19:20 Before Trump's campaign appearance: Secret Service requests support
The Secret Service has requested support from the Kent County, Michigan Sheriff's office, which is located in Grand Rapids, for the protection of Donald Trump. This is reported by the "Washington Post." The Republican presidential candidate will hold his first campaign rally in Grand Rapids in the afternoon (local time) together with J.D. Vance.
18:50 Another Democrat calls for Biden to withdraw from presidential race
The 36th Democrat, Mark Takano, has called on Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Takano, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, says it's time for Biden to "pass the torch" to Vice President Kamala Harris. In a statement on X, he writes further, "I have come to realize that the demands of a modern campaign are best met by the Vice President." The California representative added, "I love and respect Biden, but there's too much at stake to fail."
18:10 Vance calls on Biden to retire as president
James D. Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, has called on Joe Biden to retire as president instead of giving up his re-election campaign. "If you can't run, you can't serve. He should step down," Vance wrote on X. Biden is increasingly being urged to abandon his candidacy from within the ranks of Democratic supporters. The main concern is his health condition. So far, the US president has clung to his campaign.
17:15 Expert: USA are closer to civil war "than any of us believe"
Political scientist Barbara Walter has renewed her warning that the USA are closer to a civil war "than any of us want to believe." She fears political instability or violence in the United States for one or two decades, which could include 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 warns of a false sense of naivety and innocence in American society. People mistakenly believe that the United States are "too good" for such things.
16:35 Sharon Stone on US election campaign: I'm deeply concerned
Hollywood star Sharon Stone expresses concern about the future of her homeland in the face of the heated US election campaign. "I'm a proud American. I love my country, and of course I'm deeply concerned," the 66-year-old said at the Taormina Film Festival in the eponymous vacation spot on Sicily. It's the first time someone has built a campaign on the basis of hate and suppression, Stone continued. She did not mention any names. However, she likely meant former President Donald Trump, who was recently nominated as the Republican Party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Trump has made controversial statements and worsened his rhetoric on the topic of immigration in recent months.
15:45 Man arrested for threats against Trump and Vance A man has been arrested for threats against Donald Trump and his vice president J.D. Vance. The suspect threatened to kill the Republican presidential candidate and Vance, according to the Jupiter Police Department. The man reportedly made these threats on Facebook. The posts also contained threats of bodily harm against the families of Republicans.
15:05 Trump holds first rally since 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. In contrast to his last rally in Butler, this event will take place in a hall and not outside. The US intelligence service declined to comment on the security measures for the Grand Rapids event.
14:22 Expert: "Trump is an extremist" Peter Neumann, a leading extremism researcher at King's College in London, considers Donald Trump an extremist. "He is not willing to accept a lost election. That's 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." Regarding a potentially violent escalation during the presidential election on November 5, Neumann also stated: "There are 350 million guns in the USA in private possession. 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 imagine "that there will be a confrontation that could escalate."
13:45 Democratic strategist: Biden donors in "panic" The donors of Joe Biden are currently in a state of "panic," says Lindy Li, a Democratic Party strategist, to Sky News. The "blue wall" of the president in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin seems to be "cracking."
13:13 Author T.C. Boyle: "Trump and Republicans bear some responsibility for the shootings" US author T.C. Boyle sees shared responsibility of Donald Trump and his Republican Party for the shootings at a Trump rally. "Trump has taken the blame for the shots in Pennsylvania upon himself," says the 73-year-old bestselling author in an interview with the wochentaz. The Republicans are "the party of gun nuts." "They want to get rid of any controls. They even want to repeal the laws that currently limit automatic weapons." Biden's retirement as a candidate for the presidency in November is suggested by Boyle. "There are so many great young, energetic people who could beat Trump," he says. Among others, he names Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
12:39 Hunter: "Michelle Obama is the only one with better values than Trump" Regarding Biden's chances of staying in the race or withdrawing his candidacy, political scientist Thomas Jäger speaks of a "self-destruction of the Democrats" and a "campaign led by Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama." In this context, no one has better chances of defeating Trump than Biden.
12:04 Christie: "He hated what he was saying"Republican politician Chris Christie criticizes Donald Trump's party convention speech. The US presidential candidate failed to unite the nation, says Christie to ABC. Trump showed restraint when speaking about the attack on him. But "he hated what he was saying," according to Christie regarding Trump's appeal for national "unity." Former New Jersey Governor Christie is one of the sharpest critics of Trump within the Republican Party.
11:02 Pistorius: Germany would be "even more demanded" after Trump winGermany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Germany's military role in Europe would become even greater, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election. "Should Donald Trump become US President, the weights within NATO are likely to shift faster," he told the "Tagesspiegel." The Federal Republic as the largest economy in the EU would "then be more demanded." This development should also be reflected in the federal budget.
10:23 Biden follows Trump speech angry at home - and furiousIn a long thread on X, US President Joe Biden sharply criticized his opponent Donald 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 before the RNC," Biden wrote, who is currently recovering from a Corona infection. Biden criticized Trump's tax policy. "He said he would start with 'debt forgiveness' and further reduce taxes," so Biden. "Trump exploded the deficit during his first term, and his tax cut plan would make it even worse in a second term." Additionally, he accused Trump of wanting to be a dictator.
09:41 Historian Snyder: "Trump has chosen the far-right camp"For historian Timothy Snyder, Donald Trump is "entirely responsible" for the political climate of violence in the US. He does not believe that the attack on the US presidential candidate could unite the country. With J.D. Vance as his running mate, Trump "has chosen the far-right camp," says Snyder in an interview with ntv.de. "He cannot use the attack as a unifying theme, as Vance has already unfairly 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 an ailing US President Joe Biden from the campaign heats up. Leading Democrats are trying to convince him to withdraw to improve their chances against former President Donald Trump. However, Biden intends to campaign next week.
07:51 Democrat: Biden didn't recognize meRepresentative Seth Moulton is part of a group of Democrats calling for Biden to exit 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 DemocratsDuring the withdrawal of some major donors from President Biden's campaign, the liberal umbrella organization "America Votes" announced in a press release that they will spend $40 million in the next two weeks. The money will be used to win voters and registrants 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," Daria Dawson, head of the group, was quoted as saying by the "New York Times." The democracy is at stake in the November election.
05:31 Pelosi Against Direct Harris Nomination, if Biden Drops OutCalifornia Representative Nancy Pelosi reportedly prefers a competitive process of an open primary for the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the new democratic presidential candidate in case President Biden ends his campaign. This was reported by the "New York Times" citing sources in the California Democratic delegation. During a meeting with the delegation, Pelosi reportedly urged for Biden's withdrawal. With Biden, the Democrats would lose every chance.
04:49 Threats against Trump and Vance: Arrest in FloridaA man was arrested in Florida due to threats against Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump and his designated vice J.D. Vance on social media. The authorities were alerted 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 threats against Trump and Vance. Threats against their family members were also identified. The man was taken into custody, it was reported.
04:03 Report: Biden "Angry" with PelosiPresident Joe Biden is facing a new round of dissenting Democrats who publicly urged him to leave the presidential race. Among them is California Representative Zoe Lofgren, a close ally of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. According to CNN, Biden is "angry" with Pelosi, who has publicly expressed her support for the US President.
02:45 Trump Supporter Scouted Event Location with DroneThe Trump assassination suspect reportedly scouted the event location with a drone, according to a report by the "Wall Street Journal." The suspect was able to take aerial photos of the event site in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, only a few hours before the attack, the newspaper reported, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the matter. The findings could raise further questions about whether the event site was adequately secured.
01:39 Prominent Biden Supporter Separates from AdvisorReid Hoffman, a prominent Democratic donor and co-founder of LinkedIn, has separated 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 the Democrats to hold on to President Biden as their party's candidate.
00:29 More Democrats call for Biden to withdraw
Representative Gabe Vasquez from 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, is joining a chorus of other endangered Democrats who have urged the President to withdraw from the race. Today, ten Democrats from the House of Representatives joined the ranks of party members calling on Biden to drop out.
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 regarding Biden's campaign.
22:21 Trump holds first campaign appearance since Capitol attack with VP candidate Vance
A week after the Capitol attack, former US President Donald Trump made his first campaign appearance on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he will appear with his vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance. Trump was nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate at the US Republican National Convention and received a triumphant welcome.
21:50 Union foreign policy spokesperson Hardt: We need to adjust to new Republicans
Union foreign policy spokesperson Jürgen Hardt expects the Republicans, under their presidential candidate, to realign ideologically - regardless of the November election result. Trump's campaign promises, he said, were a "wonderful surprise."
21:23 While calls for Biden's withdrawal grow louder: Harris visits Tyra Banks' pop-up ice cream shop
As calls for President Joe Biden to withdraw as a candidate for the US elections grow louder, even from within the Democratic Party (see entry 20:56), his potential successor Kamala Harris spent time with her nieces at a pop-up ice cream shop in the US capital, Washington D.C., opened by former model Tyra Banks. Together with her two nieces, the US Vice President enjoyed an ice cream - served personally by the ex-model.
20:56 Democrats openly call for Biden to withdraw
More and more Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race for the US elections. In the past few hours, Representative Betty McCollum from Minnesota, Representative Kathy Castor, Representative Zoe Lofgren from California, and Representative Greg Landsman have made statements calling on Biden to retire. Shortly before that, Representatives Jared Huffman from California, Mark Veasey from Texas, Chuy Garcia from Illinois, and Mark Pocan from Wisconsin - all Democrats in the US House of Representatives - had expressed their support for Biden passing the torch to a new generation of democratic leaders in an open letter.
20:18 Biden to resume campaign tour next week
US-President Joe Biden announced that he will be back on the campaign trail next week and aims to win the November election. He recently paused due to Corona symptoms. In recent days, the number of members of the Democratic Party who have urged Biden to retire and make way for a more promising candidate has increased.
19:33 CNN analyst: These Democrats could beat Trump
Should US-President Joe Biden decide to retire from his candidacy, the Democrats have no reason to worry - they have a women's duo in the party that could still defeat the likely Republican candidate Donald Trump. This is what Julian Zelizer, CNN political analyst and Princeton Professor, writes in a commentary on CNN. Zelizer believes that Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate and Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, as her vice presidential candidate, have the best chances of leading the party through this crisis. US Vice President Kamala Harris is being discussed as a top contender for the Biden succession in the US 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 win over voters and achieve a historic result.
18:17 Report: Biden family discusses withdrawal scenarios
Members of the Biden family have reportedly discussed withdrawal scenarios from his campaign. According to NBC News, citing two people familiar with the discussions. The discussions reportedly centered around Biden's withdrawal options. The sources quoted by NBC News describe two conditions for a potential withdrawal plan that were discussed: If Biden were to make this decision, it would have to put the party in the best position to beat former President Donald Trump. It is also important that Biden leaves the office with dignity. The fact that Biden is even considering a withdrawal and discussing potential exit strategies with his family is a new development, writes NBC News.
17:03 Could Kamala Harris defeat Trump?
The 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 the 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 concerns of Democrats seriously
US-President Joe Biden, according to his team, will return to the campaign trail next week after his isolation due to mild Corona symptoms. Jen O'Malley Dillon, head of his campaign team, made this known in an interview with MSNBC. "He's all in," she says. Biden takes the concerns of some Democrats seriously, but is determined to fight for a second term. In recent days, the pressure on Biden has increased. Numerous 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 house in Delaware due to a Corona infection.
15:38 Kamala Harris counters Trump's unity promises
With his speech at the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, Presidential candidate Donald Trump aims to unite the deeply divided American population. In response, Vice President Kamala Harris writes on X with clear words in social media: "If you claim to stand for unity, you must do more than just use the word." Harris writes that he cannot claim to stand for the unity of the USA while pursuing an agenda that denies fundamental freedoms, opportunities, and dignity to whole groups of Americans.
14:33 Media report: Biden considering dropping out of the race
Due to weeks of pressure, President Joe Biden is reportedly considering withdrawing from the presidential race according to media reports. The "New York Times" cites several sources from Biden's circle, who say the 81-year-old is beginning to accept that he may not win the election against his rival Donald Trump in November. The "New York Times" quotes from Biden's circle that they would not be surprised if he soon supports Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate. However, a close associate of the president emphasized that Biden has not yet made a decision.
13:50 Attempted assassin informed himself about other mass shooters
The Trump assassin informed himself about another mass 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 wrestling style.
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 on MDR, for example, Trump's stance on containing China and the existence of Israel. The former 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 satisfied with the role of the audience. Spahn, who was observing the Republican Party convention as an observer, emphasized 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 warned us." Trump has been demanding "for years" that Europe do more for its security, said Spahn. "We have kept our eyes closed for too long."
11:52 Communication expert: Trump strikes "unusual notes"
With over 90 minutes, Donald Trump delivers the longest nomination speech to date. However, this speech is not just "typical campaigning with a ton of fake news," according to communication expert Christian Galvez, but also contains "unusual notes" for the Republicans.
11:26 Trump performance reminds security experts of "Life of Brian"
According to security expert Christian Mölling, the substantive statements made at the US Republican Party convention are not the most significant aspect. "If you see that people are really clinging to this association. [... ] That's just 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 who has become sort of an icon, whether it's a shoe or a band: Trump is being deified and he's deifying himself, and that's why the content, I believe, is totally banal."
10:55 Politician 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. Additionally, the politician assesses whether Biden will still be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate next week:
10:19 Trump accuses Biden of causing greater damage than through "ten worst presidents" combined
Originally, Trump did not intend to mention Biden in his speech, but he deviated from his script again. "The damage he has inflicted on this country is unimaginable," Trump said about the incumbent president. When the "ten worst presidents" in US history are considered together, the damage caused by any of them is not as great as the damage caused by Biden.
09:51 When Trump deviates from the script, chaos ensues
In Milwaukee, Trump spoke about the assassination attempt against him; he looked tired, but was then celebrated by delegates and did not always stick to his script - then "old tunes came through." NTV reporter Hanna Klouth reports on her impressions of the nomination speech of the now official Republican presidential candidate:
09:15 Trump makes over 20 false claims in speech
CNN counts over 20 false claims in Trump's convention speech. Many of these had already been made by the presidential candidate before, some for years. Affected topics include the 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 this was not in the script according to the report.
08:45 Trump evades Taiwan question in 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 reelected and China attacks the country. Trump has not yet committed to a clear position on this issue.
You can read about all previous developments here.**
- Additionally, Republican politician Chris Christie from New Jersey criticized Trump's party convention speech, stating that he failed to unite the nation and that Trump appeared to hate what he was saying about unity during his appeal.
- Democratic strategist Lindy Li from Sky News also expressed concern about Biden's chances, stating that Biden's donors are currently in a state of "panic" due to the "cracking" of the Democratic "blue wall" in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
- In a similar vein, US author T.C. Boyle sees shared responsibility of Donald Trump and his Republican Party for the shootings at a Trump rally, citing Trump's "base" as being "the party of gun nuts."
- There have also been attempts to intimidate Trump and his vice president J.D. Vance, as a man was arrested in Florida for threats against Trump and Vance on social media.
- In response to these threats, the Secret Service has requested support from the Kent County, Michigan Sheriff's office in Grand Rapids for the protection of Donald Trump, who will be holding a campaign rally in the area alongside J.D. Vance.
- Furthermore, political strategist Thomas Jaegen speaks of a "self-destruction of the Democrats" and a "campaign led by Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama," suggesting that there may be other attempts to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
