19:25 Trump after meeting with Netanyahu: Hostages must be released
11:35 Donald Trump meets with Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, warm reception reported by New York Times
US Presidential candidate Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. The Israeli premier was warmly welcomed, according to the "New York Times" report. During the meeting, they reportedly discussed the war in Gaza Strip and Israeli hostages. Trump emphasized that the hostages held by Hamas must be released immediately. Netanyahu said time will tell if they are closer to a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip. There is movement in the talks, which is attributed to the military pressure Israel is exerting. For further talks, he will send a team to Rome.
5:35 Nikki Haley: Didn't believe Biden would make it to the election
Former South Carolina Governor and Donald Trump's primary opponent Nikki Haley expressed her thoughts on Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential campaign. "I wasn't surprised, and I didn't enjoy it", Haley told CNN. She advocated for cognitive ability 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. She mentioned that it's a problem in DC when people come into office and don't leave. And then their staff and family keep them there, which is 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.
16:55 LinkedIn Co-founder announces millions in donations for Harris campaign
LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffmann plans to significantly boost his financial support for the Kamala Harris campaign. According to a CNN report, Hoffmann has already donated $7 million to the Biden-Harris campaign. He plans to "double that", Hoffmann told the US broadcaster. He expressed great hope that Harris would be the first female President of the United States. Simultaneously, he expressed hope that Harris would replace Lina Khan as the head of the US Trade Commission if elected. Hoffmann's statement drew much criticism. "Billionaires shouldn't dictate to candidates who they should keep or get rid of", Bernie Sanders told CNN. A Harris campaign staffer then stated that there are currently "no political discussions" about Khan's removal.
16:00 "National Response" on Abortion Rights - Harris Campaign posts old Vance interview
The Harris campaign team is once again focusing on an old 2022 interview of J.D. Vance, in which the current Republican Vice Presidential candidate's previous stance on abortion rights is clear. Back then, Vance indicated that he was open to a "national response" to prevent women from traveling across state borders to get an abortion. The Harris campaign team released an audio recording of the interview on X. The Trump campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment from the "Washington Post". In recent weeks, Vance has aligned his stance on abortion rights with Donald Trump's. "What Donald Trump very wisely said is: California will want different policies than Ohio (...) and it's reasonable for voters in those states to make those decisions", Vance told Fox News.
16:11 Nikki Haley scolds Republicans for "DEI" remarks about Harris
Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's primary rival, has scolded members of her party for "DEI-hires" remarks about 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, for instance, 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 be talking about how she looks or what gender she is," she said. She urged the Republicans to focus instead on Harris' political record, which she believes is too far left.
15:24 Following Harris on TikTok: 1.5 million people join in less than a day
Vice President Kamala Harris broke the one million follower mark on TikTok just hours after her debut on the platform. As of July 26, 14:50 UTC, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate already had 1.5 million followers. Additionally, she had 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 6 million times, sheds light on why she joined TikTok. According to her, she heard about the hype surrounding her on the platform and "thought I should come here myself." As of now, Donald Trump's TikTok profile boasts 9.2 million followers.
14:34 Obama's intervention in Harris' campaign: "It's time for this agreement to be finalized"
In an unusual move, former US President Obama has intervened in the Democratic primaries weeks beforehand. However, he has remained silent on the matter so far. Political analyst Thomas Jaeger explains Obama's move and looks ahead to the potential further developments 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 added that she had expressed her "serious concerns" over the "extent of human suffering in Gaza, including the deaths of countless innocent civilians." Harris 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," she continued. "We cannot become insensitive to the suffering."
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 initiative 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 "White Women: Answer the Call!" organization team. Notable figures such as the musician Pink, the soccer players Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, the author Glennon Doyle, and the actress Connie Britton reportedly raised over two million dollars for Harris' campaign during a Zoom call 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 over 3900 who could vote for Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate during the convention from August 19-22 in Chicago. Most of the delegates are elected representatives from individual states who are supposed to act in the interest of their state's citizens. The superdelegates, totaling 749, are the most prominent party leaders who have earned this role through their positions or past positions. 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 endorsed Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, marking a significant milestone in the rapid consolidation of the Democratic Party. The endorsement of the Obamas 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 you through this campaign and into the White House." Michelle Obama adds, "This is historic," an allusion to Harris' potential as 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 statement "But Kamala does well with the youth," Cheung posted a screenshot of Harris' and Trump's TikTok profiles side by side. The screenshot is circled in red, highlighting the number of followers and likes. 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 ago. 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 is expected to win over younger US voter support for the Democrats.
10:03 Dolores Huerta rallies Latino Voters for Harris
Famous US civil rights activist Dolores Huerta is campaigning for Harris among Latino voters. At a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, the first stop for the Harris campaign, Huerta appeared. During 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 lacks economic profile - "Could be an advantage"
Inflation control is one of the major issues in the US economy, but Harris has not been able to profile herself economically until now. Sandra Navidi explains why this could be an advantage. The US expert also 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 new details regarding 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 of Wray's statements. Wray stated before Congress that he was unsure if 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 recorded a "gunshot wound to the ear." Trump accuses Wray of focusing only on "rescuing radical leftist lunatics." Finally, Trump writes, "No wonder the once renowned FBI has lost the trust of the American people!"
07:30 Melania Trump announces memoirs publication
Melania Trump, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has announced the publication of her memoirs. This was announced on her website. The former First Lady of the USA shares the news. Columnist Maureen Dowd called Melania Trump "a Slovenian Sphinx" in 2016 due to her aloofness - but she has not chosen this title for her memoirs. Under the title "Melania," the publication promises 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 less visible in public in recent months.
06:47 Trump rejects debate with Harris for now
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has rejected a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris for now. It is inappropriate to make arrangements, Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung explains, until Harris is officially nominated as the Democratic candidate. She must still be elected as the candidate of the Democrats at the Democratic Convention, which is scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago. A television debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, scheduled for September 10, was planned, in which Harris could appear as Biden's potential successor as the Democratic candidate.
06:06 Biden presses Netanyahu for swift Gaza truce dealUS President Joe Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for a quick agreement on a ceasefire and hostage release in the Gaza conflict. According to a statement from the White House, Biden emphasized the need to "fill in the remaining gaps, close the deal as soon 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 his meeting with Netanyahu, Biden again urged humanitarian aid to Gaza to be strengthened and the protection of civilians to be improved. It is necessary, "to remove all obstacles for the flow of aid supplies and restore basic necessities for the needy," the statement further reads.
04:33 Harris joins TikTokAs a potential 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 her stance on Israel - and warnsAfter 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 in the Gaza conflict had alienated many left-wing Democrats from the party in recent months. Harris urged Americans to keep in mind the complexity of the conflict and the history of the region. Terrorism and violence must be condemned, she said. "Let us all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. And let us condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate of all kinds."
23:35 Immunity debate: Prosecutor demands Trump verdict upholdingThe prosecutor in the hush money case against Donald Trump has asked the presiding judge to uphold the verdict against the former US president. According to the statement of the Manhattan prosecutor, the decision of the Supreme Court, which states that a president enjoys immunity for official actions, does not apply in this case. The accusers argued that the proceedings concerned actions that had nothing to do with the presidency. Therefore, they saw no reason to challenge the jury's verdict again. Trump's lawyers are trying to overturn the judgment and the indictment. They refer to the Supreme Court decision of 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 win in the US Presidency 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 on the left wing, a woke politics that is divisive," so Lindner. However, a President Trump "would challenge our diplomacy more than Harris." 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 to 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 previously agreed to the debate on September 10. The debate, which is to take place at 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 declaration and the speech of the US President, according to the Washington Post. Press Secretary of the White House Karine Jean-Pierre said: "There's a mix 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 barely ahead of Kamala Harris. Trump scores 48 percent, Harris 46 percent, it is reported, referring to the poll. The margin of error is 3.3 percentage points. A total of 1,142 registered voters were surveyed 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 with 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 down 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 U.S. is "not ready" for her. Trump has repeatedly referred to Harris as "radically left" and blamed her 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. Netanyahu thanked the President for his support of Israel over the past 50 years and expressed his excitement for the cooperation between the two leaders in the coming months, according to Reuters.
You can read about earlier developmentshere.**
- Despite meeting with Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Trump emphasized the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
- Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley criticized Joe Biden's cognitive abilities during the presidential campaign, advocating for cognitive evaluations.
- LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffmann announced plans to donate millions more to the Kamala Harris campaign, expressing hope for her to become the first female President of the U.S.
- The Harris campaign team highlighted an old interview of J.D. Vance, revealing his past stance on national responses to prevent women from traveling for abortions.
- Nikki Haley condemned Republican "DEI-hires" remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris, urging focus on her political record instead.
- Kamala Harris broke the one million follower mark on TikTok in under 24 hours and raised over two million dollars during a Zoom call with white women supporters.
