Election 2024 live: Trump issues new threat to enemies as he praises dictators ahead of Harris rally in Houston
Trump and Harris campaign in Texas with pop superstar Beyoncé set to star with VP, after Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen and other celebrities stumped for her in Georgia
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Donald Trump repeated his familiar rhetoric and misinformation about immigration and the US–Mexico border and praised Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin at a rally in Austin, Texas.
“Putin and the whole group, Kim Jong Un, they’re tough guys out there. They’re tough and they’re smart and they’re street wise and they’re at the top of their game,” Trump told rallygoers.
The former president is known to praise dictators. Thirteen former Trump administration officials have issued an open letter expressing their agreement with ex-chief of staff John Kelly’s assessment of the former president as a fascist.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris will appear alongside pop superstar Beyonce in Houston, Texas, later today as she focuses on the future of reproductive rights.
The Democrat held a start-studded rally in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday where she was joined by Barack Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry and Bruce Springsteen, the latter serenading her supporters and denouncing Trump as an “American tyrant”.
At his own rally in Las Vegas yesterday, Trump falsely claimed that Harris had “absolutely bombed” in Georgia, before spewing fresh bile about his opponent and immigrants.
He had earlier called America “a garbage can for the world” in Arizona.
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
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.”
Stephen A Smith spars with Fox News’ Hannity over Trump’s mental state
Stephen A Smith sparred with Sean Hannity live on air when the Fox News host launched into a strong defense of Donald Trump’s mental state.
The ESPN First Take host appeared on Fox News Hannity on Thursday evening soon after Trump made a campaign stop in Nevada, Las Vegas.
During the live segment, it wasn’t long before the two TV personalities exchanged barbs on the presidential candidates’ behalfs.
James Liddell has the story.
Stephen A Smith spars with Fox News’ Hannity over Trump’s mental state
‘I know you’re not talking about somebody being lucid and cogent and enunciating their thoughts with clarity, and you’re bragging about Donald Trump,’ Smith said
5th Circuit rules ballots must be received by Election Day per federal law
The 5th Circuit has ruled that ballots must be received by Election Day and state laws allowing them to arrive later are preempted by federal law. 18 states plus the District of Columbia count ballots received after that day. This decision would override those laws.
However, Kyle Cheney of Politico notes: “Though the circuit decision could theoretically impact this election cycle significantly, the panel left the decision on whether to apply it to this election cycle up to the district court judge who initially ruled the other way.”
Watch: ‘Trump calls Kamala a fascist quite regularly ... so spare me’, says Fox News panelist
Brady Bunch actor claims reboot axed over her MAGA support
The Brady Bunch star Susan Olsen, who portrayed Cindy Brady in the beloved Seventies sitcom, has claimed a revival series was axed due to her controversial views and support for Donald Trump.
In a recent appearance on the Walk Away Campaign podcast, Olsen said a reboot of The Brady Bunch, which originally aired from 1969 to 1974, was in the works at CBS Studios. However, the revival series was scrapped, she claims, by the network over her past remarks on Covid-19 vaccines and the LGBTQ+ community.
Meredith Clark reports on what happened.
The Brady Bunch actor claims reboot was axed over her MAGA support
Susan Olsen, who portrayed Cindy Brady in ‘The Brady Bunch,’ says CBS Studios canceled planned reboot because she’s ‘too dangerous’
Chinese hackers targeted phones of Trump, Vance, people associated with Harris campaign
Chinese hackers targeted cellphones used by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, his running mate, JD Vance, and people associated with the Democratic campaign of Kamala Harris, people familiar with the matter said Friday.
It was not immediately clear what data, if any, may have been accessed. U.S. officials are continuing to investigate, according to the people, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing inquiry and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
An FBI statement did not confirm that Trump and Vance were among the potential targets but said it was investigating “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.”
“Agencies across the U.S. Government are collaborating to aggressively mitigate this threat and are coordinating with our industry partners to strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector,” the FBI said.
U.S. officials believe the campaigns were among numerous targets of a larger cyberespionage operation launched by China, the people said. It was not immediately clear what information China may have hoped to glean, though Beijing has for years engaged in vast hacking campaigns aimed at collecting the private data of Americans and government workers, spying on technology and corporate secrets from major American companies and targeting U.S. infrastructure.
Watch: Trump calls Putin and Kim Jong-Un ‘smart and streetwise'
Trump praises Putin and Kim Jong-Un as ‘smart and streetwise’
Donald Trump continued his praise of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, calling them "smart" and "streetwise" people as he spoke to supporters in Texas on Friday, 25 October. The former president's comments came after South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence reported that thousands of North Korean troops have recently deployed to Russia to plug gaps in Moscow’s military. After describing the leaders as "at the top of their game", something the US "doesn't have," Mr Trump appeared to thank an audience member for saying "that's why we have you."
Harris to sir for interview with CBS News on Sunday
Kamala Harris will sit for an exclusive interview with Norah O’Donnell of CBS News on their Sunday morning politics show this week, CBS Sunday Mornings.
Full story: Harris slams Trump for ‘belittling’ Americans after he calls US the ‘garbage can of the world’
Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday clapped back at her Republican opponent’s description of the United States as a “dumping ground” for criminals after Donald Trump claimed the US is “like a garbage can for the world” in remarks the previous day.
Speaking to reporters in Houston, where she is set to appear alongside Beyonce at a rally Friday evening, Harris was asked to respond to the former president’s incendiary remarks at a Las Vegas event.
Harris called the racist tirade “another example of how he really belittles our country.”
Andrew Feinberg reports on the vice president’s full remarks.
Harris slams Trump for ‘belittling’ US after he calls it ‘garbage can of the world’
Harris says Trump is ‘constantly demeaning and belittling who the American people are’ after ex-president calls US a dumping ground
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