops outCalifornia Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi reportedly prefers a "competitive" process for the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic presidential candidate in the event of a Biden campaign withdrawal. This was reported by the "New York Times" with reference to sources in the California Democratic delegation. At a meeting with the delegation, Pelosi reportedly argued for a Biden withdrawal. With Biden, the Democrats would lose every chance.
04:49 Threats against Trump and Vance: Arrest in FloridaBecause he allegedly threatened Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance on social media with death, a man has been arrested in Florida. The authorities became aware of the suspect through online tips and reports from neighbors, according to a Facebook post by the Jupiter Police Department in the US state of Florida. During the examination of his Facebook account, the officers discovered several threats against Trump and Vance. Further threats were directed against their family members. The man was taken into custody.
04:03 Report: Biden angry with Pelosi
President Joe Biden is facing a new round of dissenting Democrats who publicly urged him to withdraw from the presidential race. Among them is California Representative Zoe Lofgren, a close ally of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. According to CNN, the President is reportedly "angry" with Pelosi, who has publicly expressed support for Biden.
02:45 Trump supporter scouted event location with drone
The Trump assassin reportedly scouted the event location with a drone, according to a report by the "Wall Street Journal." He was able to take aerial photos of the fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, only a few hours before the attack, the newspaper reported, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the matter. These findings may raise further questions about whether the event site was adequately secured.
01:39 Prominent Biden supporter separates from advisor
Reid Hoffman, a prominent Democratic donor and co-founder of LinkedIn, is separating from his longtime political advisor Dmitri Mehlhorn. Mehlhorn stated that his views on the future of the Democratic Party had become a "distraction." The two were the spearhead of the major donors who encouraged Democrats to rally behind President Biden as their party's candidate.
00:29 More Democrats call for Biden to drop out
Representative 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 in Congress, joins a chorus of other endangered Democrats who have called on the President to withdraw from the race. Ten Democrats in the House of Representatives have joined the chorus of party members urging Biden to abandon his campaign today.
23:20 Harris tries to calm down hundreds of Democratic donors - and fails
Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to reassure the Democratic Party's largest 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 First post-attack campaign rally from Trump and Vance
A week after the attack on him, former U.S. President Donald Trump held his first campaign rally on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance. Trump was nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate at the party convention this week and was triumphantly welcomed.
21:50 Union foreign policy spokesman Hardt: We may have to adjust to new Republicans
The foreign policy spokesman for the Union faction, Jürgen Hardt, expects the Republicans, under their presidential candidate, to realign ideologically - regardless of the November election result. Trump's campaign promises, Hardt stated, were a "wonder of the world."
21:23 During calls for Biden's retreat: Harris enjoys ice cream with her nieces at Tyra Banks' pop-up shop
During growing calls for U.S. President Joe Biden to retire as a candidate for the U.S. elections in November from within the Democratic Party ranks (see 20:56 entry), his potential successor Kamala Harris invites her nieces for ice cream. In the U.S. capital Washington D.C., former supermodel Tyra Banks opens a pop-up ice cream shop "Smize&Dream." The U.S. Vice President enjoys ice cream with her two nieces, served personally by the ex-model.
20:56 Democrats openly demand Biden's retreat
More and more Democrats are publicly urging U.S. President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential candidacy. In the past few hours, Representatives Betty McCollum of Minnesota, Kathy Castor, Zoe Lofgren of California, and Greg Landsman have made statements calling on Biden to step down. Shortly before that, Democrats Jared Huffman of California, Mark Veasey of Texas, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin - Democratic representatives from the U.S. House of Representatives - had recently expressed their support for Biden to pass the torch to a new generation of democratic leaders in an open letter.
20:18 Biden to be back on campaign trail next week
U.S. President Joe Biden announces that he will be back on the campaign trail next week and will win the November election. In the past, Biden had paused due to Corona symptoms. In recent days, the number of Democratic Party members urging the 81-year-old to retire and make way for a more promising person has increased.
19:33 CNN analyst: These Democratic women could still beat Trump
If U.S. President Joe Biden were to decide to retire from his candidacy, the Democrats need not worry - they have a women's duo in the party that could still beat the likely Republican candidate Donald Trump. Julian Zelizer, CNN political analyst and Princeton professor, writes in a commentary on CNN. Zelizer believes that Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate and Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, as her vice presidential candidate, would have the best chances of leading the party through this crisis. The U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is widely considered a top contender for the Biden succession in the U.S. presidential elections in November. Whitmer is one of the rising stars in the democratic party. Moreover, Zelizer sees the potential for a winning campaign by these two Democrats to captivate voters and achieve a historic result.
18:17 Report: Biden Family Discusses Withdrawal Scenarios
Members of the family of US President Joe Biden have reportedly discussed withdrawal scenarios from his campaign. According to NBC News, citing two people familiar with the discussions, the talks centered around Biden's exit options. The sources quoted by NBC News describe two conditions for a potential withdrawal plan that were the "general tenor" of the discussions: If Biden were to make this decision, his withdrawal should put the party in the best position to defeat former President Donald Trump. It is also crucial that Biden could leave office with dignity. NBC News reports that Biden's consideration of a withdrawal and discussions of potential plans with his family is a new development.
17:03 Could Kamala Harris Beat Trump?
Pressure on US President Joe Biden from within his own party is growing. According to polls, his Vice President Kamala Harris has better chances against Republican and challenger Donald Trump. But does she have what it takes to be the most powerful woman in the world?
16:23 Press Secretary: Biden Takes Democratic Concerns Seriously
According to his team, US President Joe Biden will return to the campaign trail in the coming week after isolating due to mild COVID-19 symptoms. Jen O'Malley Dillon, his campaign manager, made this announcement in an interview with MSNBC. "He's all in," she said. The 81-year-old is taking the concerns of some Democrats seriously but remains determined to fight for a second term. In the past few days, pressure on Biden has increased. Several Democratic representatives 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 COVID-19 infection.
15:38 Kamala Harris Counters Trump's Unity Promise
In his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Presidential candidate Donald Trump aims to unite the deeply divided American population. In response, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a clear statement on social media. In a post on X, the Democrat wrote: "If you claim to stand for unity, you must do more than just use the word." Harris wrote that he couldn't just claim to stand for unity of the USA if he followed an agenda that took away the fundamental freedoms, opportunities, and dignity of entire groups of Americans.
14:33 Media Report: Biden Considering Exit from the Race
According to media reports, ailing US President Joe Biden is now considering an exit from the presidential race. The "New York Times" quotes several sources from Biden's circle, who indicate that the 81-year-old is beginning to accept that he may not win the election against his rival Donald Trump in November. "Reality is setting in," the "New York Times" reports from Biden's circle. The source is not surprised if Biden soon supports Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate instead. However, another person close to the President has emphasized that Biden has not yet made a decision.
13:50 Attempters informed themselves about other school shooters
The Trump assassinator was informed on the internet about the arrest of a teenager who had shot and killed four students at a Highschool in Michigan in 2021, and about the charges against his parents. This was reported by CNN, citing FBI and Secret Service officials.
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 effectively enters the presidential campaign. At the Republican Party convention, he pays tribute to Donald Trump in a wrestling-style manner.
12:36 Spahn praises Trump's foreign policy positions
Union Deputy Faction Leader Jens Spahn finds praiseworthy words for Trump's foreign policy positions. Spahn mentioned approximately the stance towards containing China and the existence of Israel in an interview with MDR. The former Federal Health Minister also commented on Trump's announced peace initiative for Ukraine. He said Europeans should "be part of these talks" and should not be content with the role of the audience. Spahn, who was observing the Republican Party convention as an observer, emphasized that Trump "was often right politically." "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 years" that Europe should do more for its security, said Spahn. "We had kept our eyes closed for too long."
11:52 Communication expert: Trump strikes "unusual tones"
With over 90 minutes, Donald Trump delivers the longest nomination speech to date. This speech, however, is not just "typical campaigning with a ton of fake news," says communication expert Christian Galvez, but also contains "unusual tones" for the Republicans:
11:26 Trump's performance reminds security experts of "Life of Brian"
According to security expert Christian Mölling, the content of the speeches at the US Republican Party convention is not the most important thing. "If you see that the people are really clinging to this bond. [...] That's like in Life of Brian," he says in the "Stern" podcast "The Situation." "There's this scene at the end where everyone is chasing after someone's sandal, who has somehow become an icon, an object of veneration, totally irrelevant whether it's a sandal or a band: Trump is being deified and he is deifying himself, and that's why the content, I believe, is totally 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 regarding Ukraine and other US allies:
10:19 Trump accuses Biden of causing more damage than through "ten worst presidents" combined
Originally, Trump did not 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. If the "damage" caused by the ten worst presidents in US history is totaled up, it is not as great as the damage caused by Biden.
09:51 When Trump deviates from the script, things get interesting with him
In Milwaukee, Trump spoke about the assassination attempt against him; he looked tired but was then celebrated by the delegates and did not always stick to his script - "old tunes rang through." NTV reporter Hanna Klouth shares her impressions of the nomination speech of the now official Presidential candidate of the Republicans:
09:15 Trump makes over 20 false claims in his speech
CNN counts over 20 false claims in Trump's convention speech. Many of these were statements he had made before, some for years. Themes affected include Economy, Immigration, Crime, Foreign Policy, and Elections. The statement that he had left the Biden administration a peaceful world is deemed "absurd" by the network. Trump also repeated the allegation of election fraud against the Democrats - even though, according to the report, it was not in the speech manuscript.
08:45 Trump circumvents the Taiwan issue in his speech
China was mentioned only once in Trump's speech in a national security context. He said that the country 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 taken a definitive stance on this issue.
*You can read about all previous developments here.*
1. Barbara Walter, a political scientist, warns that the United States is closer to a civil war than ever, citing political polarization, cultural tribalism, and the availability of weapons as contributing factors.
2. Hollywood star Sharon Stone expresses concern about the future of the United States, arguing that the current US elections have been built on hate and suppression.
3. A man is arrested for allegedly threatening to murder former President Donald Trump and his vice president J.D. Vance, according to the Jupiter Police Department.
4. Former President Trump will hold his first rally since the attack on his person in Butler, Michigan, with his vice president J.D. Vance as an official Republican presidential candidate.
5. Peter Neumann, a leading extremism researcher, considers Donald Trump an extremist and believes that Trump's refusal to accept a lost election could lead to violence in the United States.
6. According to Lindy Li, a Democrat strategist, Biden donors are currently in a state of "panic," and the blue wall of traditionally Democratic states in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan seems to be "cracking."
