Trump accuses Harris of ‘FAKE and STAGED’ photo as Walz and Vance prep for debate showdown: Live

Tim Walz and JD Vance are preparing to go head-to-head in the vice presidential debate on Tuesday

Watch: Trump suggests ‘Purge’ style violence to tackle crime

Donald Trump has accused Kamala Harris of staging a photo she posted of her speaking on the phone with the director of FEMA about the response to Hurricane Helene.

The vice president is seen sitting aboard Air Force Two with an iPhone on the table in front of her and an earpiece in one ear. The former president claims the headset is not connected to the phone.

At the weekend Trump ramped up his campaigning and is being mocked online for suggesting a concept to tackle crime that mirrors the horror movie franchise The Purge.

In a wild rally speech in Pennsylvania on Sunday, the former president proposed “one really violent day” could put an end to crime across the US: “One rough hour and I mean real rough, the word will get out and it will end immediately.”

During the rambling speech, Trump also admitted he “hated” paying workers overtime at his businesses – and would replace workers who asked for it. “I shouldn’t say this,” he admitted.

Harris’s campaign quickly seized on the comments, branding Trump a “scab.”

Meanwhile, Tim Walz and JD Vance are preparing to go head-to-head in the vice presidential debate on Tuesday.

Key Points

• Trump claims Harris photo of call with FEMA is ‘FAKE’ and ‘STAGED’
• Trump wildly suggests ‘Purge’ style violence to tackle crime
• Trump calls climate change ‘greatest scam’ in wake of Hurricane Helene
• Republicans push back on Trump attacking Harris as ‘mentally disabled’
• New Harris ad taunts Trump for refusing to debate her again
• Numbers show Vance-Walz vice-presidential debate could change the course of the election

[29 September 2024 15:43 · Ariana Baio]

In photos: Trump appears at Alabama v Georgia game

Donald Trump tosses boxes of popcorn to fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium before a football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect)

Former President Donald Trump looks on during the first quarter of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium (Getty Images)

Donald Trump waves to onlookers as her attends the game between Alabama and Georgia at the Bryant-Denny Stadium (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

[29 September 2024 15:00 · Ariana Baio]

Trump reportedly requested Filet-O-Fish for football game

Donald Trump attended a college football game between Georgia and Alabama on Saturday and part of his meal request was two McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwiches with cheese, a Domino’s pizza, stadium hot dogs and a Diet Coke.

Alabama businessman Ric Mayers, who invited Trump to Saturday’s game, told AL.com about Trump’s order.

Trump notoriously liked McDonald’s and Diet Coke.

Reports over the years have indicated the former president prefers the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, which is a fried breaded fishfillet with tartar sauce and American cheese between a steamed bun.

[29 September 2024 14:00 · Michelle Del Rey]

Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Latest poll updates

Check out the latest presidential polling numbers from Alicja Hagopian, The Independent’s data correspondent:

[29 September 2024 13:00 · Michelle Del Rey]

Melania’s upcoming memoir already tops Amazon bestseller chart days ahead of release

Former first lady Melania Trump is now a bestselling author, as calculated by Amazon’s sales rankings.

Her forthcoming memoir, Melania, is the #1 seller in Amazon’s “Books” category, as of Friday afternoon. It is scheduled for an October 8 release.

Amazon calculates its bestseller list based on actual sales or downloads of its books, and says it updates the chart “frequently.”

[29 September 2024 13:00 · Michelle Del Rey]

Watch: Trump claims he could end Russia-Ukraine war as he meets with Zelensky

[29 September 2024 12:00 · Ariana Baio]

They joined the military for a path to citizenship – then they were being deported

Those who pledged to lay down their lives for the country they immigrated to expect the same rights and protections as US citizens. That was not the case, they tell Mike Bedigan

[29 September 2024 11:00 · Ariana Baio]

Where do Trump and Harris supporters differ on immigration?

A new survey from Pew Research Center found that Donald Trump supporters view immigrants significantly more negatively than Kamala Harris supporters.

When it comes to mass deportations of immigrants living in the country illegally, 88 percent of Trump supporters say they favor them while 27 percent of Harris supporters oppose them.

Eighty percent of Harris supporters believe undocumented immigrants should be permitted to stay in the country legally if they married to a U.S. citizen. Only 37 percent of Trump supporters support that.

Only 48 percent of Trump supporters believe more civilian refugees should be admitted into the U.S. while 85 percent of Harris supporters are in favor of that.

Most Trump supporters, approximately 29 percent, believe immigrants should be admitted into the country to ensure a diverse immigrant population but 72 percent of Harris supporters agree with the statement.

[29 September 2024 10:00 · Ariana Baio]

Harris should be impeached, says twice-impeached Trump

Donald Trump suggested Vice President Kamala Harris should be “impeached” and blamed her for allowing thousands of people who committed crimes into the United States.

Despite having been impeached twice during his own presidency, Trump believes “there can be nothing worse” than what Harris has done – though he did not clarify what exactly that is.

“Even the LameStream Media is mocking Comrade Kamala Harris for her pathetic attempt yesterday to justify her HORRIBLE performance at the Border.

14,000 CONVICTED thugs and slimeballs who have committed MURDER have been allowed to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, and roam free to KILL AGAIN…And they will kill again, over and over, and wreak havoc like never seen before. We don’t know anything about them.

Kamala is a FOOL to have let this happen to our beautiful USA.

It is totally unjustifiable, there can be nothing worse! She should be IMPEACHED for what she as done to our Country!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 13,099 noncitizens have been convicted on homicide charges and are currently non detained.

[29 September 2024 09:00 · Michelle Del Rey]

Trump’s nine weirdest nicknames for his political rivals

There’s the good, there’s the bad, and then there’s the plain ugly. Donald Trump is known for branding his political allies and enemies alike with a nickname.

James Liddell writes:

[29 September 2024 08:00 · Ariana Baio]

New Harris ad taunts Trump during Georgia v Alabama game

Vice President Kamala Harris’s team is running ads during the Alabama and Georgia college football game, which Donald Trump is attending, that mocks Trump for refusing to participate in a second presidential debate against Harris.

The “Say It To My Face” ad uses stock footage of football players in contrast to footage of Trump golfing to claim the former president is a “loser” who will “take his ball home.”

“Winner never back down from a challenge,” the ad says. “But losers, they whine and waffle and take their ball home.”

The ad will air nationally during the primetime game and be featured on a plane that will fly above the Bryant-Denny Stadium while Trump is at the game.

“Donald Trump walked off the stage at the first debate angry and rattled after he failed to offer any coherent vision for where he wants to take this country, so now he’s trying to take his ball and go home,” Harris-Walz Communications Director Michael Tyler said/

“No matter where Trump looks tonight – whether it’s up in the sky or at the TV in his luxury box – he won’t be able to escape the truth: Trump is running away from a second debate with Vice President Harris because he doesn’t want the American people to see just how weak and unpopular he and his Project 2025 agenda are.”