Election 2024 live: Beyonce takes stage with Harris; Trump leaves Michigan rally-goers waiting three hours
Beyonce was joined by her former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland at the Harris rally in Houston, where she told supporters she was there not as a celebrity, but ‘as a mother’
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Kamala Harris appeared alongside pop superstar Beyonce and country music veteran Willie Nelson in Houston, Texas, for a rally focused on the future of reproductive rights.
The Freedom singer was joined by her former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland as she entered the Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, to screams and cheers from supporters.
“I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world my children, and all of our children are living in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies,” Beyonce said.
Meanwhile on Friday, Trump told supporters at his rally in Traverse City, Michigan, he would be “two hours” late, despite having already kept them waiting for over an hour.
The former president delivered the news via video from his plane, that was projected at the site of the rally – explaining that he had been busy recording a podcast with Joe Rogan. He had been due to speak at around 7.30pm local time in Michigan but took to the stage at around 10.30pm.
After wrapping up a short apology, the former president attacked Harris, accusing her of being “out partying” amid a war, following reports that Israel had launched targeted attacks on Iran.
Fox News host claims most people don’t know what fascism is amid reports Trump praised Hitler
Trump comes up with new slur against US: ‘We’re the garbage can for the world’
Trump instructs audience to stand up for women but not men at Georgia town hall
Kamala Harris to give closing election speech at spot where Trump riled up crowd before Jan 6 attack
Harris hits out at ‘fascist’ Trump and defends policies at CNN town hall
Russian actors made video falsely depicting mail-in ballots for Donald Trump being destroyed in Pennsylvania, FBI says
Russian operatives were behind a video falsely depicting mail-in ballots for Donald Trump being destroyed in Pennsylvania, the FBI has said.
The video, based in a suburban Philadelphia county, took off quickly on social media Thursday afternoon, prompting cries of election fraud.
But within three hours Bucks County election officials were countering the video, identifying it as fake.
“The envelope and materials depicted in this video are clearly not authentic materials belonging to or distributed by the Bucks County Board of Elections,” read a statement released by the board on Thursday.
Live from the Trump rally in Michigan
Excruciating moment JD Vance gives a shout out to Mark Robinson at rally – then realises his mistake
Vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance tripped over his words on Friday at a rally in North Carolina and appaered to briefly praise the state’s scandal-plagued lieutenant governor Mark Robinson, who’s accused of claiming to be a “Black Nazi” in online comments on a porn site.
“I want to give a shout out, to, and you guys have a great lieutenant governor,” Vance told the crowd. “Sorry, we’ve got— sorry, Mark isn’t here.”
Josh Marcus watched the somewhat cringeworthy moment:
Excruciating moment JD Vance gives a shout out to Mark Robinson at rally
North Carolina gubernatorial candidate allegedly left lewd and hateful comments on porn website
Ahead of Michigan rally Trump plays video attacking... Biden
Ahead of his appearance in Traverse City, Michigan, Donald Trump played a video clip showing his wins over Joe Biden.
The former president has not been competing with Biden since July, when the president dropped out in favor of Kamala Harris.
Trump sits for Joe Rogan podcast ahead of rally in Michigan
Donald Trump has sat down to record an episode of wildly popular podcast The Joe Rogan experience, ahead of his rally in Michigan this evening.
The former president is reportedly recording the podcast – which boasts 14.5 million Spotify followers and 17.5 million YouTube subscribers – in Rogan’s studio in Austin, Texas.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris is set to be joined by singer Beyonce onstage at a rally in Houston.
Leonardo DiCaprio shares presidential endorsement as 2024 election approaches
Leonardo DiCaprio has endorsed Kamala Harris in next month’s presidential election, arguing that her rival Donald Trump “continues to deny the facts” and “deny the science” around climate change.
The Oscar-winning actor, 49, previously endorsed Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
Kevin EG Perry has the full story:
Leonardo DiCaprio shares presidential endorsement as 2024 election approaches
DiCaprio says America needs a ‘bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves’
Chinese hackers reportedly targeted data on phones used by Trump and Vance
Donald Trump and JD Vance may have been among a number of people targeted by Chinese hackers, who have gained access to US communications networks, according to a new report.
Investigators from national security agencies including the FBI are working to establish the scope of the data breach and determine whether the hackers could have gained access to text messages, or other comms sent through unencrypted channels.
Read more here:
Chinese hackers reportedly targeted data on phones used by Trump and Vance
Investigators from national security agencies including the FBI are working to establish the scope of the data breach
Trump again pushes no taxes - for anyone!
Experts on both sides of the aisle have criticized his ideas as mathematically unworkable and damaging to the economy, The New York Times noted. Legislators are unlikely to end the income tax even if Republicans gain control of Congress, even as tariffs and tax cuts have been some of the top issues pushed by Trump.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump again pushes no taxes - for anyone - in latest pitch to woo economic support
‘Plotting’ and ‘strategizing’ for next Congress ‘has been going for several months,’ Republican congressional aide says
ICYMI: Ex-Trump administration officials sign open letter backing John Kelly’s claims
A group of former Trump administration officials has penned an open letter backing his former chief of staff John Kelly, after he warned that the former president meets the definition of “a fascist.”
In the explosive letter, the 13 former aides highlight the “danger” of a potential second Trump term, saying: “This is who Donald Trump is.”
Rhian Lubin reports.
Group of ex-Trump administration officials sign letter backing John Kelly’s claims
In the explosive letter, 13 former Trump administration officials highlight the ‘danger’ of a potential second term
Former head of RNC claps back at Trump
Michael Steele, a Catholic and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, has responded to Donald Trump’s latest diatribe about Catholics who might vote for Kamala Harris.
Recently, the former president has repeated a bizarre accusation that Catholics are being persecuted by the Democrats, which is especially odd given President Joe Biden is a devout follower of the faith.
Today in Texas he began the same diatribe only to get distracted. Trump said: “Anybody that votes as a Catholic for this, this horrible candidate that can’t put two sentences together— she can’t speak. She can’t put two sentences together.”
Steele posted the clip on X, adding: “As a Catholic…I heard you speak…you couldn’t put one sentence together @DonaldTrump, so I voted for @KamalaHarris.”
He also linked to a post from yesterday in which he explained his vote, writing: “In 2020, I reminded my fellow citizens that the ballot was how we restore the soul of our nation.
“Today, we are asked once again to make a choice, between a darker version of ourselves, or a more hopeful future for our children and grandchildren.
“I choose the love of my country over my party. I choose the noble responsibility of my civic duty. I choose my conscience because it reminds me of what I value as a citizen. I choose to stand with my neighbors against those who would lie to them, undermine their freedoms, turn neighbor against neighbor for the sake of one man. I choose a leader who, despite our political differences, values us more than herself.
“Today I voted for @KamalaHarris, because I choose hope.”
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