Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have headed to swing states with just days to go until the election. The Democratic candidate stopped her rally to address protesters, while the Republican nominee hit back at accusations that he was a fascist. Listen to our election podcast as you scroll.
Tuesday 29 October 2024 03:25, UK
That’s all our coverage on the US election for now – but we’ll be back later today with all the latest updates.
It’s been a busy 24 hours for the candidates, with Kamala Harris appearing at events in Michigan’s Saginaw, Macomb County and Ann Arbor, and Donald Trump holding a rally in Atlanta.
Tim Walz joined Ms Harris in Michigan, urging supporters to keep campaigning and “sleep when they’re dead”, while JD Vance held an event in Wisconsin.
We also saw Barack Obama appear with Bruce Springsteen for a second time, this time campaigning for Ms Harris in Philadelphia.
Before you go, here’s a reminder of what has happened:
You can scroll through this blog to read all the key moments as they happened.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos has defended the Washington Post’s decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates.
The Amazon founder, who owns the American newspaper, said the choice was made to tackle the “perception of bias”.
Writing an opinion piece for the news outlet, he said presidential endorsements “do nothing to tip the scales of an election”.
“No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, ‘I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement’. None,” he said.
“What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence.
“Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”
A lack of endorsement for Kamala Harris by the paper has sparked an immediate backlash from readers, with thousands unsubscribing from the outlet since the announcement three days ago.
Several staff members also announced their resignation from the company after the decision was made.
Vice presidential candidate JD Vance has defended a controversial Trump campaign rally at an event in Wisconsin.
The Ohio senator said the rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday was a “celebration of America” after critics condemned racist remarks made by some of its speakers.
Some equated the event to a 1939 neo-Nazi rally that took place in the same venue.
“They decided to compare us to literal Nazis for gathering in Madison Square Garden and celebrating the United States of America,” Mr Vance said.
One of the comments that drew criticism was made by comedian Tony Hincliffe, who labelled Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage”.
“A comedian told a joke and I don’t think that’s news worth making,” Mr Vance said.
“Do you know what I do when I think a joke is dumb or not funny? I don’t laugh. I don’t create a fake outrage cycle,” he added.
Donald Trump has spent this evening at a rally in Atlanta.
While he was there, he urged voters to head to the ballot box, and hit back at claims that he or his supporters were comparable to Nazis.
“I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi,” the former president said.
“Now the way they talk is so disgusting and just horrible.
“My father – I had a great father, tough guy. He used to always say, never use the word Nazi. Never use that word.”
His Sunday evening rally at Madison Square Garden drew widespread criticism from opponents for crude and racist remarks from several speakers.
Some compared the event to a 1939 Nazi rally in the same venue.
Barack Obama is back out campaigning for Kamala Harris today – this time appearing in Philadelphia.
He makes fun of Donald Trump, saying he is posting on social media “at all times of night” and when he’s not “complaining he’s trying to sell you stuff”.
“He wants to sell you a Trump bible… he couldn’t recite a verse but he’ll sell you that bible,” he adds.
The crowd begins to boo, before the former president interrupts them.
“Don’t boo, vote,” he says. “Nobody can hear your boos, but they hear your votes.”
Taking aim at Mr Trump’s background, he asks supporters if they think he has ever changed a flat tyre.
“If he’s got a flat tyre, he pulls over his chauffeur,” he jokes, sparking laughs from the audience.
Obama addresses comedian’s racist Puerto Rico jokes
Mr Obama tells the crowd that Mr Trump is trying to divide the country to “improve his odds”.
Talking about Mr Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden last night, where several speakers made racist and crude remarks, Mr Obama says: “If somebody does not respect you, if someone does not see you as fellow citizens with equal claims to opportunity to the pursuit of happiness, to the American dream, you should not vote for them.”
You can read more about that rally here…
‘Kamala Harris is ready for the job’
Urging people to vote for Ms Harris, Mr Obama says she is “ready for the job” of US president.
Talking about her middle class background, and Mr Trump’s recent election stunt at a McDonald’s, he says Ms Harris actually worked at the fast food restaurant to pay her bills in college.
“She didn’t just pretend to work at McDonald’s,” he says.
“If you elect Kamala Harris, she will see you, she will hear you, she will have your back every single day.
“She knows what it’s like to struggle and to work hard and to be on the outside looking in.”
In the key swing state of Michigan, Kamala Harris has been interrupted by a group of students protesting the US support for Israel in its war in Gaza.
While on stage, she paused to address around a dozen people in the audience, chanting and holding up signs, before they were escorted out by security.
Some of them shouted: “Israel bombs, Kamala pays, how many kids will you kill today.”
Ms Harris paused as she noticed them, pointing at the group and saying: “Listen, hey, on the subject of Gaza, hey guys, I hear you on the subject of Gaza.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and get the hostages out, and I will do everything in my power to make it so.”
The crowd cheers and starts shouting “Kamala”.
Ms Harris has been interrupted several times by protesters during her campaign.
A key issue in Michigan has been the current President Joe Biden’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Activists in the state have been calling for the government to halt its military aid to the country.
Mr Trump has emphasised his support for Israel, saying during a presidential debate in June that the US should allow it to “finish the job” in Gaza.
Ms Harris has confirmed her “unwavering commitment to Israel”, but has also drawn attention to the “devastating” civilian deaths in Gaza.
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has taken the stage at a rally in Michigan.
He is speaking before Kamala Harris addresses crowds, urging supporters to vote for her in the election.
“Eight days to go, the elections already started. This game is tied, two minutes left on the clock, we got the ball,” he says.
“All gas and no breaks for the next eight days. Plenty of time, plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.”
In the last two elections, Michigan has been the state that has picked the winning presidential candidate.
While Donald Trump addresses crowds in Atlanta, Barack Obama is out in Philadelphia campaigning for Kamala Harris.
Mr Obama is appearing alongside singer Bruce Springsteen at Temple University’s Liacouras Center to urge people to vote.
The former president has held a number of events for the Harris Walz ticket.
Last Thursday, he appeared with Springsteen in Atlanta.
You can watch his event in the video below, and we’ll be bringing you the key updates in this blog…
Donald Trump has told crowds in Atlanta that he has “lost a hell of a lot of money” in his presidential campaign – but that he is still “rich as hell”.
Speaking to supporters at a rally, the former president says he was “proud” to spend his money on his fight for the White House because he was going to “make the country great again”.
“I lost a hell of a lot of money doing this but I’m proud to do it because this is the greatest thing,” he says.
“I got so many rich people out there, I’m rich as hell, I don’t give a damn. I lost billions,” he adds.
He says it is an “honour to be president” and he doesn’t care if it costs a “couple of billion bucks”.
Donald Trump has taken to the stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
Coming out to crowds waving “47” placards, representing his bid to be the 47th president, he danced his way up to the podium.
He says his campaign – Make America Great Again – is the “greatest political movement of all time”.
“Every problem facing us can be solved but now the fate of our nation is in your hands,” he adds.
He tells supporters that Kamala Harris has had a “terrible run” and is “more incompetent than Joe Biden”.
“Kamala, you’re fired. Get out of here,” he adds, referring to his catchphrase on the American show The Apprentice.
The comment sparks cheers of “lock her up” from the crowd.
“Be nice,” the former president tells his supporters.
We’ll be bringing you live updates from the rally in this blog, and you can watch it live below…
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