Ticker for the US election campaign Report: Trump supporter Musk in regular contact with Putin since 2022 +++ Latest polls from swing states

On November 5, 2024, the President and Congress will be elected in the USA. The ticker will keep you up to date with all the important developments.

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7.55 pm

Dozens of US Nobel laureates speak out in favor of Kamala Harris

More than 80 US Nobel laureates have spoken out in favor of Democrat Kamala Harris for president in an open letter. "This is the most momentous presidential election in a long time, perhaps ever, for the future of science and the United States," reads the letter, which was published by the "New York Times", among others. "We the undersigned strongly support Harris."

Harris understands that the growth in life expectancy and living standards in the US in recent decades is largely due to advances in science and technology, it continues. She also understands the central role that immigrants have played in this progress. Under Trump, this progress would be at risk.

6.51 a.m.

A total of 119 million dollars: Musk donates millions more to Trump's election campaign

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has now donated around 119 million dollars to support Donald Trump's election campaign. By mid-October alone, Musk had transferred 43.6 million dollars (just over 40 million euros) to the America PAC organization, which focuses primarily on battleground states such as Pennsylvania. From July to the end of September, Musk had donated around 75 million dollars.

Meanwhile, America PAC continues with its controversial cash gifts of one million dollars a day to one registered voter at a time. On Wednesday, it was reported that the US Department of Justice had warned Musk that the campaign could violate election law.

Musk had announced the daily cash giveaway until the election this weekend. The campaign is aimed at registered voters who sign a petition. It is about "freedom of expression and the right to bear arms".

According to US election law, it is illegal to pay citizens money to vote or register to vote. According to Musk, the million-dollar gift is intended to raise awareness of the petition. However, critics of the campaign see a problem in the fact that only registered voters can take part. This could be interpreted to mean that the prospect of the money creates an incentive to register.

5.50 am

Report: Trump supporter Musk in regular contact with Putin since 2022

According to a newspaper report, tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the end of 2022. The Wall Street Journal cites several current and former government officials from the USA, Europe and Russia. The conversations between Musk and Putin reportedly covered geopolitical, business and personal topics.

The wealthy entrepreneur did not respond to advance requests for comment from the newspaper and initially did not comment on the report even after it was published. Instead, he made further posts in support of former President Donald Trump on his online platform X, where he regularly disseminates right-wing conservative positions. Two years ago, Musk explicitly denied a report about alleged contact with Putin.

However, the contacts had actually taken place and had continued into this year, wrote the Wall Street Journal, citing a current and a former secret service employee. At one point, Musk was asked by Putin not to activate the Starlink satellite communication system in Taiwan, it also said, citing two people briefed on the matter as sources. In doing so, Putin wanted to do a favor for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who claims control over Taiwan and backs Putin in his war of aggression against Ukraine.

Among other things, Musk is the head of electric car manufacturer Tesla and space travel company SpaceX. His Tesla shares in particular make him the richest person in the world. SpaceX currently plays a key role in the US space program - both in the civilian and military sectors. This is why Musk has a clearance for confidential information.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, SpaceX equipped the Ukrainian armed forces with Starlink terminals to replace cellular infrastructure destroyed by Russian troops. The US Department of Defense now has a contract with SpaceX for this. Musk's biography revealed that he claimed to have prevented a Ukrainian attack on the Russian Black Sea fleet on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. Musk had refused the Ukrainian request to activate Starlink in the area, citing fears of a military escalation with nuclear weapons.

Republican presidential candidate Trump has held out the prospect of appointing Musk to head a committee to review US government spending if he wins the election on November 5. This could lead to conflicts of interest, as SpaceX is a contractor of the US government and Tesla is dependent on the decisions of the US regulatory authorities. At the same time, Musk's electric car company is the focus of several investigations.

4.18 am

Trump: China's head of state Xi would treat Harris "like a baby"

If former US President Donald Trump is to be believed, Kamala Harris is likely to have an extremely difficult time on the international stage if she wins the election. Chinese head of state Xi Jinping will treat her "like a baby" if she is elected to the White House, Trump claimed in an interview with conservative radio presenter Hugh Hewitt on Thursday.

When asked how Xi would treat the Democrat in a meeting, the Republican replied: "Like a baby (...) He would take away all her sweets very quickly. She would have no idea what was happening. It would be like a great chess master playing against a beginner."

Trump is known for insulting rivals, sometimes savagely, and disparaging women in particular. Harris has also had to endure a series of patronizing attacks during the election campaign: From calling her "lazy" - a word long used to devalue black people in a racist way - to claiming she was "mentally challenged" and asking if she was "on drugs".

Now Trump and his allies are increasingly going out of their way to infantilize his Democratic rival. In his interview with Hewitt, Trump said he had seen Harris on CNN and perceived her "almost like a child". "She's an empty vessel," Trump said. "But she's being pushed around beautifully by a very smart, very powerful, very liberal, viciously liberal, but very, very smart, powerful party, the Democrats."

Former Fox host Tucker Carlson had also referred to Trump as the "dad" of the US on Wednesday and Harris as a "little girl": "Daddy's mad," Carlson said at an event in Georgia. "And when daddy comes home, you know what he says? 'You've been a bad girl. You've been a bad little girl, and you're going to get a spanking.'"

Harris also lashed out at Trump during the campaign, calling him "increasingly unhinged and unstable." During a CNN Citizen Hour on Wednesday, she called Trump a "fascist."

3:28 p.m.

Musk donates millions to Republican Senate campaign

Tech billionaire Elon Musk not only wants to help Donald Trump back into the White House, but also secure his party a majority of votes in the US Senate with large-scale campaign donations. At the beginning of October, Musk donated ten million dollars to an organization that supports Republican Senate candidates, according to documents published on Thursday.

The balance of power in Congress, with the House of Representatives and the Senate, determines whether and how the President can push through his government policy. If the other party has a majority in even just one of the two chambers of parliament, the current polarization of US politics will make it difficult to successfully implement legislative proposals.

Trump's Republicans currently have the majority in the House of Representatives and President Joe Biden's Democrats control the Senate - but only thanks to the additional vote of Vice President Kamala Harris, who can intervene in stalemate situations. She will face Trump in the presidential election on November 5.

On the same day, all seats in the House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate will also be up for grabs. The Democrats are threatened with losing control of the Senate, as polls suggest they are likely to lose one seat.

Musk donated 75 million dollars to the America PAC organization, which is supporting Trump's election campaign, between July and September. The entrepreneur, who now represents many right-wing conservative positions, also appears at events in so-called swing states such as Pennsylvania. The result in the state could decide the presidential election if the outcome is close.

Friday, October 24, 2024, 3.13 am

Bruce Springsteen: Trump wants to become an "American tyrant"

Rock star Bruce Springsteen has backed US presidential candidate Kamala Harris and warned against a second term for Donald Trump. Trump is running "to become an American tyrant", Springsteen said at a campaign appearance by Harris in Atlanta, Georgia. The Republican doesn't understand the country - or what it means to be an American. Springsteen said he was supporting Democrat Harris because he wanted to see a person in the White House who respected the Constitution and wanted to build an economy for the middle class. The rock star also sang several songs for the audience on acoustic guitar.

Georgia is one of the states that could decide the presidential election on November 5. To win, you need 270 electoral votes from different states. In Georgia, there are 16 electoral votes at stake. Four years ago, President Joe Biden won there against Trump. This time, Biden's Vice President Harris and Trump are running neck-and-neck in Georgia, with several polls showing the Republican former president narrowly ahead.

8.43 pm

Trump wants to fire special prosecutor Smith if elected

Former US President Donald Trump has threatened to fire special prosecutor Jack Smith immediately if he is re-elected. In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday, the presidential candidate was asked whether he would first pardon himself in office or fire Smith to get rid of his legal problems. "That's so easy," Trump said. "I would fire him in two seconds. He will be one of the first things that will be addressed."

Smith has leveled accusations against Trump over his efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and his handling of confidential documents. Smith was appointed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022.

Allegation of election fraudSpecial prosecutor publishes revised complaint against Trump

Trump could instruct the Department of Justice to remove Smith from office if he wins the presidential election. However, he would probably not be able to bring about the dismissal single-handedly because Smith was not appointed by a president.

6:12 p.m.

Beyoncé to perform at Harris rally

Shortly before the US presidential election on November 5, singer Beyoncé is to perform at a campaign rally for candidate Kamala Harris. As sources told the AP news agency on Thursday, Beyoncé will be at a rally in her home town of Houston in the US state of Texas on Friday (tomorrow). The song "Freedom" by Beyoncé from 2016 is Harris' campaign song. Her campaign team did not initially comment on the information provided by the three sources about Beyoncé's planned appearance.

Democrat Harris is campaigning in Texas, where a victory for her in the presidential election is actually considered impossible - the Republicans dominate the southern state. The Vice President wants to refocus her campaign on abortion rights, which is an important issue for the Democrats in the presidential election. During Harris' visit to Texas, women who are affected by the restricted abortion rights in the state are to be introduced.

6 p.m.

Trump calls the European Union a "mini-China"

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has bemoaned the trade deficit with the European Union, describing it as a "mini-China". "They don't take our cars, they don't take our agricultural products, they don't take anything," Trump said in a radio interview on Thursday.

"You know, the EU is a mini, but not so mini, a mini-China," Trump continued. The right-wing populist put the trade deficit with the European Union at 312 billion dollars. According to the EU statistics authority Eurostat, the US deficit in trade in goods with the European Union amounted to 157.9 billion euros (170.54 billion dollars) last year.

2.13 pm

The latest polls from the swing states

Pennsylvania: In the latest poll, Donald Trump is one percentage point ahead of Kamala Harris, who has 48 percent. 3 percent of respondents are undecided.

Michigan: The state stands out. Here, the latest poll puts Kamala Harris three points ahead of Trump, who has 46%. Other candidates account for 2 percent.

Wisconsin: The poll linked above also collected data in Wisconsin. Both candidates are tied with 48 percent.

North Carolina: According to a poll, Trump is two points ahead of Harris with 50 percent. 1 percent vote for third party candidates, 1 percent are undecided.

Georgia: Harris is also two points behind Trump in Georgia with 48 percent, according to this poll.

Arizona: There are two polls from the same period that come to different conclusions. On the one hand, both candidates are tied at 49 percent; on the other, Trump is ahead with 50 percent, while Harris only scores 47 percent.

Nevada: Both candidates are currently at 48 percent.

12:20 p.m.

Fox News host defends Hitler statement

The revelations from Donald Trump's former chief of staff - see also entry 5.48am - continue to make waves: John Kelly has reported that the New Yorker wished for more "German generals" who only follow orders - like "Hitler's generals."

It is obvious that Trump's favorite channel Fox News does not see this so critically. However, a statement by presenter Brian Kilmeade on the show "Fox & Friends" has now provoked criticism. Kilmeade is furious about Kelly, who only wants to market his book. He never liked Trump anyway, the 60-year-old says excitedly - even though no one was Trump's chief of staff for much longer.

Fox host Brian Kilmeade justifies Trump wanting German generals

Kilmeade: I can absolutely see him go it'd be great to have German generals that actually do what we ask them to do, maybe not fully being cognizant of the third rail of German generals who were Nazis or whatever pic.twitter.com/6lpjH6foEk

— Lis Power (@LisPower1) October 23, 2024

Then Kilmeade says, "I can totally see him saying, 'It would be great to have German generals who actually do what you ask them to do - maybe without being fully aware of the thorny issue of German generals who were Nazis or whatever."

The Daily Show notices that co-host Steve Doocy looks a little embarrassed at these words. Last but not least, according to Kelly, Trump explicitly spoke of "Hitler's generals" when asked.

"I like that Kilmeade thinks praising Hitler is a sensitive issue," says host Michael Kosta. "Like it's a taboo subject that's just not politically correct enough to bring up in the office. Oh, you're not even allowed to praise a woman's hairstyle anymore, or tell her about all the good things Hitler did. Thank you, Woke Police!"

Criticism of Kilemade also comes from a former Trump employee who once worked in the White House press office. "This is crazy," writes Sarah Matthews on X. "Hitler's generals committed genocide. Republicans: stop defending this. There's no way to spin this [into a positive]."

This… is insane. Hitler’s generals carried out GENOCIDE.

Republicans: STOP defending this. This is not normal. There is no way to spin this. https://t.co/TytIM3TIC7

— Sarah Matthews (@SarahAMatthews1) October 23, 2024

11 a.m.

Bad report card for Trump's economic policy

In the US, 23 economists who have been awarded a Nobel Prize have compared the economic policies of the two leading candidates. Their open letter leaves no questions unanswered.

The result: "Harris' agenda is significantly better for the US economy." The researchers write: "While each of us has a different opinion on the specifics of various economic policies, we believe that Harris's economic agenda as a whole will improve health, investment, sustainability, resilience, job opportunities, and fairness in our country and is far superior to Donald Trump's counterproductive economic agenda."

Trump is banking on regressive tax cuts, which he wants to pay for with tariffs that should even apply to friendly countries. This would lead to "higher prices, greater deficits and more inequality". The economy also needs security and the rule of law. "Harris, on the other hand, favors policies that strengthen the middle class, promote competition and encourage entrepreneurship."

10.12 am

Ex-model accuses Trump of sexual harassment

Ex-model Stacey Williams accuses Donald Trump of indecently touching her in Trump Tower after Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to the New Yorker.

What was Trump saying to Epstein here? pic.twitter.com/DVgMAasEJb

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) October 23, 2024

In 1992, the convicted sex offender Epstein, who is said to have committed suicide in custody in 2019, introduced Trump and Williams at a Christmas party. Epstein was interested in her: the two went on two dates, according to the British Guardian.

BREAKING: Model Stacey Williams just came forward and accused Donald Trump of groping her and assaulting her after being introduced to him by JEFFREY EPSTEIN. This is who Trump is. He’s disgusting and Republicans should not ignore this. pic.twitter.com/MnPN5XQDDZ

— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) October 23, 2024

"It became very clear at the time that he and Donald were really, really good friends and spent a lot of time together," Williams is quoted as saying. In the spring of 1993, she went for a walk with Epstein in New York when he is said to have suggested visiting his friend in Trump Tower.

When they got there, Trump allegedly groped her. His hands were "all over my chest", but also on her hips and bottom, according to Williams. The then 25-year-old froze because she was "extremely confused" by the scene. Williams also had the impression that the two men were smiling at each other and that a "perverse game" was going on between them.

Put yourself or your children in Stacey Williams' place- instead of the perpetrator's. Please.pic.twitter.com/eZPPYLor4z

— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) October 24, 2024

According to Williams, it continued after the incident: "Jeffrey and I left and he didn't look at me or speak to me. And as we were walking down the sidewalk, he looked at me and berated me: 'How could you let him do that?' He made me feel so gross, and I remember how downright confused I was. I felt like a piece of meat."

A spokeswoman for Donald Trump denies these allegations in the Guardian, saying that because Williams was a former Obama campaigner and had spoken out in support of Harris, her campaign had arranged this whole story.

9 a.m.

Political turmoil surrounding the Los Angeles Times

An editor at the Los Angeles Times has resigned because the paper's owner blocked editorial plans to endorse Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

In an interview with the "Columbia Journalism Review", editor Mariel Garza explained that she left because the newspaper was not taking a stand in "dangerous times". In such times, you have to stand up, she said, "and that's the way I stand up."

🚨 BREAKING: “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent,” says Mariel Garza, as LA Times blocks Kamala Harris endorsement. pic.twitter.com/Ue16rU1AA9

— Los Angeles Magazine (@LAmag) October 23, 2024

Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the LA Times, wrote on X that his paper's editorial board had been asked to provide a factual analysis of Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump's policies and present them to readers in a way that would allow them to make up their own minds.

However, the editorial leadership had decided to remain silent and he had accepted this decision. Garza, on the other hand, told the Columbia Journalism Review that the editorial board had intended to publish a statement of support for Harris and had written a draft editorial to that effect.

So many comments about the @latimes Editorial Board not providing a Presidential endorsement this year. Let me clarify how this decision came about.

The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH…

— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) October 23, 2024

The LA Times Union Council expressed deep concern over the owner's decision to block a planned endorsement and blame the editorial board for it.

Trump's campaign team seized on Garza's resignation, saying the paper had refused to endorse the Democrat despite having endorsed Harris in previous races for political posts.

7:45 a.m.

Trump speaks in Texas about "migrant crime"

Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump plans to speak in the state of Texas on the issues of border security and "migrant crime", according to his campaign team. The statement from Trump's campaign team said: "The only leader who will secure our borders and put Americans first is President Donald J. Trump."

Both Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris plan to hold rallies in the Texas capital Austin tomorrow, Friday. Harris is also likely to focus on the issue of border security - alongside abortion rights, which the Democrats have identified as a crucial issue in the election campaign.

5:48 p.m.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defends Trump after report on Hitler remarks

Former non-partisan US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has defended former US President Donald Trump following reports of trivializing remarks about Adolf Hitler. He said on Wednesday that Trump would be a president "who unites America".

Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly had told the New York Times that the ex-president had often said that "Hitler did some good things". According to Kennedy, Kelly's accusations are completely unfounded. He criticized the ex-chief of staff for his interview statements and for claiming that Trump met the definition of a fascist.

Kennedy had given up his own candidacy in the summer and backed Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. The nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was killed in an assassination attempt in 1963, made headlines during the coronavirus pandemic as an opponent of vaccination and spread conspiracy stories about the dangers of 5G technology.

5.03 am

Harris: "I pray every day"

US presidential candidate Kamala Harris says she prays every day. "I pray every day, sometimes twice a day," the Democrat said during a CNN Citizen's Hour on Wednesday evening (local time). She was raised to believe in a loving God and lives her faith by thinking about how she can help others. This principle also guides her work.

Presenter Anderson Cooper had asked Harris about a report that she initially called a pastor after Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race. "I needed that spiritual kind of connection. I needed that advice. I needed a prayer," she said of the conversation with Pastor Amos Brown from her Baptist church in San Francisco.

The election campaign in the USA has reached its final phase. The election is less than two weeks away, on November 5. Christians and conservatives are an important group of voters. Polls predict a close race between Harris and her Republican challenger Donald Trump. Voters who have not yet decided who they want to vote for were invited to the town hall.

4.04 pm

Harris thinks Trump is a fascist

US presidential candidate Kamala Harris considers her Republican opponent in the race for the presidency, former President Donald Trump, to be a fascist. The Democrat made this clear during a citizens' debate on US broadcaster CNN on Wednesday evening (local time). Presenter Anderson Cooper asked the 60-year-old: "Do you think Donald Trump is a fascist?" Harris answered without hesitation: "Yes, I do."

The question was triggered by comments made by Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly. He told the New York Times that, in his view, Trump "falls under the general definition of a fascist". He referred to the description of fascism as an extreme right-wing, authoritarian and ultra-nationalist ideology, which includes a dictatorial leader and suppression of the opposition.

Trump is "increasingly unstable" and "unfit for office," Harris said. Former employees of the ex-president and close confidants had explicitly pointed out that Trump despised the Constitution of the United States and should never again hold the office of President of the United States, Harris said.

With his statements about Trump, Kelly had "sent out a distress call to the American people" to point out what could happen if he moved back into the White House. The people who could "hold Trump back" are no longer there. "I believe Donald Trump is a danger to the well-being and security of America," Harris said.

Harris also tried to score points with undecided voters by addressing the issues on which many Americans trust Trump more. "I will never allow America to have an insecure border," Harris said. Trump and his supporters claim that under President Joe Biden and Harris as his vice president, uncontrolled immigration into the U.S. has escalated. Harris evaded the question of whether she wanted to build a wall on the border with Mexico like Trump: "I want to strengthen our border."

Harris also assured that she would not ban the controversial extraction of natural gas through fracking - contrary to Trump's claims. Fracking is an important economic factor in the contested state of Pennsylvania, which could decide the race for the White House with its 19 electoral votes. It needs 270 electoral votes to win.

Harris signaled that she could support changing the voting rules in the US Senate to enshrine the right to abortion in law. "I think we need to look at the filibuster," Harris said in reference to the requirement that a majority of 60 out of 100 votes is needed in the Senate to end protracted debates. With the narrow majorities, this has ensured for years that controversial decisions between the two parties cannot be made.

The election campaign in the USA has reached its final phase. The election is just under two weeks away, on November 5. Polls predict a close race between Harris and Trump.

0.33 pm

Justice Department warns Musk over millions for voters

According to media reports, tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk has received a warning from the US Department of Justice over his million-dollar gifts to voters. Musk's organization "America PAC" was informed that the campaign may violate US election law, the TV stations CNN and NBC reported, citing informed persons. The Department of Justice would not comment on the information when asked.

Musk had announced at the weekend that he would give one million dollars a day to a registered voter in particularly hard-fought US states until the election. The campaign is aimed at registered voters who sign a petition. It is about "freedom of speech and the right to bear arms" - it was launched by Musk's organization "America PAC". This organization supports the election campaign of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

According to US election law, it is illegal to pay citizens money to vote or register to vote. According to Musk, the million-dollar gift is intended to raise awareness of the petition. However, critics of the campaign, such as law professor Rick Hasen from the University of California in Los Angeles, see a problem in the fact that only registered voters can take part. Hasen argued that this could be interpreted as the gift of money creating an incentive to register. On Monday, a group of former prosecutors and government officials called on the Justice Department to investigate the scheme, according to the Washington Post.

Musk handed over the first million-dollar checks over the weekend in hard-fought Pennsylvania. The state could be particularly important because it has 19 electoral votes. You need 270 electoral votes to win the presidential election.

Musk has long supported Trump financially with donations in the millions. Trump recently hinted that the head of electric car manufacturer Tesla could be appointed to head a committee to review US finances if he wins the election. Musk should cut government spending, Trump said. The billionaire often complains about the allegedly excessive demands made by the authorities on Tesla and SpaceX, the aerospace company he also runs. His Tesla shares in particular make Musk the richest person in the world, with an estimated fortune of around 240 billion dollars.

Thursday, October 24, 2024, 0:10 a.m.

US deputy candidate Walz votes early with son

Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate for US Vice President, has cast his vote for the presidential election together with his 18-year-old son Gus, a first-time voter. The two went to a polling station together on Wednesday (local time) in the state of Minnesota, where Walz is governor. There they took the opportunity to vote before the actual election day on November 5: They filled out their ballots, handed them in one by one and then high-fived each other, as could be seen on videos.

Speaking to reporters, Walz described the election as "an opportunity to overcome the chaos of Donald Trump and start on a new path". He also used the opportunity to draw attention to the recently published statements by Trump's former Chief of Staff John Kelly, according to which Trump is said to have made relativizing remarks about Adolf Hitler. Walz thanked Kelly for his "courage to go public" and show the world "how dangerous" Trump is.

Early voting has already begun in several states. The presidential election in the USA takes place on November 5. It is shaping up to be a neck-and-neck race between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

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Find out what was important beforehand here.