21:08 Vance justifies himself for the "Cat Woman" comment about Harris
Republican Vice Presidential Candidate J.D. Vance Responds to Criticism over His Remarks about Kamala Harris
Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance has responded to criticism over his previous remarks about Kamala Harris. Vance had earlier referred to Harris as a "childless cat lady" and emphasized that the US government should not be composed of childless Democrats. "Apparently it was a sarcastic comment. I have nothing against cats. I have nothing against dogs. I have a dog at home, and I love him," said Vance in a recent interview, according to the "New York Times." He also stated that he had "no problem" with women who have difficulties having children, adding that he supports women who try to get pregnant through In-vitro Fertilization. The Democrats were once again labeled as "family unfriendly" by the Republican.
20:15 Trump Emphasizes "Good Relationship" with Netanyahu
Following his meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, US Presidential candidate Donald Trump emphasized his good relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister. In response to a question from the "New York Times" about whether he and Netanyahu would need to rebuild their strained relationship if he is re-elected in November, Trump stated: "We don't have to, we have a good relationship." In contrast, Harris, according to Trump, is "not very nice" when it comes to Israel. He added that Harris would handle the conflict in the Middle East worse than President Joe Biden.
19:25 Trump after Meeting with Netanyahu: Hostages Must Be Released
During his meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, the Israeli Premier was warmly welcomed, according to the "New York Times." The discussion reportedly covered the war in Gaza and the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Trump emphasized that the hostages must be released immediately. Netanyahu stated that time would tell if they were closer to an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza. There is movement in the talks, which can be attributed to the military pressure exerted by Israel. For further talks, Netanyahu will send a team to Rome.
18:35 Nikki Haley: I Didn't Believe Biden Would Make it to the Election
Former South Carolina Governor and Donald Trump's primary opponent Nikki Haley has commented on Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential campaign. "I wasn't surprised, and I didn't enjoy it," Haley told CNN. She had 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 think it's not just about Joe Biden," she explained. She referred to a problem in DC where people come into office and refuse to leave, and their staff and families enable them, which is a problem for the American people. She had not believed that 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-dollar donation for Harris campaign
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffmann announced his financial support for the Biden-Harris campaign will be strengthened. According to a CNN report, Hoffmann has already donated 7 Million Dollars for the campaign. He stated to the US broadcaster that he intends to "double" this support. He expressed great hope that Harris would be the first female President of the United States. At the same time, the billionaire emphasized that he hoped Harris, as President, would replace Lina Khan as the Chair of the US Federal Trade Commission. Hoffmann's statement drew significant criticism. "Billionaires should not dictate to candidates who they should keep or not," said Bernie Sanders to CNN. A Harris campaign staffer then stated that there were currently "no political discussions" about replacing Khan.
17:00 "National Answer" on Abortion Rights - Harris Campaign posts old Vance interview
The Harris campaign team is once again focusing on a 2022 interview with J.D. Vance, in which the current Republican Vice Presidential candidate's previous stance on abortion rights is clearly evident. At that time, Vance indicated that he would be open to a "national answer" to prevent women from traveling across state borders to obtain an abortion. The Harris campaign team published an appropriate audio recording on X. The Trump campaign reacted to a request for comment from the "Washington Post" but has not responded yet. In the past few weeks, Vance has aligned his stance on abortion rights with that of Donald Trump. "What Donald Trump said very wisely is: California will want a different policy than Ohio (...) and it's reasonable for voters in those states to make those decisions," Vance told Fox News.
16:11 Nikki Haley reprimands Republicans for "D.E.I." remarks about Harris
Donald Trump's primary opponent, Nikki Haley, has reprimanded fellow Republicans for their comments about Vice President Kamala Harris. Several Republicans referred to Harris in the past few days as a "D.E.I.-Hire." The acronym stands for "Diversity, Equality and Inclusion." Republican Tim Burchett from Tennessee said that Biden had chosen Harris as his Vice Presidential candidate because she was a "D.E.I.-Hire." Haley spoke to CNN and criticized these comments, stating they were "not helpful." "They don't need to 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 Shortly after TikTok debut: Harris gains 1.5 million followers
Vice President Kamala Harris gained over 1.5 million followers shortly after her TikTok debut (as of July 26, 14:50 p.m.). The 59-year-old potential Democratic presidential candidate already surpassed the 1 million follower mark. Her chosen slogan on the platform is "When we fight, we win." A brief video, which has been viewed over 6 million times, explains why she joined TikTok. She mentioned that she had learned about the hype surrounding her on the platform and "thought I should come here myself." The TikTok profile of Donald Trump currently has 9.2 million followers.
14:34 Harris at Harris' Mosaic: "Obama had to go public"In an unusual move, former US President Obama has been intervening in the Democrats' campaign for weeks. After Biden's withdrawal, he remained silent - until now. Political analyst Thomas Jaeger explains the step and looks ahead to the possible further development in Harris' campaign.
14:17 Harris after Netanyahu visit: "I will not remain silent about the suffering in Gaza"US Vice President Kamala Harris made it clear during her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that she would not remain silent about the suffering in Gaza. "It's time for this agreement to be concluded," Harris told reporters and continued, expressing her "serious concern" over the "extent of human suffering in Gaza, including the deaths of countless innocent civilians." The 59-year-old spoke of "images of dead children and desperate, hungry people" who were fleeing, some of whom had been displaced "second, third, or fourth time." "We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies," Harris added. "We cannot remain insensitive to the suffering, and I will not remain silent."
13:20 Zoom fundraising calls: White women raise over two million dollars for Harris' campaign in 90 minutesInspired by a similar action by a group of black women, a group of white women reportedly raised more than two million dollars in campaign donations for potential presidential candidate Kamala Harris through Zoom fundraising calls. The "Washington Post" reports this based on the organizational team "White Women: Answer the Call!". On Thursday evening, prominent figures such as singer Pink, soccer players Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, author Glennon Doyle, and actress Connie Britton reportedly raised over two million dollars for Harris' campaign through Zoom calls within an hour.
12:08 "New York Times" survey sees Shapiro as Harris' potential VP pick in frontReporters from the "New York Times" spoke with 251 of the over 3900 delegates who could elect Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate at the August 19-22 convention in Chicago. Most of the delegates are elected representatives of individual states who are supposed to act in the interests of their state's citizens. The superdelegates - a total of 749 - are the most prominent party leaders. They hold this role due to 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 endorsed Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, marking a notable consolidation of the Democratic Party. The Obamas' endorsement comes at the end of the first week since Harris was declared the Democratic Party's candidate, 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 Oval Office." Michelle Obama adds, "This is historic," referencing 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 on the popular platform for the younger generation. Along with the phrase "But Kamala does well with the youth," written in alternating capital letters, she posted a screenshot of Harris' and Trump's TikTok profiles. The screenshot is circled in red, highlighting the number of followers and likes. Harris had recently published her first video on the platform (see entry 04:33). President Joe Biden 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 justified this step. Harris could be his successor and should particularly win over younger US voter support for the Democrats.
10:03 Civil rights activist Dolores Huerta rallies Latino votes for Harris
Famous US civil rights activist Dolores Huerta supports Kamala Harris in her campaign. At a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona, the first Harris campaign event, Huerta appeared. During her speech, the 94-year-old urged Latino voters to support 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 economic issues in the US, but Harris has not been able to profile herself significantly in economic matters so far. Sandra Navidi explains why this could be an advantage. Additionally, Navidi 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 revealed new details about the attack on Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania before the US Congress. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, expressed his opinion on this matter in a post on Truth Social. Trump disputes some of Wray's statements. Wray stated before Congress that he was uncertain 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 an "ear gunshot wound." Trump accuses Wray of focusing only on "rescuing radical left lunatics." In conclusion, Trump writes, "No wonder that the once renowned FBI has lost the trust of the Americans!"
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. This was announced 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 aims to tell the "powerful and inspiring story of a woman" who "overcame adversities and forged her own path." The "intimate, portrait of a woman who has led an extraordinary life," promises "stories and images that have never been shared with the public before." She has been scarcely seen in public in recent months.
06:47 Trump rejects debate with Harris for now
The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has rejected a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris for the time being. It is inappropriate to make arrangements while she has not yet been officially nominated as the Democratic candidate, explains Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung. He justifies the decision by stating that the Democrats may still change their minds. Harris must still be elected as the candidate of the Democrats at the Democratic Party Convention, which is scheduled from August 19-22 in Chicago. A television debate between Trump and President Joe Biden was planned for September 10, in which Harris could potentially represent the Democrats as their candidate.
06:06 Biden presses Netanyahu for swift Gaza arms truce and hostage releaseUS President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for a quick agreement on a weapons ceasefire and hostage release in the Gaza conflict. According to a White House statement, 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 approach to the Gaza conflict further deteriorated the situation. During his meeting with Netanyahu, Biden again stressed the importance of strengthening humanitarian aid in Gaza and improving the protection of civilians. "It's 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 stated her position on Israel. At the same time, she urged the Israeli leadership to take more action for the welfare of 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 called on Americans to consider the complexity of the conflict and the history of the region. Terrorism and violence should be condemned, she said. "Let's all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians. And let's condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate of all kinds."
23:35 Immunity debate: Prosecution asks judge to uphold Trump rulingThe prosecution in the hush money case against Donald Trump has asked the judge to uphold the ruling that a president enjoys immunity for official actions. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's office filing, the Supreme Court decision, which states that former presidents cannot be prosecuted for official actions, does not apply in this case. The prosecutors argued that the proceedings concerned actions unrelated to the presidency. Therefore, they contended, there was no basis to overturn the jury's verdict. Trump's lawyers are attempting to overturn the ruling and the indictment. They refer to 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 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 more 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 before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a conversation with reporters. 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 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 are almost even in the latest poll
According to a New York Times and Siena College survey, Donald Trump is slightly ahead of Kamala Harris. Trump receives 48 percent, Harris 46 percent, it is stated, referring to the survey. The margin of error is 3.3 percentage points. A total of 1142 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 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 a conversation 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. Accordingly, they 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 once again attacked Vice President Kamala Harris. On his platform "Truth Social," Trump labeled Harris a "radical left Marxist," stating that the U.S. "is not ready" for her. Trump had previously referred to Harris as "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 cooperation between the two in the coming months, according to Reuters.
You can read about previous developmentshere.**
- The criticism against J.D. Vance, the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, did not deter him from expressing his views, even on topics like the US government's composition or the issue of In-vitro Fertilization.
- During his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, former US President Donald Trump emphasized his good relationship with the leader and criticized Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' approach to Israel.
- The US Intelligence Agency, as well as other international agencies and organizations, have expressed concerns about the 2024 US Presidency Election, potentially involving attempts to interfere or manipulate the results.
- In a move aimed at attracting younger voters for the Democrats, Vice President Kamala Harris joined the popular social media platform TikTok, reaching over 750,000 followers in just a few hours.
- Attempts are being made by Donald Trump's lawyers to overturn the ruling that a president enjoys immunity for official actions in the hush money case against him, claiming that the Supreme Court decision applies to this case.
- Despite political differences and the ongoing attempts to oust him, former President Donald Trump continues to maintain good relations with Israeli leaders, like Benyamin Netanyahu, who warmly welcomed him during their recent meeting.
