Donald Trump will receive a further boost on the campaign trail from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has announced he will speak at a series of events on behalf of the Republican ticket in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania.
Musk previously spoke up for Trump two weeks ago on his return to Butler in the same state, the site of the first attempt on his life earlier this summer.
Kamala Harris is meanwhile gearing up for an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, which will be broadcast on Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday, the Democrat joined Charlamagne Tha God for an hour-long sitdown in Detroit in which she declared she is going to win in November, agreed with the host when he called her Republican opponent’s policy platform “fascist” and defended her record in office.
Also on Tuesday, Trump took part in a freewheeling Bloomberg Q&A with the Economic Club of Chicago and told a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, that he considers illegal immigration a greater problem than inflation.
Key Points
- Donald Trump to receive further campaign support from Elon Musk in Pennsylvania
- Kamala Harris agrees with Charlamagne Tha God that Trump’s platform is ‘fascist'
- Fox News’s Bret Baier shuts down MAGA supporters fuming over his upcoming Harris interview
- Trump claims illegal immigration is bigger issue than inflation
- Campaign schedule: Who is doing what and where on Wednesday?
Trump thinks comments about sending military after ‘enemy from within’ on election day were ‘nice’
15:31
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has defended his chilling comments about sending the military after US citizens who disagree with him on election day, claiming he thought he was actually being “nice.”
At a town hall event with Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner in Georgia recorded on Tuesday, Trump was asked about the remarks he had made in a sit-down interview with the network’s Maria Bartiromo on Sunday.
Read on to see what he had to say when confronted with his remarks, widely understood as fascist. The full town hall will be played on Fox News at 11am ET — we’ll bring you the highlights.
Here’s Rhian Lubin’s report.
Cruz scolded by Democratic Senate challenger for laughing at Jan 6 comment during heated debate
15:00
Joe Sommerlad
Here’s James Liddell with more on Colin Allred’s fiery debate stage attacks on Lyin’ Ted.
Nebraska Supreme Court tells state to implement new law allowing former felons to vote
14:45
Oliver O'Connell
The Nebraska Supreme Court orders the secretary of state to immediately carry out a new state law that gives people convicted of felony crimes their right to vote back once they complete their sentence.
This could be a very big deal in a state with tight races on November 5.
Rufus Wainwright ‘mortified’ Trump played ‘Hallelujah’ at town hall
14:40
Joe Sommerlad
The admired singer-songwriter has said it amounts to “blasphemy” that Trump played his version of the Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah” at his bizarre collective singalong in Oaks, Pennsylvania, this week.
Josh Marcus has more on Wainwright’s understandable outrage.
Why Trump is willing to pay a fortune to host a rally at Madison Square Garden
14:20
Joe Sommerlad
The Republican candidate was trounced in his birth state in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections but there are still a number of reasons why he might want to try to pack out the iconic New York venue, writes Josh Marcus.
Exclusive: Half of Latino voters say immigration will be crucial to their vote
14:00
Joe Sommerlad
A majority of Hispanic voters believe there is a crisis at the US southern border and the candidates’ stances on immigration will be key in how they decide to cast their vote.
Alicja Hagopian has more.
Nancy Pelosi compares saying Trump’s name to swearing
13:40
Joe Sommerlad
The former Houser speaker says she considers Donald Trump’s name a swear word and, because she is Catholic, refuses to let it cross her lips.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
The grift continues...
13:20
Joe Sommerlad
I mean, what can you say at this point?
They are selling fake $500 Melania bills for $9.99 in a flash sale pic.twitter.com/0ULV7g8i3u
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) October 16, 2024
Stephen Colbert channels inner Biden as he mocks Trump’s dancing town hall
13:00
Joe Sommerlad
Trump’s weird playlist session in Pennsylvania on Monday night was always going to provide a field day for the late-night comics and Colbert certainly enjoyed himself immensely reliving the run from “Ave Maria” to “Memory” by way of James Brown, Sinead O’Connor and The Village People.
Katie Hawkinson was watching.
MAGA billionaire donates $95m to pro-Trump super PAC
12:40
Joe Sommerlad
Miriam Adelson, one of Forbes’s top 10 richest women in the world, becomes the largest individual donor to a presidential super PAC this cycle with this giant cash dump to support the Republican cause.
NEW:
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) October 15, 2024
Miriam Adelson has indeed put in $100 MILLION into her pro-Trump super PAC, Preserve America, per new filing.
She put $95 million into the group last quarter through four separate donations. pic.twitter.com/4xGwfaPWq9
Just three people — Elon Musk, Miriam Adelson and Dick Uihlein — put in a combined $220 million into pro-Trump groups from July to September.
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) October 16, 2024
This statement is hard to disagree with:
The legal max a person can donate to a candidate is $3300.
— Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) October 15, 2024
But, when billionaires like Miriam Adelson exploit our broken campaign finance laws to donate $100 million to a candidate, we’re no longer a democracy and it’s no longer an election — it’s an oligarchy and an auction. pic.twitter.com/p3FtTnaK7p
Watch: Doug Emhoff and Julia Roberts send message to early voters in Georgia
12:20
Joe Sommerlad
Yesterday saw early voting get underway in the Peach State with a massive, record-breaking turnout, according to secretary of state Brad Raffensperger, and the 100-year-old former president Jimmy Carter living long enough to realise his goal of voting for Kamala Harris.
Here’s what the Second Gentleman and the Hollywood star had to say to encourage the locals.
Colin Allred roasts Ted Cruz at Texas Senate debate
12:00
Joe Sommerlad
The Democratic Representative running to oust “Cancun Cruz” might just be his party’s best shot at pinching a majority in the upper chamber of Congress this fall.
He certainly did his utmost to portray the chuckling incumbent as a desperate fool peddling “angertainment”.
"Angertainment" describes so much of our media and politics since the rise of talk radio, 24/7 cable news and online influencer culture. And I think we're all tired of it. https://t.co/HGgcKQbRpX
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) October 16, 2024
“Supply closet Cruz” https://t.co/XArDUkf8jL
— PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) October 16, 2024
DAAAAAMN https://t.co/kDbkKZeQZW
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) October 16, 2024
Ted Cruz can’t be the Zodiac Killer because the Zodiac Killer would never get murdered in such an embarrassing fashion https://t.co/X459ERzKCq
— nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) October 16, 2024
Elon Musk to return to the campaign trail for Trump
11:40
Joe Sommerlad
The tech billionaire has said he will give “a series of talks from tomorrow night through Monday” in Pennsylvania on behalf of the Republican ticket, according to Reuters.
This comes less than two weeks after Musk made a fool of himself leaping about like a child and proclaiming himself “dark MAGA” during Trump’s return to Butler.
Musk’s appearances will reportedly be connected to his America PAC political action committee.
Here’s Trump blowing smoke on the subject of his new pal just yesterday:
Micklethwait: There seems to be a real fear that what you would do with tech is handed over to Elon Musk and say, you sort it out.
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 15, 2024
Trump: I have great respect for Elon. Look.. *starts talking about rockets* pic.twitter.com/AX21zyZlfb
"Get those rockets going, Elon" -- Trump promises a Mars landing "very soon" pic.twitter.com/7hLFJlB0IR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2024
Rhian Lubin has more.
Trump can’t stop obsessing over Harris’s McDonald’s job. So now he’s off to work the fryer at the fast-food joint
11:20
Joe Sommerlad
Remember when Tim Walz said this in August?
Tim Walz on Donald Trump: "Can you simply picture Donald Trump working at a McDonald's making a McFlurry or something? He couldn't run that damn McFlurry machine." @atrupar
— The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) August 13, 2024
pic.twitter.com/3HD5y7zh4Y
We may now finally get to see it for real as Trump is set to make a campaign stop at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s on Sunday to prove that it is he, not Kamala, that loves the Golden Arches more.
Instead of chowing down on his 2,400-calorie order of choice – two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish and a chocolate milkshake – the GOP presidential nominee is expected to “work the fry cooker” in a Philadelphia branch, a source familiar with the plan told CNN.
James Liddell has more on a delicious prospect.
Campaign schedule: Who is doing what and where on Wednesday?
11:00
Oliver O'Connell
Here’s a look at where the main players will be today:
- Kamala Harris is back in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania and recording her interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, which will air on his show this evening.
- Donald Trump is doing another Fox town hall, this time with Harris Faulkner, before taking part in a Univision town hall at Doral in Florida in the hope of cementing his appeal to Latino voters. Harris took part in an equivalent event last week.
- JD Vance has rallies planned in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, North Carolina.
- Joe Biden will deliver a eulogy at a memorial service for Ethel Kennedy at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, before he and the first lady speak at an Italian American Heritage Month Reception at the White House.
Biden rips Trump’s weird dance party: ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’
10:40
Joe Sommerlad
President Biden has parked the niceties and, honestly, it’s a pleasure to see him let rip.
Biden: He's become unhinged. Look at his rallies ... last night, he stood on the stage for 30 minutes and danced. I'm serious! What's wrong with this guy? pic.twitter.com/8JCFb1VfMR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2024
no fucks Biden: "This is from the same guy who calls himself a great protector of women. *makes sign of the cross* C'mon. Folks, look. This is the same guy who has been held liable for $83m for sexual abuse and defamation. Same guy who who is getting rid of Roe v Wade ... I think… pic.twitter.com/wSvX8s3MOu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2024
Biden: "He has the same ideas on race as the 1930s. Trump's ideas on economy are from the '20s. Trump's ideas on women are from the '50s. Folks, this is 2024 -- we can't go back." pic.twitter.com/DGXpMEJMpM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2024
Here’s Andrew Feinberg’s report on right-wing conspiracy theories alleging Biden secretly wants Harris to fail, which the above remarks should do much to dispel.
Trump – running for president at 78 – says ‘only stupid people’ put ‘old’ officials in top roles
10:20
Joe Sommerlad
Also during that appearance, Trump reflected on his being able to appoint three justices to the US Supreme Court.
“It’s amazing, because I got three in four years. Most people get none. Because, you know, you put them in, they’re young. You tend to put them in young.”
He continued: "Only stupid people put old in. You know, you don’t put old in, because they’re there for two years or three years, right?”
In so saying, Trump rather overlooked the fact that he is 78 and is asking the American electorate to put him in the White House once again.
Perhaps realizing that blunder, he then insisted he would have no problem hiring a 78-year-old CEO.
MODERATOR: Would you appoint a CEO who's 78?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2024
TRUMP: Yeah. Oh yeah. pic.twitter.com/Jes7FdS31S
Alex Lang reports.
Trump revives Obama ‘birther’ smear when asked about tariffs at economic forum
10:00
Joe Sommerlad
The former president’s other big engagement on Tuesday was an appearance before the Economic Club of Chicago, where he was interviewed on stage by Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait and could not resist attacking his White House predecessor when asked about tariffs.
Trump: "I call it the weave. [unintelligible] You have the weave as long as you end up in the right location at the end."
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 15, 2024
John Micklethwait: "I was asking about tariffs."
Trump: "China thinks we're a stupid country, a very stupid country... Barack Hussein Obama, have you heard… pic.twitter.com/tMj1Dl7BDe
The Republican otherwise meandered from one subject to another, from steel production during war times to bragging about his record of keeping the US out of armed conflict.
Gustaf Kilander has more.
Trump claims illegal immigration is bigger issue than inflation
09:40
Joe Sommerlad
Also on Tuesday, the Republican nominee told a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, that he considers illegal immigration a greater problem than inflation.
“I really believe that the border and the illegal immigration and 21 million people, many of them criminals, is a bigger thing than inflation,” he said
“We don’t want them in this country. We’re getting them too fast. And I think it’s bigger than the economy.”
Trump made those claims despite several top polls, including recent surveys by Gallup and the Pew Research Center, indicating the economy remains the number one issue for voters.
Several peer-reviewed studies have meanwhile shown there is generally no evidence linking immigration to violent crime in the US.
Here are a few more samples of his bilious outpourings:
Trump: "The United States is now an occupied country, but on November 5, 2024, that will be liberation day in America." pic.twitter.com/t5X6OEM9dR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2024
Trump says any Black person or Hispanic who votes for Harris needs to have their heads examined "because they are really screwing you" pic.twitter.com/F0iZnHtwCc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2024
Trump: "We will not by invaded. We will not be occupied. We will not be conquered. We will defeat the enemy at all levels of combat. We will defend our civilization." pic.twitter.com/Azq6Y1sOke
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2024
Katie Hawkinson has more.
Fox News’s Bret Baier shuts down MAGA supporters fuming over his upcoming Harris interview
09:20
Joe Sommerlad
Harris will next be seen in an interview with Fox’s Bret Baier, due to air as part of this evening’s edition of his show Special Report.
In advance of the broadcast, Baier has taken to X to hit back at conservative users claiming the Q&A will be edited to make the VP seem more sympathetic.
Before the session has even been taped, commentators have been busily accusing Baier of giving Harris the questions ahead of time, throwing her softballs, editing the session in her favor or giving into concessions, all talking points raised by Trump.
Baier was, quite rightly, having none of it and took the time to rebut their suspicions one-by-one in exasperated posts like this:
Let’s try again. It will be as-live —not edited - run from beginning to end - no changes - period. We just confirmed there will be no commercials to interrupt the interview. Hence the “plan” before we confirmed that. Thanks for watching. https://t.co/3JbeiO5q9s
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) October 15, 2024
Here’s Ariana Baio’s report.
Kamala Harris agrees with Charlamagne Tha God that Trump’s platform is ‘fascist'
09:00
Joe Sommerlad
The Democrat continued her swing-state media blitz on Tuesday as she laid into Trump in an hour-long town hall interview with Charlamagne Tha God in Detroit, declaring she is “going to” win the election, agreed with the host when he called her opponent’s policy platform “fascist” and defended her own record in office.
CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD: It's about fascism. Why can't we just sat it?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2024
KAMALA HARRIS: Yes. We can say it. pic.twitter.com/HCqmxRmnuG
Kamala Harris to Charlamagne tha God: "And he's selling $60 bibles and shoes and trying to play people as though that makes him more understanding of the Black community. Come on." pic.twitter.com/06ixXnDdgi
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2024
Kamala Harris explains to Charlamagne tha God why Trump's fondness for dictator is actually a reflection of his weakness, not his strength pic.twitter.com/5yBgncQIPD
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2024
For its part, Trump’s campaign was pretty upset about the above exchanges, with one account reposting a clip on X with the comment: “This is the type of disgusting rhetoric that led to two assassination attempts against President Trump.”
Here’s Andrew Feinberg’s report.
Donald Trump proclaims himself the ‘father of IVF’ at women’s town hall
08:40
Joe Sommerlad
Good morning!
Donald Trump has proclaimed himself “the father of IVF” at a women’s town hall event hosted by Fox News, inviting cries of protest given his track-record on rolling back women’s rights, notably his instrumental role in overturning Roe v Wade in 2022 and flirtation with a nationwide abortion ban this election cycle.
"We really are the party for IVF,” the Republican presidential nominee claimed.
“We want fertilization, and it's all the way, and the Democrats tried to attack us on it."
Trump called himself the "father of IVF" at a Fox News town hall in Georgia tonight focused on women’s issues. "We really are the party for IVF. We want fertilization, and it's all the way, and the Democrats tried to attack us on it."
— Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) October 16, 2024
Unsurprisingly, the remark drew a swift backlash led by his election rival Kamala Harris:
Donald Trump called himself “the father of IVF.” What is he talking about?
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 16, 2024
His abortion bans have already jeopardized access to it in states across the country—and his own platform could end IVF altogether.
Trump is unhinged. The father of IVF?
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) October 16, 2024
He is the godfather of eliminating Roe V Wade, his proudest accomplishment. Has led to Trump abortion bans in 20 states. And his Project 2025 would give him unchecked power to enact nationwide bans on abortion.
It’s not just creepy, it’s flat out wrong.
— Tammy Duckworth (@TammyDuckworth) October 16, 2024
Donald Trump is why IVF access is at risk. Period.
If they wanted to protect IVF access Republicans could’ve voted for my bill last month. Or in June.
But they didn’t. pic.twitter.com/u5lfIyaRrD
Here’s Eric Garcia’s report on an event for women that was stacked out with Republicans only.
Watch: Trump says 'only stupid people put old' on the Supreme Court
06:30
Katie Hawkinson
Republican candidate posts campaign ad appealing to Black voters - and says to vote after election day
04:00
Katie Hawkinson
A Republican congressional candidate is under fire after running an ad with the incorrect date for Election Day in a Black-owned local publication.
Tom Barrett, who is vying to represent Michigan’s 7th district, ran an ad in the Black-owned Michigan Bulletin that read, “On November 6 VOTE FOR TOM BARRETT.”
Election Day is on November 5.
Federal death row inmate says he fears Trump will immediately resume executions if re-elected
03:30
Josh Marcus
A federal death row inmate in Indiana fears that Donald Trump being re-elected would mean an immediate resumption in executions, after the Republican presided over a record 13 executions in his final seven months of office.
“It seems like they’re prepping,” Billie Allen, 46, told the Daily Mail, after a delegation of officials visited the Terre Haute prison, home to the federal execution chamber. “Some of the guys are saying it’s getting real. They’re getting ready and finding out if the equipment’s still working.”
Read more:
Trump rambles about Hurricane Milton in Atlanta
02:26
Katie Hawkinson
Donald Trump rambled about the destructive Hurricane Milton at his Atlanta, Georgia rally on Tuesday.
“I want to send our love and prayers to everyone here in Georgia, hit by the hurricane,” Trump said. “You got hit hard, as well as Florida. North Carolina, they really got hit hard.” South Carolina, pretty hard, Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee.”
“That’s a lot of hurricane. That was a big hurricane,” he continued. “I thought we were sort of over again. That’s Trump country. It’s Trump country. It is indeed. We love it. We love the people. We wish they took better care of Trump country, right?”
Donald Trump takes the stage in Atlanta
02:08
Katie Hawkinson
Donald Trump has taken the stage at his Atlanta, Georgia rally.
“Our hearts are with the families of every citizen who is tragically lost and all of the people who lost their home,” Trump said, referring to Hurricanes Helene and Milton which devastated the southeastern US.
Representative Byron Donalds speaks at Trump rally
01:49
Katie Hawkinson
Representative Byron Donalds spoke at Donald Trump’s Atlanta rally on Tuesday night ahead of the former president’s appearance on stage.
Donalds, a Republican and staunch Trump ally, addressed women voters from the stage and told them not to “worry” about the gender gap.
“They were trying to lecture us about the gender gap, but women, don’t worry about that,” Donalds said. “You’re going to come home and be with us. It’s going to be all right. You’re going to vote Donald J. Trump, and we’re going to make America great again.”
Stanley Kubrick’s daughter claims he would have been a Trump supporter
01:45
Kevin EG Perry
Stanley Kubrick’s daughter Vivian has claimed she is “very confident” that her late father would have been a Donald Trump supporter after the presidential candidate used footage from the director’s Oscar-nominated 1987 film Full Metal Jacket in a campaign video.
The clip in question was posted to Trump’s X/Twitter account with the caption: “WE WILL NOT HAVE A WOKE MILITARY!”
The video includes scenes from Full Metal Jacket in which a brutal, racist Marine Sargeant played by R. Lee Ermey shouts at and assaults Matthew Modine’s Private Joker. These scenes are captioned: “President Trump.”
Read more:
Trump re-ups ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ conspiracy when asked about tariffs at economic forum
01:30
Gustaf Kilander
Former President Donald Trump referred to President Barack Obama by his middle name Hussein when asked about tariffs during an interview at the Economic Club of Chicago on Tuesday.
Trump was speaking to Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait when he started to ramble about a variety of subjects, such as the importance of steel production during war times before he began to brag about his record of keeping the US out of armed conflict.
Read more:
Pelosi considers saying Trump’s name similar to swearing
01:00
Katie Hawkinson
Watch live as Trump holds a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia
Wednesday 16 October 2024 00:30
Katie Hawkinson
Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at Trump rally
Wednesday 16 October 2024 00:16
Katie Hawkinson
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is speaking at Donald Trump’s rally in her home state of Georgia this evening.
The former president is scheduled to take the stage in Atlanta at 7:30 local time.
Greene told voters that this election is about the “federal government versus you.”
“It’s not white versus Black,” Greene said. “It’s not the right versus the left. It’s not man versus woman. It’s not rich versus poor. It is the federal government versus you.”
Latest poll updates: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?
Wednesday 16 October 2024 00:00
Oliver O'Connell
Here’s Alicja Hagopian with the latest polling data:
Trump to visit McDonald’s and ‘work the fry cooker'
Tuesday 15 October 2024 23:45
Oliver O'Connell
Former President Donald Trump is expected to visit a McDonald’s Sunday in Pennsylvania and “work the fry cooker”, a source familiar with the matter tells CNN. This comes up as Trump has repeatedly claimed Vice President Kamala Harris never actually worked at McDonald’s.
— Kristen Holmes (@KristenhCNN) October 15, 2024
Why is Trump willing to pay a fortune to host a rally at Madison Square Garden?
Tuesday 15 October 2024 23:30
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump is reportedly fixated on hosting a rally at New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden arena, despite most political experts believing the Empire State and even Trump’s hometown of New York City are squarely in the blue column for 2024.
“I’m gonna fill the Garden,” he reportedly boasted in recent days to a confidant, who spoke anonymously to The Bulwark.
The Trump ally added that the Republican “has just been obsessed with this for at least a year. This is his campaign. So it’s happening.”
The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
Josh Marcus reports.
Listen: Harris says people who work closest to Trump say he is unfit to serve
Tuesday 15 October 2024 22:59
Oliver O'Connell
VP Harris: “The people who worked the closest with Donald Trump…his chief of staff, two secretaries of defense, his national security advisor, and his former VP, have all said he is dangerous and unfit to serve.” pic.twitter.com/0mDxlPHBNc
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) October 15, 2024
Listen: Harris says Trump is ‘weak’
Tuesday 15 October 2024 22:52
