21:06 In the USA: Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst
In light of the dramatic turns in the US election campaign, German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil views the presidential race as completely open. "I believe this election has not run its course yet," said the SPD politician on his way from Berlin to Washington. Heil did not express whether he wished for Biden to withdraw or seek a second term. However, he has political sympathies, "because we have experienced intense transatlantic relationships with the Biden Administration and democratic leadership in recent years." Biden has done much right. "As a responsible politician in Germany, as a member of the federal government, one must naturally prepare for all possible scenarios," said Heil. His motto in this case is: "Hope for the best, but also prepare for the difficult and bad."
8:30 Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee is dead - Biden expresses condolences
The democratic US congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has passed away at the age of 74. "With unbelievable sorrow over our loss, but also with deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce today the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee," the family of the Texas congresswoman stated. The Biden Administration expressed condolences in a statement from the White House. "Regardless of the topic it was about - from racial justice to building an economy for working people - she was relentless in her leadership role," said Biden about the Democrat from the Houston area, who served in the House of Representatives for three decades.
7:30 Trump requests support from Kent County Sheriff's Office for protection
The Secret Service has requested support from the Kent County Sheriff's Office in Michigan, where Grand Rapids is located, for the protection of Donald Trump. This was reported by the "Washington Post." The Republican presidential candidate will hold his first campaign rally in Grand Rapids in the afternoon (local time) since the attack on his person.
7:10 Another Democrat calls for Biden to withdraw from the campaign
As the 36th Democrat, Mark Takano calls on Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. Takano, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, states that it's time for Biden "to pass the torch" to Vice President Kamala Harris. In a statement on X, he writes further, "It has become clear to me 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."
6:50 Vance calls on Biden to withdraw as President
The Republican vice presidential candidate, Mike Pence, has called on Joe Biden to withdraw as a presidential candidate and serve instead. "If he can't run, he shouldn't serve. He should step down," Pence wrote on X. Biden is being urged to withdraw from his campaign, especially from the ranks of democratic supporters. Many are concerned about his health condition. So far, the US President has clung to his campaign.
17:15 Expert: USA are closer to civil war than many believe
Political scientist Barbara Walter has renewed her warning that the USA are closer to a civil war "than many of us would like to believe." She fears one or two decades of political instability or violence in the United States, 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 election: I am deeply concerned
Hollywood star Sharon Stone expressed deep concern over the future of her homeland in the face of the heated US election. "I am a proud American. I love my country, and of course, I am deeply concerned," the 66-year-old said at the Taormina Film Festival in the eponymous vacation spot on Sicily. This is the first time someone has built their campaign on the basis of hate and suppression, Stone added, without naming names. She must have 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 worsened 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 these threats on Facebook. In the posts, there were also 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 outdoors. The US intelligence agency 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'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, we wouldn't need Congress, the courts, the media, or even the parliament," he added regarding a possible violent escalation during the Presidential election on November 3rd, he 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 it could lead to a confrontation that could escalate."
13:45 Democratic Strategist: Biden Donors in "Panic"Joe Biden donors 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 bears some responsibility"The US author T. C. Boyle sees shared responsibility between Donald Trump and the Republican Party for the shootings at a Trump rally. "He's attributing the shots in Pennsylvania to himself," says the 73-year-old bestselling author to "wochentaz." The Republicans are "the party of gun nuts." "They want no control whatsoever. They even want to repeal the laws that currently regulate automatic weapons." The incumbent President Joe Biden is advised by Boyle to withdraw as the Democratic candidate for the Presidential election in November. "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 Jaeger: "Michelle Obama is the only one with better values than Trump"Whether Biden stays in the race or withdraws his candidacy? Political scientist Thomas Jaeger speaks of a "self-cannibalization 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 party convention speech. The US Presidential candidate failed to unite the nation, says Christie to ABC. Although Trump showed restraint when speaking about the attack on him, "he hated what he said," Christie remarks about Trump's appeal for national "Unity." The former Governor of New Jersey 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 would assume an even greater military role in Europe regardless of the outcome of the US Presidential election, according to Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. "Should Donald Trump become US President, the weights within the NATO are likely to shift faster," he told "Tagesspiegel." The Federal Republic as the largest economy in the EU would "then be even more demanded." This development would have to be reflected in the federal budget.
10:23 Biden critiques Trump's RNC speech severely at home, feeling agitated In a longer thread on X, US President Joe Biden sharply criticizes the speech of his opponent Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention. "Since I'm at home with Covid, I had the misfortune of seeing Donald Trump's RNC speech," Biden writes, who is currently recovering from a Corona infection. Biden criticizes Trump's tax policy. "He [Trump] said he would start with 'debt forgiveness' and further lower taxes," so Biden. "Trump exploded the deficit during his first term, and his tax-cutting 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 violent political climate in the USA. He doesn't believe, however, 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," Snyder says in an interview with ntv.de. "He can't use the attack as a unifying theme because Vance has already falsely accused the Democrats."
The full interview with Timothy Snyder appears at 15.00 PM 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 intensifies. Leading Democrats are trying to convince the 81-year-old to withdraw to improve the party's chances against former President Donald Trump. But Biden plans to campaign next week.
07:51 Congressman Moulton: Biden no longer recognized me Congressman 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. "I recently 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 Democrats While some major donors of US President Biden are withholding their financing, the liberal umbrella organization "America Votes" announces that it will spend 40 million dollars 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 defeat Trump and Co., because they have done it in three consecutive elections," Daria Dawson, head of the group, is quoted as saying by the "New York Times." The democracy is at stake in the November election.
05:31 Pelosi prefers open primary for Harris' nomination if Biden drops outCalifornian Representative Nancy Pelosi reportedly favors a competitive process of an open primary for the Democratic nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic presidential candidate, should President Biden end his campaign. According to the "New York Times," sources within the California Democratic delegation revealed that Pelosi expressed strong support for Biden during a meeting with the delegation. With Biden, the Democrats would lose any chance, the sources stated.
04:49 Threats against Trump and Vance: Arrest in Florida
A man was arrested in Florida due to threats against Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump and his endorsed vice candidate J.D. Vance on social media. The authorities were alerted through online tips and information from local residents, according to the Jupiter Police Department's Facebook post. During the examination of his Facebook account, the officers discovered threats against Trump and Vance. Threats were also directed towards their family members. The man was taken into custody, the post stated.
04:03 Report: Biden angry at Pelosi
President Joe Biden is facing a new wave 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 support for the President but has been missing in action.
02:45 Trump supporter scouted event location with drone
The Trump assassination suspect reportedly scouted the event location with a drone, according to a report by the "Wall Street Journal." The suspect was capable of taking aerial images of the event grounds 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 may raise questions about whether the event location was adequately secured.
01:39 Prominent Biden supporter separates from advisor
Reid Hoffman, a prominent Democratic donor and co-founder of LinkedIn, has separated from his long-term political advisor Dmitri Mehlhorn. Mehlhorn stated that his views on the future of the Democratic Party had become a "distraction." Hoffman and Mehlhorn were the spearhead of major donors who encouraged the 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 called on President Biden to "step aside to give the Democrats the best chances of winning in November." Vasquez, who is facing a tight re-election battle in Congress, joined a chorus of other endangered Democrats who have urged Biden to withdraw from the race. Today, ten Democrats from the House of Representatives joined the ranks of party members demanding Biden to abandon his campaign.
23:20 Harris tries to reassure Hundreds of Democratic Donors - and failsVice President Kamala Harris attempts to calm the nerves of the Democratic Party's largest donors by informing over 300 of them that there is little cause for concern regarding President Biden's campaign. Several participants of the video call tell 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's first campaign appearance since the attack alongside VanceEx-US President Donald Trump held his first campaign appearance a week after the attack on him. He will attend a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, alongside his vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance. Trump was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate at the US Republican Party convention and received a triumphant welcome.
21:50 Union Foreign Policy Spokesman Hardt: We need to prepare for new RepublicansThe foreign policy spokesman of the Union faction, Jürgen Hardt, expects the Republicans, under their presidential candidate, to ideologically realign themselves - regardless of the November election result. Trump's campaign promises are described as a "wonderful surprise."
21:23 While withdrawal calls heat up: Harris at Tyra Banks' ice cream shopAs calls for Biden to withdraw from the US presidential race continue to grow, even from within the Democratic ranks (see entry 20:56), Vice President Kamala Harris invites her nieces to an ice cream shop. In the US capital Washington DC, former model Tyra Banks opens a pop-up ice cream shop "Smize&Dream." Together with her two nieces, the US Vice President enjoys an ice cream - served personally by the ex-model.
20:56 Democrats openly call for Biden to withdrawMore and more Democrats are publicly urging US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race for the US elections in November. In recent hours, Representative Betty McCollum from Minnesota, Representative Kathy Castor, Representative Zoe Lofgren from California, and Representative Greg Landsman have issued statements calling on Biden to retire. Shortly beforehand, Representatives Jared Huffman from California, Mark Veasey from Texas, Chuy Garcia from Illinois, and Mark Pocan from Wisconsin - Democratic representatives from the US House of Representatives - had also expressed their support in an open letter for Biden to "pass the torch to a new generation of democratic leaders."
20:18 Biden to be back on campaign trail next weekUS 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 Democrats calling on him to end his candidacy and make way for a more promising candidate has increased.
19:33 CNN-Analyst: These Democratic Women Could Beat Trump
Should US President Joe Biden decide to retire from his campaign, the Democrats have no reason to worry - they have a women's duo in the party who 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 running mate would 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 Joe Biden's family have discussed how a withdrawal from his campaign might look. NBC News reports this based on two sources familiar with the discussions. The talks reportedly focused on withdrawal options for Biden. 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, 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. The fact that Biden is even considering a withdrawal and discussing potential withdrawal plans with his family is a new development, NBC News writes.
16:23 Press Secretary: Biden Takes Democratic Concerns Seriously
According to his team, US President Joe Biden will return to the campaign trail next week after his isolation due to mild Corona symptoms. This is announced by the head of his campaign team, Jen O'Malley Dillon, in an interview with MSNBC. "He's absolutely in it," she says. Biden takes 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 campaign and his chances of winning. Biden has withdrawn to his home in Delaware due to a Corona infection.
15:42 Kamala Harris: Could She Beat 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 Republican and challenger Donald Trump. But does she have what it takes to be the most powerful woman in the world?
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 in a post on X: "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 while pursuing an agenda that denies fundamental freedoms, opportunities, and dignity to entire groups of Americans.
14:33 Media report: Biden considering dropping out of the race
Under heavy 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 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 circle. According to the report, sources close to the president are not surprised if Biden soon supports Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate.
13:50 Attempted assassin informed himself about other mass shooters
The Trump assassin informed himself about another mass shooting, that of a teenager who shot and killed four students at a high school in Michigan, 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-Faction Leader Jens Spahn finds praiseworthy words for Trump's foreign policy positions. Spahn mentioned in MDR approximately 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 couldn't be content with the role of an observer. Spahn, who was observing the Republican Party convention as an observer, emphasized that Trump "often got foreign policy right." "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, it's not just "typical campaigning with a ton of fake news," says communication expert Christian Galvez, but also "unusual notes" for the Republicans.
11:26 Trump performance reminds security experts of "Life of Brian"
According to security expert Christian Mölling, the content of Trump's statements at the US Republican Party convention is not the most significant thing. "When you see that people really cling to that association. [...] It's just like in Life of Brian," he says in the "Stern" podcast "Die Lage". "There's this scene at the end where everyone is chasing after someone, who by chance has become an icon, so to speak, worthy of adoration. It doesn't matter if it's a shoe or a band: Trump is being styled as a savior and he styles himself that way as well, and that's why the content, I believe, is totally banal."
10:55 Political scientist 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. In addition, the political scientist assesses whether Biden will still be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate next week:
10:19 Trump accuses Biden of causing more damage than through "ten worst presidents"
Originally, Trump 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," he 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, it goes with him
In Milwaukee, Trump told of the assassination attempt against him; he looked tired, let himself be cheered on by the delegates, and didn't always stick to his script - "old tunes come through." NTV reporter Hanna Klouth reports on her impressions of Trump's nomination speech as 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 labeled "absurd" by the network. Trump also repeated the allegation of election fraud against the Democrats - even though this was not in the speech manuscript.
08:45 Trump circumvents 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 re-elected and China attacks the country. Trump has not yet committed himself on this issue.
You can read about all previous developments here.**
- Despite the ongoing tensions in the US Presidential Election 2024, a US Intelligence Agency believes it's important to prepare for various scenarios, as highlighted by a prominent German politician during his visit to the United States.
- In the midst of the consecutive calls for withdrawal from the US Presidential Election 2024, there have been attempts to persuade former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden to retreat from the race.
- Amidst the political storm surrounding the US Presidential Election 2024, an attempt on former President Donald Trump's life in Wisconsin has added another layer of uncertainty and concern for the American public.
- In light of recent events, the contentious Republican primary in Pennsylvania has intensified, with candidates such as Donald Trump facing strong opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans.
- As the US Presidential Election 2024 approaches, the Republikans and Democrats have been engaging in intense campaigning, highlighting significant policy differences and expressing concerns about potential threats to candidates overnight in various states.
- In the margins of the US Presidential Election 2024, concerns about political polarization, cultural tribalism, and the acceptance of conspiracy theories have arisen across the USA, impacting the relationships between major political parties and affecting the electoral process.
