Another Democrat calls for Biden to withdraw from campaign, 19:08
36. Mark Takano calls for Biden to withdraw from presidential campaign
Democratic Representative Mark Takano, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, is urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. In a statement on X, he writes further that "it has become clear to me that the requirements of a modern campaign are best met by the Vice President." The California congressman added, "I respect and admire Biden, but there's too much at stake to fail."
18:10 Vance calls for Biden to retire from presidency
Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence has called on President Joe Biden to retire from the presidency instead of withdrawing his candidacy for re-election. "If you can't run, you can't serve. He should step down," Pence 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 we think
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 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, the acceptance of conspiracy theories, and the availability of weapons in the United States. Walter exposes a false sense of naivety and innocence in American society. One mistakenly believes that the United States are "too good" for such things.
16:35 Sharon Stone on US election: I am deeply concerned
Hollywood star Sharon Stone expresses concern for 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. It's the first time someone has built their campaign on the basis of hate and suppression, she added. She did not mention any names. However, former President Donald Trump, who was recently nominated as the Republican Party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election, is likely intended. 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 Mike Pence. The suspect threatened to kill the Republican presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate, according to the Jupiter Police Department. The man reportedly made his 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 today since the attack on his person in Butler. The 78-year-old will appear in Grand Rapids in the contested state of Michigan, alongside 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, the event in Grand Rapids 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, leading extremism researcher at King's College in London, considers Donald Trump an extremist. "He is not willing to accept a lost election. That is the prerequisite for a democracy to function," he told "t-online". Neumann recognizes clear authoritarian tendencies in Trump. "If it were up to him, one wouldn't need Congress, the courts, the media, or even the parliament." Regarding a potentially violent escalation during the presidential election on November 5, he also stated: "There are 350 million weapons in the US 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 are in "panic"
Joe Biden's 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 and the Republicans bear some responsibility for the shootings"The US author T.C. Boyle sees a shared responsibility of Donald Trump and the Republican Party for the shootings at Trump's rally. "He is 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 to get rid of any controls whatsoever. They even want to repeal the laws that currently regulate automatic weapons." Joe Biden is urged by Boyle to withdraw as a 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 names Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
12:39 Hunter: "Michelle Obama is the only one with better values than Trump"What about Biden staying in the race or withdrawing? Political scientist Thomas Häger speaks of a "self-destruction 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 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. Although Trump showed restraint when speaking about the attack on him, "he hated what he was saying," according to Christie regarding 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 electionGerman Defense Minister Boris Pistorius states that Germany's military role in Europe would increase independently of the outcome of the US Presidential election. "Should Donald Trump become US President, the weights within NATO are likely to shift even faster," Pistorius tells the "Tagesspiegel." The Federal Republic as the largest economy in the EU would "then be even more demanded." This development should also be reflected in the federal budget.
10:23 Biden follows Trump speech angry at home - and agitatedIn a lengthy thread on X, US President Joe Biden sharply criticizes 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 writes, who is currently recovering from a Corona infection. Biden criticizes Trump's tax policy. "He said he would start with 'debt forgiveness' and further lower 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." In addition, 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 US. He doesn't believe 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 can't use the attack as a unifying theme because 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 anally infected 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 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," Moulton writes. "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 some US President Biden's major donors withholding financing, the liberal umbrella organization "America Votes" announced in a press release that they will spend 40 Million Dollars 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 Donald 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 Nomination of Harris, if Biden Drops OutCalifornian Congresswoman 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 Biden drops out. According to the "New York Times," Pelosi made her position clear during a meeting with the delegation. With Biden, the Democrats would lose any 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 endorsed Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance on social media, according to a Facebook post by the Jupiter Police Department in the US state of Florida. The authorities were alerted by online tips and neighbors about the suspect. Upon reviewing his Facebook account, the officers discovered threats against Trump and Vance. Threats were also made against their family members. 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 Congresswoman 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 President.
02:45 Trump Supporter Scouted Event Location with DroneThe Trump assassination suspect scouted the event location with a drone, according to a report by the "Wall Street Journal." The suspect was able to take aerial photographs 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. These findings could raise further questions about whether the event site was adequately secured.
01:39 Prominent Biden Supporter Drops AdvisorReid Hoffman, a prominent Democratic donor and co-founder of LinkedIn with a fortune in billions, has parted ways with his longtime 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 the major donors who encouraged the Democrats to rally behind President Biden as their party's candidate.
00:29 More Democrats call for Biden to withdraw
Representative Gabe Vasquez from New Mexico urges 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, joins 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 abandon his campaign.
23:20 Harris tries to calm nerves of top Democratic donors - fails
Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to reassure the largest donors of the Democratic Party during a video call, informing them that there was little cause for concern regarding President Biden's campaign. Several participants of 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 about 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 held his first campaign appearance on Saturday 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 spokesperson Hardt: We need to adjust to new Republicans
The foreign policy spokesperson for the Union faction, Jürgen Hardt, anticipates that the Republicans, under their presidential candidate, will ideologically realign themselves - regardless of the November election outcome. Trump's campaign promises, Hardt referred to as a "wonderful surprise."
21:23 While withdrawal calls grow louder: Harris enjoys ice cream with nieces at Tyra Banks' pop-up shop
As calls for Biden's withdrawal from the US presidential race grow louder, even from within the Democratic Party (see entry 20:56), Vice President Harris spent time with her nieces at a pop-up ice cream shop in Washington D.C. owned by former model Tyra Banks. The US Vice President and her nieces enjoyed their ice cream, served personally by the ex-model.
20:56 Democrats openly call for Biden to withdraw
More and more Democrats are urging US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign for the US elections in November. In the past few 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 from the race. Earlier, 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 for 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 will win the election in November. He recently paused due to Corona symptoms. In the past few 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
If US-President Joe Biden were to 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, Michigan governor, as her vice presidential candidate would have the best chances of leading the party through this crisis. US Vice President Kamala Harris is being heavily touted as a potential successor to Biden in the US presidential elections in November. Whitmer is one of the rising stars in the democratic party. Furthermore, Zelizer sees the potential in 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 reportedly discussed scenarios for his withdrawal from the campaign. This is reported by NBC News, citing two people familiar with the discussions. The discussions were reportedly about Biden's withdrawal options. The people quoted by NBC News describe two conditions for a possible withdrawal plan that were discussed: If Biden were to make this decision, he must put the party in the best position to defeat former President Donald Trump. It is also important that Biden leaves his office with dignity. The fact that Biden is even considering withdrawing and discussing potential withdrawal plans with his family is a new development, NBC News reports.
17:03 Could Kamala Harris 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 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. This was announced by his campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, 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 the past few 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.
15:38 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 truly 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
Due to prolonged pressure, President Joe Biden is reportedly considering withdrawing from the presidential race according to media reports. The "New York Times" cites several sources within Biden's circle, who claim 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. 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 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 shooting incident involving a teenager who shot and killed four students at a high school in Michigan via the internet before the attack, 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 during the 80s and 90s. Advertisements and film appearances followed. Now, Hulk Hogan enters the presidential campaign in a spectacular way. At the Republican Party convention, he pays homage to Donald Trump in a wrestling-style speech.
12:36 Spahn praises Trump's foreign policy positions
Union Vice-Fraction Leader Jens Spahn finds praiseworthy words for Trump's foreign policy positions. Spahn mentioned on MDR approximately Trump's stance on containing China and the existence of Israel. The former Federal Health Minister also commented on Trump's announced peace initiative for Ukraine. He said Europeans should "be part of these talks" and could not be content with the role of spectators. 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," says communication expert Christian Galvez, but also contains "unusual notes" for the Republicans.
11:26 Trump performance reminiscent of "Life of Brian" for security experts
According to security expert Christian Mölling, the content of Trump's statements at the US Republican Party convention is not the most significant aspect. "When you see that people really cling to this 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 revered. It doesn't matter if it's a shoe or a band: Trump is being stylized as a savior and he styles himself that way as well, and that's why the content, I believe, is quite banal."
10:55 Politologist 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 politologist assesses whether Biden will still be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate next week:
10:19 Trump inflicts more damage than through "ten worst presidents" combined
Trump initially didn't want to mention Biden in his speech, but he deviated from his script again in this regard. "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, chaos ensues
In Milwaukee, Trump spoke about the assassination attempt against him; he seemed tired, but was then celebrated by delegates and didn't always stick to his script - "old tunes come through." ntv reporter Hanna Klouth shares her impressions of Trump's official presidential campaign speech of the Republicans:
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 specified in the script.
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 stating whether his administration would come to Taiwan's aid if he is re-elected 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.**
- Following the calls for Biden to withdraw from the US Presidential Election 2024, efforts to draft Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential replacement have escalated.
- Several high-ranking Democratic officials, including Representative Mark Takano, have voiced their concern over Biden's age and physical health, urging him to pass the torch to Harris.
- Attempts to persuade Biden to step down have gained momentum in recent days, as evidenced by the growing list of Democratic supporters encouraging him to withdraw.
- The U.S. Intelligence Agency has been keeping a close eye on potential threats and security concerns surrounding the election, particularly in light of the recent attempted assault on Donald Trump.
- Politicians from both sides of the aisle have been vocal in their opinions, with Republicans criticizing Biden's handling of various issues, and Democrats defending his leadership.
- The dynamics of the upcoming election are fluctuating, with both the Democrats and Republicans focusing on their respective strategies, alignments, and messages to win the hearts and votes of the American people in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other key battleground states.
