18:35 Nikki Haley: Didn't believe he would make it to the election
The former Governor of South Carolina and Donald Trump's primary opponent Nikki Haley commented on Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential campaign. "I was not surprised, and I didn't rejoice", Haley told CNN. She had advocated for cognitive tests for the 81-year-old during the campaign between Biden and Trump. "I didn't do it to be disrespectful. (...) I did it because I believe it's not just about Joe Biden", she said. It's a problem we have in DC where people come into office and don't leave. And then their staff and their family keep them there, and that's a problem for the American people." She didn't believe Biden would make it to the election. "I've always said that a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for Kamala Harris", she added.
17:55 Linkedin Co-founder announces millions in donations for Harris campaign
LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffmann announced his financial support for the Harris campaign would be increased. According to a CNN report, Hoffmann had already donated 7 Million Dollars to the Biden-Harris campaign. He told US broadcaster US that he wanted to "double" this support. He expressed "great hope" that Harris would become the first female President of the United States. At the same time, he hoped Harris would replace Lina Khan as Chair of the US Trade Commission if she was elected. Hoffmann's statement drew much criticism. "Billionaires should not dictate to candidates whom they should keep or not", said Bernie Sanders to CNN. A campaign worker for Harris then stated that there were currently "no political discussions" about replacing Khan.
17:00 "National Response" on Abortion Rights - Harris campaign posts old Vance interview
The Harris campaign team is once again focusing on an interview from 2022 by J.D. Vance, in which the current Vice Presidential candidate of the Republicans' views on abortion rights are clearly stated. At the time, Vance indicated that he was open to a "national response" to prevent women from traveling across state lines to get an abortion. The Harris campaign team released an appropriate audio recording on X. The Trump campaign reacted to a request for comment from the "Washington Post" but has not done so yet. In recent weeks, Vance has aligned his stance on abortion rights with that of Donald Trump. "What Donald Trump said very wisely is: California will want different policies than Ohio (...) and it's reasonable for voters in the states to make these decisions", Vance told Fox News.
16:11 Nikki Haley scolds Republicans for "DEI" remarks about Harris
Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's primary opponent, has reprimanded Republicans for their "DEI-Hire" comments regarding Vice President Kamala Harris. Several Republicans labeled Harris as a "DEI-Hire" in the past few days, with the acronym standing for "Diversity, Equality and Inclusion." Republican Tim Burchett from Tennessee stated that Joe Biden chose Harris as his vice president because she was a "DEI-Hire." Haley addressed this issue in a conversation with CNN, stating that such remarks are "not helpful." "They shouldn't talk about how she looks or what gender she is," she said. She urged Republicans to focus instead on Harris' political record, which she believes is far left.
15:24 Following Harris' TikTok debut: 1.5 million people follow her already
Vice President Kamala Harris broke the one million follower mark on TikTok shortly after her debut on the platform. In a short period, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate already has 1.5 million followers (as of July 26, 14:50 UTC). Additionally, she has amassed 2.2 million likes. Her chosen slogan on her profile reads "When we fight, we win." A brief video, which has been viewed over six million times, sheds light on why she joined the platform. She mentioned that she had learned about the hype surrounding her persona there and "thought I should come here myself." As of now, Donald Trump's TikTok profile has 9.2 million followers.
14:34 Obama enters the Democratic race: "He must now come out publicly"
In an unusual move, former US President Obama has entered the Democratic race, intervening in the campaign weeks before the official withdrawal of Joe Biden. However, he remains silent for the time being - so far. Political analyst Thomas Jaeger explains the move and looks ahead to the potential further development in Harris' campaign.
14:17 Harris after Netanyahu visit: "I will not be silent about the suffering in Gaza"
US Vice President Kamala Harris made her concerns about the situation in Gaza clear during her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It's time for this agreement to be finalized," Harris told reporters and went on to express her "serious concern" about the "extent of human suffering in Gaza, including the deaths of countless innocent civilians." She spoke of "images of dead children and desperate, hungry people" who were being forced to flee, some for the second, third, or fourth time. "We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies," Harris continued. "We cannot become insensitive to the suffering. I will not be silent."
13:20 Zoom Fundraising Calls: White Women raise two million dollars for Harris' campaign in 90 minutes
A group of white women were inspired by a similar action by a group of black women and collected over two million dollars in Wahlkampfspenden for Kamala Harris' potential presidency campaign during a Zoom call that lasted 90 minutes. According to the "Washington Post", this was reported by the organization team "White Women: Answer the Call!". On Thursday evening, prominent figures such as the musician Pink, the soccer players Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, the author Glennon Doyle, and the actress Connie Britton were among those who raised over two million dollars for Harris' campaign through Zoom calls within an hour.
12:08 "New York Times" Survey shows Shapiro as Harris' potential VP frontrunner
Reporters from the "New York Times" spoke with 251 delegates out of more than 3900 who could vote for Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate at the convention from August 19-22 in Chicago. Most of the delegates are elected representatives of individual states who are supposed to act in the interest of their state's citizens. The superdelegates, numbering 749 in total, are the most prominent party leaders. They were given this role based on the offices they hold or have held. According to the "New York Times", a "landslide majority" supports Harris. Forty of the delegates interviewed by the "New York Times" support Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania as a potential vice presidential candidate. However, 70 of the delegates interviewed by the "New York Times" are undecided about their support for a vice president.
11:11 Obama expresses "full support" for Harris
Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have expressed their support for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, marking a significant milestone in the rapid consolidation of the Democratic Party. The Obamas' support comes at the end of the first week since Harris was declared the Democratic Party's nominee, following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race. In a video, Harris speaks with the Obamas over the phone. Obama says, "We couldn't be prouder to support you and do everything we can to help bring you through this election and into the White House." Michelle Obama adds, "This is historic," an allusion to Harris' potential to become the first woman in the country to win the presidency.
10:45 Trump campaign spokesperson mocks Harris' TikTok debut
Donald Trump's campaign spokesperson, Huyen Cheung, made a sarcastic comment about Kamala Harris' TikTok debut as a potential Democratic presidential candidate. Along with the sentence "But Kamala does well with the youth," Cheung posted a screenshot of the TikTok profiles of Harris and Trump. A red circle surrounds the number of followers and likes on the screenshot. Harris had recently posted her first video on the popular platform among the younger generation (see entry 04:33). US President Joe Biden had announced his retirement from the presidential race just a few days earlier. It's time to pass the torch to a new generation and new voices, Biden said of his decision. Harris could be his successor and should primarily win over young US voter support for the Democrats.
10:03 Activist Dolores Huerta rallies Latino Votes for Harris
Famous US civil rights activist Dolores Huerta is campaigning for Kamala Harris. At a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, the first event for the Harris campaign, Huerta appeared. At her speech, the 94-year-old urged Latino voters to vote for Harris. Huerta co-founded the "United Farm Workers Association" in the 1960s, which advocates for the rights of Filipino-American and Mexican-American farm workers.
09:20 Navidi: Harris lacking economic profile - "Could be an advantage"
Inflation is one of the major issues in the US regarding the economy, but Harris has not been able to build a profile on this issue so far. Sandra Navidi explains why this could be an advantage. Additionally, the US expert explains why Trump might fear Harris more than Biden.
08:45 Trump: Americans have lost faith in the FBI
On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the US Congress about the attack on Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, commented on this in a post on Truth Social. Trump disputes some statements made by the FBI chief. Wray stated before Congress that he was unsure whether Trump was hit by a shrapnel, a piece of glass, or a bullet. Trump writes, "No. It was unfortunately a bullet that hit my ear." The hospital that Trump was taken to after the attack reported a "gunshot wound to the ear." Trump accuses Wray of focusing only on "rescuing left-wing radicals." Trump concludes, "No wonder the once renowned FBI has lost the trust of the American people!"
07:30 Melania Trump announces publication of her memoirs
Melania Trump, the wife of the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has announced the publication of her memoirs. She made this known on her website. The New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd called Melania Trump "a Slovenian Sphinx" in 2016 due to her unapproachability - but she has not chosen this title for her memoirs. Under the title "Melania," the publication is expected to "tell the powerful and inspiring story of a woman who overcame adversity and forged her own path." It promises "intimate, personal stories and images that have never before been shared with the public." She has been rarely seen in public in recent months.
06:47 Trump declines debate with Harris for now
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has declined a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris for now. It is inappropriate to make arrangements, he is not yet officially the Democratic candidate, Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung explains. He justifies the decision by saying that the Democrats might still change their minds. Harris must still be officially nominated as the candidate of the Democrats, which will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago. A television debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, scheduled for September 10, was planned, in which Harris could potentially appear as Biden's potential successor as the Democratic candidate.
06:06 Biden presses Netanyahu for swift Gaza accordUS President Joe Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a quick agreement on a ceasefire and hostage release in the Gaza conflict during a White House meeting. According to a statement from the White House, Biden emphasized the need to "fill in the remaining gaps, close the deal as quickly as possible, bring the hostages home, and achieve a lasting end to the war in Gaza." The relationship between Biden and Netanyahu has been tense for a long time. The Israeli leadership's actions during the Gaza conflict further strained the situation. At the meeting with Netanyahu, Biden again urged for strengthening humanitarian aid in Gaza and improving the protection of the civilian population. "It is necessary to remove all obstacles for the flow of aid supplies and restore basic necessities to the needy," the statement further reads.
04:33 Harris joins TikTokAs a prospective Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris is expanding her presence in social media: She now has an account on the popular among young people platform TikTok. Within a few hours, 750,000 people were following her. Her first, eight-second-long video has been clicked on over 2.2 million times.
01:25 Harris clarifies stance on Israel - and warnsFollowing a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, clearly expressed her support for Israel. At the same time, she urged the Israeli leadership to do more for the suffering population in the Gaza Strip. "Israel has the right to defend itself, and it's important how it does that," the 59-year-old said. The strong support of the Biden administration for Israel during the Gaza conflict had alienated many left-wing Democrats from the party in recent months. Harris called on Americans to consider the complexity of the conflict and the history of the region. Terrorism and violence must be condemned, she said. "Let us all do whatever we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. And let us condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hatred of all kinds."
23:35 Immunity debate: Prosecution seeks to uphold Trump rulingThe prosecution in the hush money case against Donald Trump has asked the presiding judge to uphold the ruling that a president enjoys immunity for official actions. According to the prosecution's brief filed in the Manhattan case, the Supreme Court decision, which grants a president immunity for official actions, does not apply in this case. The prosecutors argued that the case involved actions unrelated to the presidency. Therefore, they contended, there was no basis to disturb the jury's verdict. Trump's lawyers attempt to overturn the ruling and the indictment. They cited the Supreme Court decision on July 1, which ruled that former presidents cannot be prosecuted for official actions.
22:24 Lindner: Working with Harris won't be easier than with Trump
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner does not believe that cooperation with Kamala Harris in the event of a Democratic victory in the US presidential election would be fundamentally smoother than with Donald Trump. "Some give themselves the hope that it would be easier with Kamala Harris than with Donald Trump. I don't belong to that," Lindner told Handelsblatt. The deficits of the Republicans are known. "But the Democrats also have protectionism, an unstable fiscal policy, and in the left wing a woke politics that is divisive," so Lindner. However, a President Trump "would challenge our diplomacy more." Moral lectures would not reach him, instead it would be about realpolitik and working on commonalities.
22:00 Harris: Ready for debate with Trump
Kamala Harris would be "ready" for a debate with the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The vice president made this clear in a conversation with reporters before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to her, the voters would deserve to see the different positions of herself and Trump "on a debate stage." Harris adds: "I'm ready, let's go." She had agreed to the previously arranged debate on September 10. The debate, which is to take place on the US broadcaster ABC, was originally planned as a duel between Trump and Biden. Whether it will actually take place is currently unclear, according to CNN.
21:43 Biden's staffers have mixed feelings
The staffers and staff of Joe Biden had mixed feelings after the withdrawal statement and Biden's speech, according to the Washington Post. Press Secretary of the White House Karine Jean-Pierre said: "There's a sense of pride, energy, and the knowledge that there's still a lot of work to be done."
21:12 Harris and Trump almost tied in latest poll
According to a New York Times and Siena College survey, Donald Trump is almost tied with Kamala Harris. Trump receives 48 percent, Harris receives 46 percent, it is reported, referring to the survey. The margin of error is 3.3 percentage points. A total of 1142 registered voters were interviewed nationwide. The result is a significant improvement for the Democrats compared to the Times/Siena survey from early July, which put Joe Biden six percentage points behind.
20:45 Former advisor: Israelis were disappointed by Netanyahu's speech
The Israeli population showed disappointment in Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress, according to a former advisor to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. In an interview with Sky News, Laura Blumenfeld said: "There's a real difference between his lofty rhetoric yesterday and the grim statistics and reality in Israel." The speech did not go over well. "The Israelis were disappointed with this speech. They say it was a speech for an American audience," she continues. According to her, the Israelis had not heard what they wanted to hear. "Namely that he [Netanyahu] has taken responsibility for the attacks on October 7."
20:10 Trump calls Harris a "radical Marxist”Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris. On his platform "Truth Social," Trump labels Harris a "radical left Marxist," stating that the USA are "not ready" for her. Trump has repeatedly called Harris "radically left" and held her responsible for "mistakes in the Biden administration."
19:50 Biden meets Netanyahu in the Oval OfficeJoe Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office. The Israeli prime minister thanked the president for his support of Israel over the past 50 years and expressed his excitement for the collaboration between the two in the coming months, according to Reuters.
You can read about previous developmentshere.**
- Joe Biden's primary opponent, Nikki Haley, criticized the lack of term limits in Washington, stating that it's detrimental for the American people.
- In response to Nikki Haley's comments, Republicans have faced criticism for labeling Vice President Kamala Harris as a "DEI-Hire".
- During the US Presidency Election 2024, former President Barack Obama expressed his full support for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign in a video call.
- As part of her campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris made a visit to Wisconsin and assured voters that she would not be silent about the suffering in Gaza.
- Amidst the ongoing competition for the US Presidency Election 2024, Donald Trump's campaign spokesperson mocked Kamala Harris' TikTok debut with a sarcastic comment.
- US-Intelligence Agency investigations revealed attempts to assault Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, raising concerns about political violence in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
