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Harris at Wisconsin rally: Trump wants to take US 'backward'

Published July 23, 2024last updated July 24, 2024

Kamala Harris has secured the backing of the Democratic Party leaders in the US Congress. She's in Wisconsin for her first campaign rally after Joe Biden withdrew from the race. DW has the latest.

https://p.dw.com/p/4idNS
Kamala Harris in Wisconsin
Kamala Harris has held her first campaign rally in WisconsinImage: Kevin Mohatt/REUTERS
Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • US Vice President Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail on Tuesday for the first time as the likely Democratic lead name on the ticket
  • Democratic leaders in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate have announced supporting Harris
  • Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 US presidential election, has said that he would 'absolutely' debate Harris

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Skip next section Elon Musk rebukes report that he would spend $45 million monthly on pro-Trump PAC
July 24, 2024

Elon Musk rebukes report that he would spend $45 million monthly on pro-Trump PAC

Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who is also the owner of social media platform X, refuted a US media report that he would spend around $45 million (€41.3 million) a month on a political fund helping Donald Trump's White House campaign.

Musk said the claim is "ridiculous."

"I am making some donations to America PAC, but at a much lower level and the key values of the PAC are supporting meritocracy & individual freedom," Musk wrote on X.   

A Wall Street Journal article published last week reported that Musk had planned to commit the large amount to America PAC, citing "people familiar with the matter." America PAC backs Trump's candidacy. 

A political action committee (PAC) is a tax-exempt organization which collects funds and donates the money for campaigns.  

Musk, the richest man in the world, endorsed Trump after the former president was targeted in an assassination attempt on July 13. 

https://p.dw.com/p/4ie57
Skip next section Germany's Scholz says Harris is 'experienced and competent'
July 24, 2024

Germany's Scholz says Harris is 'experienced and competent'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised Vice President Kamala Harris, who will almost certainly be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in the November election against Republican candidate Donald Trump.

In comments on a show broadcast by the German MagentaTV platform, Scholz said Harris is "an experienced and competent politician."

The German chancellor said Harris "would clearly stand for a continuation of the transatlantic cooperation that has now developed so well."

In regards to US President Joe Biden's decision to not seek another term, Scholz said it "saddened him greatly, because I believe that he has really done an outstanding job." 

German Chancellor Scholz in Washington for talks with Biden

Scholz has previously criticized Donald Trump, who suggested that the US might not protect NATO allies from an attack from Russia if European countries do not pay enough on defense. Scholz in February called Trump's remarks on NATO "irresponsible and dangerous."

https://p.dw.com/p/4ie55
Skip next section Biden returns to White House after COVID-19 and ending campaign
July 24, 2024

Biden returns to White House after COVID-19 and ending campaign

US President Joe Biden is back at the White House after recovering from COVID-19 at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home. 

"It's great to back at the White House," Biden wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. 

"This afternoon, I arrived back at the Oval Office and sat down with my national security team for my daily intelligence briefing," Biden said. "Serving as your Commander-in-Chief continues to be the greatest honor of my life."

Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week, forcing him off the campaign trail as he sought a second term in the White House. On Sunday, however, Biden announced he would drop his reelection bid, and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to be the Democratic presidential nominee.  

https://p.dw.com/p/4ie3o
Skip next section Harris derides Trump during Wisconsin rally
July 23, 2024

Harris derides Trump during Wisconsin rally

Vice President Kamala Harris held her first campaign rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday following President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid.

During her speech in Milwaukee, the 59-year-old Democrat accused her likely rival, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, of wanting "to take our country backwards." 

"Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law, or a country of chaos fear and hate?" she asked those in attendance. 

She reiterated her comments from Monday, where she recalled her time as a prosecutor in California.

"I took on perpetrators of all kinds," Harris said. "Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump's type."  

The vice president also criticized Trump on the issue of abortion, saying the former Republican president supports a nationwide abortion ban.

"We trust women to make decisions about their own bodies and not have their government tell them what to do," Harris said.  

The conservative majority US Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 2022, which said the US Constitution generally protects a woman's right to an abortion. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the abortion issue has been at the forefront of US politics, as many states have been restricting the medical practice. 

Harris slams Trump at debut rally in swing state Wisconsin

https://p.dw.com/p/4ie21
Skip next section Trump says he wants to debate Harris
July 23, 2024

Trump says he wants to debate Harris

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he will go ahead and debate his new Democratic rival in the presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump told reporters in a conference call that he would "absolutely" like to debate Vice President Kamala Harris "more than once," but did not commit to appearing at the next scheduled debate in September on ABC.

The former US president said he was "not thrilled at ABC" and may want another network to air the debate. 

He said he'd only agreed to debate President Joe Biden twice, in June and in September, but not Harris. But Trump said he still wants to debate Harris.

"I think debating's important for a presidential race," he said. "You sort of have an obligation to debate."

After Biden's performance in the June 27 debate against Trump, calls increased within the Democratic party for his withdrawal from the race.

https://p.dw.com/p/4ie0b
Skip next section Trump to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu
July 23, 2024

Trump to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he will welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Trump said Netanyahu would visit him at the estate on Thursday, making the announcement in a post on his social media network.

The former president has spoken to other foreign leaders recently, including two visits to his home from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He also had a phone conversation last week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On his visit to the US, Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. 

He is also set to meet Joe Biden on Thursday, for a meeting that was postponed from Tuesday because of the US president's COVID diagnosis, and attend a separate meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris the same day. 

Harris to skip Netanyahu address to Congress: DW's Ines Pohl

https://p.dw.com/p/4idxw
Skip next section Harris leads Trump in new national poll
July 23, 2024

Harris leads Trump in new national poll

US Vice President Kamala Harris has opened up a marginal two-percentage-point lead over Republican Donald Trump after she emerged as the likely opponent of Donald Trump in November's presidential election.

Harris, whose campaign team says she has essentially secured the Democratic nomination, led Trump by 44% to 42% in the Reuters/Ipsos national poll conducted on Monday and Tuesday.

An earlier July 15-16 poll between the two, before US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, was tied on 44%. Trump was ahead of Harris on a July 1-2 poll, leading by one percentage point. All the polls had a 3% margin of error.

Although national surveys can indicate overall support for a presidential candidate, the reality is that only a handful of so-called swing states will effectively decide the election.

The states that tilt the balance in the US Electoral College, are the larger, more closely contested states such as Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Polling in these states can be quite different from the nationwide picture.

https://p.dw.com/p/4idwx
Skip next section Democratic leaders in US Congress back Harris
July 23, 2024

Democratic leaders in US Congress back Harris

Both Democratic leaders in the US Congress have given their endorsement to Kamala Harris for president.

"Now that the process has played out from the grassroots, bottom up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint press conference with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Harris had already won the backing of most of her party to take on Donald Trump in November after US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.

The vice president had already garnered the support of a number of Democratic state governors, some of whom were seen as potential rivals. She also had the backing of other notable figures such as former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Some holdouts had remained, however. They included Jeffries and Schumer, as well as former president Barack Obama.

https://p.dw.com/p/4idvA
Skip next section Zelenskyy's chief of staff talks with Harris' national security adviser
July 23, 2024

Zelenskyy's chief of staff talks with Harris' national security adviser

Ukraine's presidential chief of staff has discussed the battlefield situation and Russian strikes with the national security adviser to US Vice President and front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Kamala Harris.

The Ukrainian presidency said in a statement that Andriy Yermak had a telephone conversation with Phil Gordon. 

They discussed further US support and the strengthening of Ukraine's air defenses, as well as the results of the first peace summit, the statement said.

https://p.dw.com/p/4iduH
Skip next section How is Biden's retreat perceived in Africa?
July 23, 2024

How is Biden's retreat perceived in Africa?

Joe Biden and his US administration sought to strengthen Washington's ties with Africa. His decision to bow out has attracted a lot of praise, and many Africans seem excited about Kamala Harris replacing him in the race.

DW asked Africans and African Americans what they thought. Read the full article here.

https://p.dw.com/p/4iduI
Skip next section Biden to address nation for first time since exiting race
July 23, 2024

Biden to address nation for first time since exiting race

US President Joe Biden said he will address the nation on Wednesday for the first time in public since dropping his re-election bid.

Biden wrote on X that his Oval Office speech will be about "what lies ahead and how I will finish the job for the American people." It is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday (0300 GMT Thursday).

The US president has been in Delaware recovering from a COVID infection, and was returning to the White House on Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Biden is intensely focused on the work that remains in the next six months. 

This includes bringing peace to the Middle East and dealing with Russia's ongoing aggression.

Blinken, speaking to reporters, said that Vice President Kamala Harris has been a leading voice for US foreign policy and diplomacy.

He added that she is a very strong, effective and deeply respected voice for the United States around the world.

https://p.dw.com/p/4idsA
Skip next section Baerbock praises 'strong women' in politics
July 23, 2024

Baerbock praises 'strong women' in politics

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in light of the US Democrats' endorsement of Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate after Joe Biden dropped out, reflected on the role of women in politics.

Germany's top diplomat said that "a bit too much testosterone is sometimes flying around," and so "strong women might not do certain situations any harm  but rather good." 

Baerbock said that elections are often "only decided in the final moments," adding that a dramatic time lies ahead, "not only for the United States of America, but for us here in Europe, too."

If Harris wins in November, she will become the first female president in US history.

https://p.dw.com/p/4idrX
Skip next section US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns
July 23, 2024

US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns

Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the US Secret Service, is stepping down in the wake of the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

A would-be assassin nearly killed the 2024 Republican presidential candidate at a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month.

She had been facing growing calls to resign and several investigations into how the shooter was able to get so close to Trump.

You can read more about it by clicking here.

US Secret Service chief resigns: DW's Ines Pohl

https://p.dw.com/p/4idj5
Skip next section Black Lives Matter calls for digital primary
July 23, 2024

Black Lives Matter calls for digital primary

Racial justice group Black Lives Matter has called into question the swiftness with which the Democratic party has rushed to support Harris, calling for the nomination process to be opened to all party members.

In the US, party members engage in a state-by-state vote of their presidential candidate in a process known as primary elections. Delegates at each party's national convention then vote to officialy nominate this candidate, almost always completely honoring the outcome of the primary.

As an incumbent president, Joe Biden easily won his party's support. But Black Lives Matter is arguing the process now must be repeated, despite Democratic delegates pledging their support to Harris.

"We call for the Rules Committee to create a process that allows for public participation in the nomination process, not just a nomination by party delegates," Black Lives Matter said in a statement to Reuters news agency. "This moment calls for decisive action to protect the integrity of our democracy and the voices of Black voters."

US Democrats move to back Harris in presidential race

https://p.dw.com/p/4idUT
Skip next section Clooney backs Harris, thanks Biden
July 23, 2024

Clooney backs Harris, thanks Biden

Hollywood actor George Clooney has publicly endorsed Harris, two weeks after urging President Biden to drop out of the race in a op-ed.

"President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He's saving democracy once again. We're all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest," he said in a statement to CNN.

Clooney and his wife Amal are major donors to Democratic candidates.

https://p.dw.com/p/4idRs
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