Ticker for the US election campaign Scandal at CNN: "I hope your pager doesn't go off" ++ Biden calls Trump supporters "garbage"

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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10.39 a.m.

Hindu priests pray for Kamala Harris' victory

Hindu priests in India are praying for Kamala Harris' victory. A fire ritual has been performed to positively influence the election in Harris' favor.

An 11-day ceremony was held in honor of Harris' mother. She emigrated from India to the USA 19 years ago.

10.08 am

Trump tariffs would cost every Swiss 200 francs

The trade tariffs imposed by a US government led by Donald Trump would also directly affect Switzerland. According to an analysis by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute, the costs for every Swiss citizen would amount to at least CHF 200 per year.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to impose extensive tariffs on imports into the USA, as KOF economists Hans Gersbach, Paul Maunoir and Kieran Walsh write in an analysis published in the KOF Newsletter. The focus is on goods from China, on which the USA wants to levy a tariff of 60 percent, while the tariff on goods from all other countries is to be 20 percent.

Due to the great importance of the USA for Swiss exports, the local economy will be more affected than other European countries, according to the KOF economists. The pharmaceutical industry in particular would be directly affected by the import duties. However, manufacturers of machinery, equipment, precision instruments, watches and food would also suffer significantly from the tariffs.

According to the economists' calculations, Switzerland's real GDP would fall by more than 0.2 percent. Whether China takes countermeasures or not would only have a minimal impact on Switzerland's losses, as the Swiss economy would not be directly affected.

The tariffs envisaged by a Trump administration would also have severe consequences for the USA itself. According to the KOF experts, the level of real GDP in the USA would fall by more than 2.5% in the short term. By contrast, the losses in China would be smaller: With countermeasures, GDP would shrink by 0.5 percent and without by almost 0.2 percent.

9.40 a.m.

CNN scandal: "I hope your pager doesn't go off"

CNN has banned a conservative commentator from the network after a scandal. It's about Ryan James Girdusky, who was one of five guests on Monday night's "NewsNight With Abby Phillip" on Oct. 28.

This led to a heated discussion about the Republican campaign event in New York's Madison Square Garden. Girdusky engages in a battle of words with Mehdi Hasan, a British-born presenter and columnist.

Girdusky to Hasan: I hope your beeper doesn’t go off pic.twitter.com/YmHhYnkDZ3

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024

In the scene, Hasan asks if Girdusky has called him an anti-Semite, but Girdusky denies it. Hasan says that he still hears that a lot and explains: "I support the Palestinians, so I'm used to it." Girdusky replies: "I hope your pager doesn't go off."

An allusion to the manipulated pagers of the terrorist Hamas, which are said to have killed at least 42 people and injured more than 3,500 in September. "Did you just say that I was supposed to die?" asks Hasan, taken aback.

CNN issues statement after Ryan Girdusky told Mehdi Hasan “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off” on live TV for saying he supports Palestinians.

“There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN […] Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network.” pic.twitter.com/RUx2kUaqvF

— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 29, 2024

The rest of the panel is shocked and an animated discussion ensues. After the broadcast, CNN pulls the ripcord because a line has been crossed.

Girdusky fires back at X, saying you can't go on CNN if you make a joke, but only if you "falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from media outlets that Qatar funds".

You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media. Apparently you can't go on CNN if you make a joke. I'm glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.

— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) October 29, 2024

5:27 p.m.

Biden provides Trump with fuel with sentence about supporters

In the final spurt of the race for the White House, US President Joe Biden has caused a stir among Donald Trump and his supporters with comments made during an election campaign phone call. It appeared that Biden referred to Trump supporters as "garbage" during the call. The White House explained that the president had merely been misunderstood.

Trump and his confidants, such as tech billionaire Elon Musk, tried to mobilize their supporters with a scandal.

In the phone call, Biden referred to the controversy surrounding the tasteless joke at a major Trump campaign event. A comedian referred to the US territory of Puerto Rico as an "island of garbage floating in the ocean". The comment sparked fierce outrage in Puerto Rico - and this could become a problem for Trump shortly before the election. After all, around 500,000 Puerto Ricans live in the fiercely contested and potentially decisive state of Pennsylvania alone.

In the phone call with the Latino community, Biden spoke positively of Puerto Ricans and criticized Trump. He was then quoted online and by the Trump site as saying, "The only garbage I see floating around is his supporters." According to the official White House transcript, the sentence went even further - and Biden did not refer to the supporters themselves as garbage, but to statements involving the "demonization of Latinos". Biden himself also announced a little later on the online platform X that he had meant the rhetoric. "That's all I meant to say."

Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say. The…

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 30, 2024

At this point, the quote that initially made the rounds had already been read out at a Trump campaign appearance. And Musk, who owns X, wrote there that Biden had called half of America "garbage".

Trump immediately sought a comparison to the faux pas of his former opponent Hillary Clinton, who had called some of his supporters "pathetic" during the 2016 election campaign, which she lost.

3.56pm

Harris warns against "tyrant" Trump: no more drama and chaos

In the final spurt of the US election campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has called for an end to chaos, division and drama under her Republican opponent Donald Trump. "This is an unstable man obsessed with revenge, consumed by resentment and bent on unchecked power," Harris said at a large rally south of the White House in the capital, Washington. This is exactly where Trump had stirred up his supporters with a speech on January 6, 2021, before storming the US Capitol.

Harris used the appearance in front of numerous supporters at the highly symbolic location to call for cohesion in the country a few days before the election and warn against another Trump presidency. She described her opponent as a "tyrant" and "would-be dictator".

Trump had incited his supporters in the same place at the time with the unsubstantiated claim that the Democrats had cheated him out of a victory in the 2020 presidential election. A violent mob then marched to nearby Capitol Hill and stormed the Houses of Parliament. On that day, Congress was in the process of formally confirming the election victory of Democrat Joe Biden against Trump.

To this day, Trump has not conceded his election defeat against Biden and is still claiming in the current election campaign that the Democrats tried to steal a victory from him by unfair means. The election will take place next Tuesday and there are concerns that similar upheavals could occur again as after the 2020 election. Trump's comments during the election campaign cast serious doubt on whether he would accept defeat this time.

Harris said that Trump had sent an armed mob to the Capitol at the time. One of his priorities if he were to return to the White House would be to release the violent extremists from January 6, 2021 and take criminal action against his enemies. Trump also wants to use the US military against Americans who disagree with him. Harris warned that previous generations had not fought for fundamental freedoms in order to subject the country to the will of a "tyrant". Nor is the USA a venue for the behavior of "would-be dictators".

"Donald Trump has spent a decade trying to divide the American people and put them in fear of each other," criticized the 60-year-old. This must stop, she said. "It's time we put the drama and the conflict, the fear and the division behind us." She said it was time for a new generation of leadership in America.

"I promise to be a president for all Americans and to always put the country before the party and myself," the Democrat shouted to the crowd. She said she wanted to seek compromise and use common sense to find solutions. "I'm not perfect. I make mistakes," Harris admitted. "But I promise you that I will always listen to you. Even if you don't vote for me." She does not see dissenters as enemies.

Harris struck a serious tone during the appearance, whereas in recent weeks she had often tried to add some lightness and good humor as a counterpoint to Trump during campaign appearances. Thousands of people of all ages came to her appearance. They had waited for hours in long queues to get onto the grounds. The atmosphere was peaceful, with many people waving US flags. The Democrat was repeatedly interrupted by chants of "Kamala".

Individual audience members appeared pensive and silent in the face of Harris' powerful words. Some held each other in their arms. Many people also gathered far outside the fenced-in area. Occasionally, shouts could be heard from demonstrators who wanted to disrupt the event. Their words were mainly directed against the Middle East policy of the Biden-Harris government.

Harris tried to distance herself from Biden during the speech. It had been an honor to serve as his vice president, she said, "but I will bring my own experience and ideas to the Oval Office. My presidency will be different because the challenges we face are different."

Biden did not attend the appearance of his deputy, for whom he had made room during the election campaign under pressure from his party. The 81-year-old followed the speech from the nearby White House. When asked by reporters why he was not attending, he had said in advance: "This is her night."

3.23 pm

Trump wants to put anti-vaccine Kennedy in charge of children's health

If elected US President, Donald Trump wants to entrust the well-known anti-vaccination campaigner Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with a role in health policy. He will put "the best minds" including Kennedy in charge of improving children's health, Trump said at a campaign appearance in the particularly contested state of Pennsylvania. The aim is to halve the number of cases of cancer, depression and suicide among children within four years. Trump did not say how this was to be achieved - nor did he specify exactly which position was intended for Kennedy.

According to a media report, Kennedy had previously announced to his supporters that Trump had promised him "control" of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. According to CNN, he wanted to make Americans healthier by moving away from the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture, among other things.

Kennedy initially ran as an independent candidate in the presidential election - but then withdrew his candidacy, which was already hopeless, and switched to the Trump camp, which he could otherwise have cost valuable votes. He comes from the prominent Kennedy family and was a Democrat for decades - but then increasingly distanced himself from the party. The avowed anti-vaccinationist is frequently criticized not only by Democrats but also by members of his family for spreading conspiracy theories and contacts with far-right politicians.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 0.07 a.m.

Report: 250,000 subscriptions already canceled at "Washington Post"

According to a media report, the "Washington Post" has lost one in ten subscribers after owner Jeff Bezos had the newspaper renounce an election endorsement in the race for the White House. More than 250,000 readers canceled their subscriptions in around three days, the radio station NPR reported on Tuesday. The decision around ten days before the presidential election had led to criticism that the Amazon founder had caved in to Donald Trump out of fear for his companies.

Bezos assured on Monday that he was not pursuing any personal interests with the "Washington Post". Rather, the reality is that many people consider the media to be biased. And that is why the newspaper should no longer make election recommendations from now on.

Reporters from the newspaper reported after the decision on Friday that a recommendation had already been written for the current Vice President Harris - but Bezos had decided not to publish it.

Although Bezos no longer runs Amazon himself, his fortune largely consists of shares in the world's largest online retailer. He also owns the space company Blue Origin, which relies on government contracts. A Trump administration could make life difficult for his companies.

The multi-billionaire bought the Washington Post, which uncovered the Watergate scandal in the 1970s and triggered the resignation of President Richard Nixon, in 2013. In the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, the newspaper expressed its support for Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

11:56 p.m.

Harris: Trump is dangerous and unstable

Democratic US presidential candidate Kamala Harris has described her Republican rival Donald Trump as dangerous and unfit for office in an interview. In an interview with television station WISN, however, she refused to call the 78-year-old a fascist again.

"I have said what I need to say, that he is dangerous and unfit and increasingly unstable and unhinged," she replied after journalist Matt Smith asked her several times if she wanted to call Trump a fascist in her campaign wrap-up speech. "And the American people deserve better," she said.

10:04 p.m.

Trump's Truth Social is worth more than Musk's X

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has trumped Elon Musk as a social media entrepreneur. Trump's Truth Social platform was worth more than ten billion dollars (around 9.3 billion euros) on Tuesday thanks to the share price gains of parent company Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG). Musk's short messaging service X was still worth around 9.4 billion dollars, according to the latest valuation of the shares by investment group Fidelity.

When Musk took over X, which was then still called Twitter, two years ago, the company was valued at around 44 billion dollars. At the time, Fidelity Investments valued its stake in the company at 19.7 million dollars. In a recently filed report, Fidelity put the value of its stake in X Holdings at around 4.2 million dollars.

Trump himself was active on Twitter for a long time, but was blocked there after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. He then founded TMTG. Trump owns around 57% of the company's shares, but is not involved in its management. TMTG is making losses and is struggling to generate revenue. However, the share price is more related to Trump's election chances than to the company's profit prospects. On Tuesday, the shares rose by more than 12 percent to 53.30 dollars, having already gained 21.6 percent on Monday. At the end of September, the share price was still less than 12 dollars.

18:10

Trump speaks of "celebration of love" after racism scandal in New York

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has described his election rally in New York, which was marked by racist outbursts, as a "celebration of love". Politicians with decades of experience had said that there had "never been such a beautiful event", Trump said on Tuesday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. "It was like a celebration of love," the right-wing populist continued. He said it had been an honor to attend.

At Trump's rally on Sunday at the famous Madison Square Garden venue in New York, several speakers had made racist and sexist comments. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said that the US foreign territory of Puerto Rico was an "island of garbage". At the same time, he made fun of Latinos who loved to "make babies".

Trump's first-term adviser, the ultra-right hardliner Stephen Miller, shouted at the rally in front of thousands of fanatical Trump supporters: "America belongs to the Americans - and only the Americans." US civilization must be saved, he said. Other Trump supporters such as high-tech billionaire Elon Musk, presenter Tucker Carlson, former wrestling star Hulk Hogan and his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani also took part in the rally in New York.

2.02 pm

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon released from prison

The former chief strategist of former US President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, has been released from prison after serving a four-month sentence, according to media reports.

The 70-year-old was picked up by his daughter from the prison in the state of Connecticut early this morning (local time), a week before the US election on November 5, according to reports including CNN, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The ultra-right-wing publicist and conspiracy theorist was convicted of ignoring a subpoena from the committee investigating the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and failing to provide requested documents. Bannon presented the accusations against him as politically motivated.

Trump's former campaign manager and host of the podcast "War Room" had made it clear during his prison sentence that he wanted to continue to influence the elections and mobilize the Trump base. According to CNN, he wants to take over the management of his ailing right-wing media platform again. Despite being in prison, he is said to have remained in contact with a small circle of loyal followers to discuss current news and political issues. According to the CNN report, Bannon could resume hosting his show as early as Tuesday.

Trump's supporters stormed the House of Representatives on January 6, 2021. At the time, Congress formally confirmed Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election. Trump rebuked his supporters in a speech, claiming that he had been deprived of his election victory through massive fraud. To this day, the Republican has not acknowledged his defeat. A committee of the House of Representatives investigated the Capitol storm and called on Bannon and other Trump confidants to cooperate, but they refused.

12.49 pm

Trump brings Bitcoin new all-time high

Bitcoin is moving towards an all-time high again. At midday on Tuesday, the Bitcoin price was trading at just over 71,500 US dollars. The largest cryptocurrency reached its previous high in March 2024 with a price of USD 73,738.

Market observers explain the recent price gains with the upcoming presidential election in the US, in which Donald Trump could win as the crypto-friendly candidate. One week before the election, there are positive poll results for Trump and the Republicans, said James Butterfill, head of research at Coinshares.

Trump is considered the favorite of a majority of the crypto community, although he had made negative comments about Bitcoin during his presidency. Most recently, however, the former US president actively courted the crypto community. During the election campaign, he accepted donations in various cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, Dogecoin and Solana.

At a major Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Trump promised to leave the crypto market largely unregulated and to provide cheap electricity for the calculation of new Bitcoin coins ("mining").

The Biden administration, on the other hand, is viewed as hostile by a number of players in the crypto community. However, Vice President Kamala Harris has tried to distance herself from the traditionally crypto-sceptical position of the Democratic Party and position herself as a moderate crypto supporter.

6.01 am

Comedian's "joke" about Puerto Rico taints Trump's election campaign

A tasteless joke by a comedian at one of Donald Trump's election rallies is becoming a problem for the Republican in the home stretch of the US election campaign.

After celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, several of Trump's well-known party colleagues also condemned the comment about Puerto Rico. And the chairman of the Republican Party there demanded a personal apology from Trump.

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who specializes in insults, was among the speakers at the big campaign event in New York's Madison Square Garden. He also made jokes with stereotypes about blacks, Palestinians and Jews - and then came: "There is literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean. I think it's called Puerto Rico."

Trump's campaign team quickly distanced itself from Hinchcliffe's words. "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign," it said in a statement on Sunday. The former president himself did not comment directly.

Although Puerto Rico is a US territory, it is not a federal state. The inhabitants there are US citizens but cannot vote. At the same time, however, several million Puerto Ricans live across the USA - who in turn can vote in the election on November 5.

The Catholic Archbishop Roberto González Nieves from Puerto Rico also demanded a personal apology from Trump. The local leader of the Republican Party, Ángel Cintrón, made similar comments in a television program.

The outrage could have consequences for the outcome of the election: Almost 500,000 Puerto Ricans live in the particularly hard-fought and important state of Pennsylvania alone. Harris' campaign team immediately picked up on the controversy in a video.

NEW AD: Puerto Ricans deserve better than Donald Trump.

Vice President Harris will fight for Puerto Ricans and their families. pic.twitter.com/Yhe67AxmZX

— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 29, 2024

Meanwhile, at an appearance in Georgia on Monday, Trump falsely said that he and his supporters were being called "Nazis" across the board by opponent Kamala Harris. "I'm not a Nazi. I'm the opposite of a Nazi," Trump said. In contrast, he said of Harris: "She's a fascist."

This was triggered by comments made by Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly, who said in an interview with the New York Times that the ex-president fulfilled the definition of a fascist for him. In an interview with the news channel CNN, Harris then responded positively to the question of whether she also considered Trump to be a fascist.

And Trump attacked the former president's wife, Michelle Obama, who had criticized him at the weekend. She had been "nasty" to him and had "made a big mistake", he said, accompanied by boos from his supporters. Among other things, Michelle Obama had accused Trump of erratic behavior.

4.10 am

Sports app Strava reveals the whereabouts of Biden, Trump and others

The exact whereabouts of leading politicians such as US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump could be made public via the fitness app Strava. According to research by the French newspaper "Le Monde", agents of the US Secret Service are also said to use the app, which could raise further security concerns following the recent assassination attempts on Donald Trump.

The app allows users to track their activities and share them with a community. "Le Monde" identified 26 US agents, 12 members of the French security group GSPR and six members of the Russian protection service FSO who had public accounts on Strava. These could lead to security breaches, especially when security agents travel in advance to places where heads of state are staying, the newspaper report said.

In one case, for example, Le Monde was able to track the movements of French President Emmanuel Macron's bodyguards. These suggested that he spent a private weekend in the town of Honfleur in 2021. In another example, the Strava profile of a US secret service employee revealed the location of a hotel where Biden stayed in San Francisco when he held high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023. "Le Monde" also reported that security personnel for Russian President Vladimir Putin used Strava, as well as the bodyguards of Melania Trump and Jill Biden.

The US Secret Service told the newspaper that it did not believe there had been any serious security breaches. The "Le Monde" report stated that employees of the secret service had continued to use the app in the weeks following the assassination attempts on ex-President Trump. According to the secret service, employees are prohibited from using personal electronic devices while on duty. However, the private use of social media outside of work is not prohibited. The staff concerned have been notified and it will be examined whether further steps are necessary, it was further stated. The teams of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris initially declined to comment.

According to Ibrahim Baggili, Professor of Cybersecurity at Louisiana State University, the findings show that the use of consumer data by technology companies needs to be better regulated. Baggili emphasized that identifying the president's bodyguards could also lead to learning more personal details about them that could be used for malicious purposes.

2.38 p.m.

Amazon founder Bezos defends his newspaper's decision not to endorse him for election

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, owner of the "Washington Post", has defended the renowned US newspaper's decision not to make an election endorsement in the final spurt of the race for the White House. In an opinion piece, the multi-billionaire justified the controversial move primarily on the grounds of the American public's declining trust in the media. The broadcaster NPR had previously reported that more than 200,000 readers of the long-established newspaper had canceled their subscriptions following the decision.

Bezos assured that he was not pursuing any personal interests with the "Washington Post". Rather, the reality is that many people consider the media to be biased. "And if you fight reality, you lose." He would not allow the "Washington Post" to sink into insignificance and people to inform themselves via poorly researched podcasts and social media posts instead. In any case, election recommendations from the media would not persuade anyone to vote for a particular candidate. However, he conceded that the controversial decision was made in the final phase of the election campaign due to "poor planning".

The Washington Post announced on Friday that it would not be making an endorsement of either Democrat Kamala Harris or her Republican rival Donald Trump ahead of the presidential election on November 5. It will also refrain from doing so in future elections. Reporters from the newspaper then reported that an endorsement had already been written for the current Vice President Harris - but Bezos had decided against publishing it. The "Washington Post" journalists' representative expressed concern that management appeared to have interfered in editorial matters.

Although Bezos no longer runs Amazon himself, his fortune largely consists of shares in the world's largest online retailer. He also owns the space company Blue Origin, which relies on government contracts. A Trump administration could make life difficult for his companies. Bezos was therefore accused of having ordered the decision not to make an election endorsement out of fear of financial losses. Adding fuel to the fire of criticism was the fact that Blue Origin boss Dave Limp met with Trump in Florida just a few hours after the decision was announced. He had not known about this beforehand, Bezos now wrote.

The Amazon founder bought the "Washington Post", which uncovered the "Watergate" scandal in the 1970s and triggered the resignation of President Richard Nixon, in 2013. In the subsequent presidential elections in 2016 and 2020, the newspaper expressed its support for Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 0:43 a.m.

Harris: Trump does not understand the importance of trade unions

Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump has no understanding of the importance of trade unions, according to his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. "He talks a lot about what's important to him, but on the issues that are specifically good for unions and union work, he's been terrible," the 60-year-old said at a meeting with union members.

She pointed out how Trump staffed the federal agency National Labor Relations Board, which enforces labor laws, with anti-union activists - an accusation regularly leveled at Trump by union representatives. She also criticized Trump for his praise of his ally Elon Musk after the tech billionaire spoke out in favor of firing striking workers. "You're here, he's not," one worker told Harris after she voiced her criticism of Trump.

Unionized workers are a key constituency in a number of swing states.

10:41 p.m.

Ballot boxes set on fire in Washington and Oregon

After arson attacks on special ballot boxes for early voting in the US states of Oregon and Washington, the police have identified a suspicious vehicle. The car can be seen in images from a surveillance camera taken at one such ballot box in Portland, Oregon, shortly before security personnel discovered a fire in the box on Monday, police said. Three ballots were damaged in that fire, while officials said hundreds of ballots were destroyed in a fire at a ballot box in nearby Vancouver, Washington state.

The authorities stated that the material of the incendiary devices showed that the two attacks were connected. There was also a connection to an attack on another ballot box in Vancouver on October 8. No ballot papers were destroyed in that attack.

7.28 pm

District attorney goes after Musk over millions for voters

The district attorney of Philadelphia is taking legal action against tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk over his million-dollar gifts to voters. District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit accusing Musk and his organization "America PAC" of running "an illegal lottery". He demanded that it be stopped immediately.

Musk's lottery violates a Pennsylvania law that requires all lotteries in the state to be regulated by the state, according to the court document. It also violates the Consumer Protection Act, as Musk has neither published a complete list of lottery rules nor explained how he ensures the protection of participants' personal data.

A few days ago, Musk announced that he would award one million dollars a day to a registered voter in particularly hard-fought US states until the election. Musk handed over the first million-dollar checks in Pennsylvania. The state could be particularly important because it has 19 electoral votes. To win the presidential election in just over a week's time, 270 electoral votes are needed.

6.49 pm

Dispute over registration of almost 1600 electors - Supreme Court called upon

A few days before the US presidential election, the Republican-ruled state of Virginia has urged the Supreme Court to remove almost 1,600 names from the regional electoral roll. Governor Glenn Youngkin's administration responded on Monday to the unanimous decision of an appeals court, which on Sunday confirmed the lower court's order to reinstate the affected voters.

In August, Republican Youngkin had issued a decree ordering a daily comparison of data from the vehicle registration office with the electoral register in order to identify people who are not citizens.

According to the authorities, those affected were notified and given two weeks to contest the decision before their removal was enforced. If they returned a form with proof of citizenship, their registration to vote was not canceled.

The US Department of Justice and a coalition of private groups sued against the practice. Legitimate voters risked having their names removed if they simply ticked the wrong box on the form, the plaintiffs argued. In addition, Youngkin's actions violated a 90-day quiet period before the election, which is designed to prevent legitimate voters from being removed from the voter rolls due to bureaucratic errors that can no longer be corrected in time.

Last Friday, a federal judge ruled in their favor. A similar legal battle is taking place in the southern state of Alabama, where more than 3200 people were denied the right to vote.

6.28 pm

President Biden has already voted

Around a week before the US election, President Joe Biden has already cast his vote. The 81-year-old voted at a polling station in his home state of Delaware.

As video footage shows, Biden first had to queue with other voters for a while before disappearing into the black-curtained polling booth. He was later given a sticker with the words "I Voted Early" printed on it.

Biden took the opportunity to vote before Election Day on November 5. This early voting has already begun in several states.

10:43 a.m.

Melania Trump announces husband

Melania Trump also gave a short speech in the famous Madison Square Garden. Donald Trump's wife, who has been rather reserved in the current election campaign, announced her husband as her "next in command".

4.45 pm

Trump rally in New York: racist remarks and insults

Former US President Donald Trump has held a campaign rally at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York. The rally featured a string of insults that caused outraged reactions. For example, the Democratic vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris was called a "devil" and indirectly a prostitute by speakers. Trump's childhood friend David Rem, who brandished a crucifix, called Harris an "antichrist". Businessman Grant Cardone told the crowd that Harris "and her pimps will destroy our country."

Not only was the presidential candidate once again the target of insults, the US foreign territory of Puerto Rico was also dragged through the cocoa: "There's a floating garbage island in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it's called Puerto Rico," said Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian who also made lewd and racist remarks about Latinos, Jews and blacks in his program, all important voter groups in the elections taking place in nine days' time.

The remarks were immediately criticized by Harris' campaign team. Puerto Rican pop stars including Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin voiced their support for Harris after the appearance.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that "this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign".

The rally also featured tech billionaire Elon Musk, former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, former New York mayor and former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw and former right-wing Fox News host and Trump friend Tucker Carlson as speakers.

Giuliani falsely claimed that Harris was "on the side of the terrorists" in the Middle East conflict and wanted to bring Palestinians into the country. Carlson made fun of Harris' ethnic origin; a radio presenter called Hillary Clinton a "sick bastard".

In New York, Trump again promised to launch "the biggest deportation program in the history of America", while mentioning in disjointed statements that he had ended a phone call with a "very, very important person" to follow the landing of a rocket by Elon Musk.

The US state of New York has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 40 years. Trump nevertheless argues that he could win there. After a rare appearance by his wife Melania Trump, the ex-president took to the stage two hours late and asked the crowd: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"

Trump built up his company in New York, which made him a star of the tabloids and reality TV. He was also convicted in New York for falsifying business documents. In addition, allegations of commercial fraud and sexual abuse were brought against him in civil court.

Monday, October 28, 2024, 3:09 a.m.

Latin superstar Bad Bunny supports Kamala Harris

Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny has expressed his support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris with a video on Instagram. With 45 million followers, the Latin superstar is currently one of the most influential musicians in the world. His support could give the Harris campaign a boost, especially among voters of Latin American origin.

"There is so much at stake in this election for Puerto Rican voters and for Puerto Rico," the video says. Bad Bunny also shared a clip of the video several more times, in which Harris says, "I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he didn't do when Puerto Rico needed an empathetic and competent leader."

Bad Bunny via Instagram Stories. 🔁 pic.twitter.com/quR2yFzliv

— Access Bad Bunny (@AccessBadBunny) October 27, 2024

A representative for Bad Bunny confirmed the artist's support for Harris. This came shortly after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a "garbage island" at the opening of Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The remarks were immediately criticized by Harris' campaign team, as well as Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin. "This is what they think of us," Ricky Martin shared on Instagram, encouraging his followers to vote for Harris.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that "this joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign."

The Puerto Rican electorate is sizable in Pennsylvania, arguably the most hotly contested of the swing states in the 2024 election. Other Puerto Rican singers such as Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had already voiced their support for Harris. Trump has also gained the support of other popular stars from the island such as Anuel AA and Nicky Jam.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a 30-year-old reggaeton artist who rose to fame with tracks such as "Dakiti" and "Titi Me Preguntó". He has won three Grammy Awards and was the most listened to artist on the Spotify streaming platform in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2023, he was overtaken by pop singer Taylor Swift.

23:53

Harris campaigns in the contested US state of Pennsylvania

Shortly before the US presidential election, candidate Kamala Harris campaigned in the contested state of Pennsylvania. Speaking to a church congregation in Philadelphia on Sunday, Harris said that the USA wanted to end "the chapter of hate and division". She referred to the story of the Apostle Paul, who defied adversity to spread the word of Jesus. "In difficult times, when we can grow weary in doing good, we must remember the power that works in us; the divine power that transformed Paul's life," Harris said.

The vice president was speaking to a mostly black audience at the Church of Christian Compassion in Philadelphia. Harris is trying to mobilize voters in the city, with a focus on black citizens. She told reporters after the service that "Philadelphia is a very important part of our path to victory".

Harris also visited a barbershop in West Philadelphia. Outside the store, people lined the sidewalks to catch a glimpse of Harris.

Harris and her vice presidential candidate Tim Walz plan to campaign in all seven of the most contested U.S. states in the final days before the Nov. 5 election. Governor Walz will appear in Wisconsin on Monday (tomorrow) and then together with Harris in Michigan. On Tuesday, Harris will give a speech in the US capital Washington, which her campaign team says will be a kind of "closing argument". Walz will appear in Georgia on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Harris comes to North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In Madison, Wisconsin, a performance by the band Mumford & Sons is planned. Walz will be in North Carolina on Wednesday. On Thursday, Harris is expected in Nevada and Arizona.

5.48 pm

US media: Chinese hackers targeted Trump and Vance's phones

Chinese hackers have targeted the phones of US presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance, according to reports in the US media. "We are aware that a sophisticated state actor has allegedly targeted several US telecommunications providers to gather information," Rich Young, spokesman for the telecommunications company Verizon, told the AFP news agency on Friday evening.

The "New York Times" newspaper had previously reported that hackers had penetrated the telephone system. It is still being investigated whether data was tapped. The campaign team of US Vice President Kamala Harris was also the target of hacker attacks, according to informed sources.

The US government is investigating "unauthorized access" to commercial telecom infrastructure by "actors associated with the People's Republic of China," according to a joint statement from the FBI and the US National Infrastructure Security Agency.

After the FBI identified "malicious activity", the affected companies were notified immediately. Technical assistance was also provided and information was disseminated to help other potential victims, it added.

The authorities are working with each other and with industry across the country to improve cyber security. In September, the US had accused Iranian hackers of offering the campaign team of US President Joe Biden, who has since dropped out of the race for the White House, documents that they had previously "stolen" from the team of Republican candidate Donald Trump. The Trump team, for its part, reported a hacker attack in August.

A new president will be elected in the USA on November 5. Both Trump's campaign team and the team of his rival Kamala Harris, who is in the race for the Democrats following Biden's withdrawal, have reported hacker attacks in recent weeks. US technology companies have also said they have detected such attacks.

16:23

Trump holds election rally in Madison Square Garden

Former US President Donald Trump is holding an election rally at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York. At the appearance in the arena on , the Republican wants to convince voters to vote for him and not for his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. "Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe," said Trump's campaign advisor Jason Miller.

At the appearance, Trump can expect attention, coverage and an audience. Trump has been talking about holding an event at Madison Square Garden since the beginning of his presidential campaign, said Republican former Congressman Lee Zeldin, an ally of the presidential candidate. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent millions supporting Trump's campaign, will also be at the rally.

The US state of New York has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate for 40 years. Trump nevertheless argues that he could win there. Trump has described his hometown of New York City as a place plagued by crime and overrun by violent immigrant gangs. The alleged gangs had taken control of the famous streets of Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue and occupied Times Square. The image he presents of the city has little to do with reality.

Trump built up his company in New York, with which he became a star of the tabloids and reality TV. He was also convicted in New York for falsifying business documents. In addition, allegations of commercial fraud and sexual abuse were brought against him in civil court.

1.54 p.m.

Valais SVP National Councillor Jean-Luc Addor travels as an election observer

Valais SVP National Councillor Jean-Luc Addor will travel to the USA as an election observer. He was given the assignment because he is a member of the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as reported by the SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche.

Addor will inspect polling stations in the US state of Nevada. According to the Valaisan, it is impossible for election observers to check everything. In 18 states, the use of international observers is prohibited or restricted by law. Four years ago, Addor declared himself a Trump supporter, the newspapers wrote. "As an election observer, I am neutral," he said.

Sunday, October 27, 2024, 6:49 a.m.

"We are more than just birthing machines"

Former First Lady Michelle Obama sees women's rights threatened if Donald Trump is re-elected. Women must not become victims of the frustration of men who, disappointed with the political system, vote for the Republican presidential candidate or do not want to vote at all, Obama warned at a campaign event in the state of Michigan with Democrat Kamala Harris.

Obama said: "If we don't get this election right, your wives, daughters, mothers - we women - will become collateral damage of your anger."

Obama: "Your choice is your private business"

Obama described how a lack of medical care could be life-threatening for women. She spoke of situations in which women are forced to travel across state borders just to get access to a necessary medication or an appointment at a clinic. In this context, Obama emphasized the importance of bodily self-determination: "We are more than just birthing machines." She appealed to women whose opinions might not be heard in their own environment: "Your choice is your private matter."

Everyone must watch all 8 minutes and 24 seconds of this speech by Michelle Obama.

It might be the finest I’ve ever heard on the topic of abortion rights, as well as the stakes in this election for American women…and the men who love them.

Share widely.pic.twitter.com/GJOa3OZJxD

— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) October 26, 2024

After the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide abortion law under a conservative majority created by then US President Trump, restrictive regulations and even bans were introduced in the USA. The Democrats are campaigning to restore the general right to abortion; the Republicans want to leave the decision to the states.

Obama: Dismissing behavior with "Trump is just Trump"

At the beginning of her speech, Obama also criticized the unequal standards by which Harris and Trump are measured: "We expect Kamala to present herself as intelligent, eloquent and disciplined, while Trump is expected to have no understanding of politics or moral integrity," she said. Many would simply dismiss his behavior with the words "Trump is just Trump".

Michelle Obama is one of the most respected personalities in the USA and normally remains outside the political arena. Her presence in the Harris campaign could therefore also appeal to undecided voters who traditionally feel less attracted to partisan messages.

1.45 pm

US authorities: Alleged election fraud video created by Russia

A video showing the alleged destruction of ballots cast for Donald Trump has been created by Russia, according to US authorities. The clip has been circulated in recent days on the online platform X run by tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk, among others.

In the video, the hands of a person can be seen tearing open envelopes and inspecting the ballot papers inside. The votes cast for Trump are then torn up and the ex-president is insulted.

The video was allegedly recorded in Bucks County in the contested state of Pennsylvania - but the local election authority immediately pointed out that both the envelopes and the ballots were not the ones actually used.

The FBI and the Office of Intelligence Coordinator Avril Haines assume that the video was created by "Russian actors" and distributed online. They referred to information available to them and previous activities. Russia is trying to fuel doubts about the legitimacy of the US elections and divide Americans.

Pennsylvania is one of the states that could decide the outcome of the election. 270 votes from electors from different states are needed to enter the White House. In Pennsylvania, 19 electoral votes are at stake. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Trump are running neck-and-neck in the polls ahead of the election on November 5.

8.12 a.m.

Bezos' "Washington Post" without endorsement for Harris or Trump

For the first time since 1988, the "Washington Post" will not be making an endorsement for the US presidential election. The publisher William Lewis announced that it would not do so in the future either. Reporters from the Washington Post reported that the decision was made by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns the newspaper.

Meanwhile, an endorsement for Democrat Kamala Harris has already been written in the newspaper's commentary section, according to anonymous sources. According to the latest polls, the race between Harris and Republican Donald Trump is extremely close.

The "Washington Post" journalists' association expressed concern that the management appeared to have interfered in editorial matters. Former editor-in-chief Martin Baron, who led the newspaper through Trump's tenure and retired in 2021, criticized the decision as "cowardice". He said Trump would take it as encouragement to further intimidate Bezos and other media owners.

Lewis argued that the newspaper must be independent and leave it to readers to form their own opinions. He pointed out that The Washington Post did not originally issue endorsements before presidential elections and had only done so on a regular basis since 1976. Since then, only in 1988, when Republican George H.W. Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis were running, was there no endorsement. Otherwise, the newspaper has always supported Democratic candidates.

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 6:49 a.m.

Beyoncé performs with Harris

US pop star Beyoncé has backed Kamala Harris in the election campaign for the White House. The current US Vice President stood up for what the USA needed right now: "Unity", said the musician during an appearance at an election campaign event in her home town of Houston, Texas. She emphasized that she was not speaking as a celebrity or politician, but as a mother who wanted a better future for her children.

Thank you, @Beyonce and @kellyrowland. pic.twitter.com/rgAOkEUZV7

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 26, 2024

Beyoncé performed together with singer Kelly Rowland, with whom she was once in the band Destiny's Child. Rowland said that she had already cast her vote for Harris.

At the appearance in Houston, Harris focused on abortion rights, which has become an important issue for the Democrats in the election campaign. Texas is one of the states that introduced tough abortion bans. Several women who did not receive adequate medical treatment for acute pregnancy problems because of the bans spoke before Harris.

Polls suggest that Donald Trump is certain to win the presidential election in Texas on November 5, taking the votes of the state's 40 electoral votes. However, the Democrats are still hoping to win the Senate seat of Republican Ted Cruz.

11:25 p.m.

AP sources: Chinese hackers attacked cell phones of Trump and Vance

Chinese hackers have attacked cell phones belonging to the American presidential campaigns, according to research by the AP news agency. The target of the actions were cell phones belonging to Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance, as well as people associated with the campaign of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. It was not clear whether any data was stolen.

A statement from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) did not confirm who was among the potential targets, but said it was investigating unauthorized access to telecommunications infrastructure by actors associated with the People's Republic of China.

According to the sources, the US authorities believe that Trump and Vance are among the people whose phone numbers were targeted. They suspected that the action was part of a larger cyber espionage campaign launched by China. The spokesman for Trump's election campaign team, Steven Cheung, did not give any details about a hacker attack from China. In a statement, he accused the team of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris of encouraging foreign opponents, including China and Iran, to take such action.

22:30

Leonardo DiCaprio speaks out in favor of Harris

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has endorsed the election of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for President of the United States. DiCaprio said in a video on the Instagram platform that climate change is killing the planet and ruining the economy. "We need a bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves," he said. "That's why I'm voting for Kamala Harris."

In the video, the actor praised Harris' goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the US by 2050 and helping to build a green economy. He also pointed out that she was instrumental in passing the so-called Inflaction Reduction Act. As Vice President, Harris cast the deciding vote for US President Joe Biden's climate bill, which aims to promote electric mobility, among other things.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio)

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 a.m.

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 did not initially comment after the report 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 head of state 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 would treat her "like a baby" if she were elected to the White House, Trump claimed on Thursday in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

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 the majority of votes in the US Senate for his party 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 projects.

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 imagine 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 by 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 favor 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 address 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 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 associates 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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