Likely Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters that she is 鈥渞eady鈥 to debate Donald Trump and accused her Republican rival of 鈥渂ackpedaling鈥 on their faceoff.
Israeli Prime Minister has made a long-awaited White House visit to meet with President and at an important moment for all three politicians.
On Wednesday, since his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. And at a campaign rally in North Carolina, unleashed a barrage of attack lines against Harris, whom he called his 鈥渘ew victim to defeat鈥 and accused of deceiving the public about Biden鈥檚 ability to run for a second term.
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Harris says she 鈥榳ill not be silent鈥 about suffering in Gaza, stresses complexity of the war
Harris said after her meeting with Netanyahu that Israel鈥檚 war with Hamas is complicated and that 鈥渢oo often, the conversation is binary when the reality is anything but.鈥
The vice president said she supports Israel鈥檚 right to defend itself but also described widespread suffering among Gaza鈥檚 civilian population as fighting continues.
鈥淲e cannot look away in the face of these tragedies,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent.鈥
Harris says 鈥榳e cannot look away鈥 from 鈥榙ire鈥 humanitarian situation in Gaza, calls for cease-fire deal to free hostages
Vice President Harris says she had a 鈥渇rank and constructive meeting鈥 with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Emphasizing that she and President Biden are 鈥渨orking every day鈥 to bring home U.S. hostages being held in Gaza, she also expressed concerns about civilians being killed and displaced in Gaza, saying, 鈥淚 will not be silent.鈥
The vice president recalled planting trees for Israel as a child and said that as a senator from California and as vice president she鈥檚 had an 鈥渦nwavering commitment to the existence of the state of Israel鈥 and its people. She said Israel has 鈥渁 right to defend itself and how it does so matters.鈥
Harris said both sides are working toward a cease-fire and that she remains committed to a two-state solution.
Leading contenders to be Harris鈥檚 running mate are getting into the money game
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly penned a fundraising email on behalf of her presidential campaign on Thursday, telling supporters, 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future.鈥
Kelly is known as a prodigious fundraiser; in his 2022 bid to win a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate, he raked in more than $89 million, according to OpenSecrets. That was just two years after Kelly won a special election in 2020, a cycle in which he raised nearly $100 million.
Harris and Netanyahu meet
Harris met with Netanyahu in her ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. She is expected to press him on securing a deal to release the hostages kidnapped during Hamas鈥 Oct. 7 attack on Israel that launched the war.
鈥淲e have a lot to talk about,鈥 she said as the two shook hands. 鈥淲e do indeed,鈥 he replied.
Gaza war protesters hold a 鈥榙ie-in鈥 near the White House as Netanyahu meets with Biden, Harris
Protesters against the Gaza war held a 鈥渄ie-in鈥 across from Lafayette Park and the White House on Thursday as President Joe Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister .
The poured red liquid onto the street, saying it symbolized the blood of those killed in Gaza. They chanted, 鈥淎rrest Netanyahu,鈥 and brought in an effigy of Netanyahu with blood on its hands and wearing an orange jumpsuit. The jumpsuit reads, 鈥淲anted for crimes against humanity.鈥
Relatives of US hostages call Biden-Netanyahu meeting 鈥榩roductive and honest鈥
Relatives of U.S hostages being held in Gaza have met with President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House, calling the discussions 鈥減roductive and honest.鈥
Speaking to reporters afterward, the family members said they 鈥渃ame today with a sense of urgency鈥 and emphasized the need to complete a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas that could result in the release of their loved ones.
鈥淲e got absolute commitment from the Biden administration and from Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of this moment,鈥 the relatives said. They added that they are more optimistic about a deal than they have been in months.
Protests in DC come to a close
An argument between a protestor and counter-protestor became somewhat violent and a fight nearly broke out. The protestor hit the camera of a freelance journalist before quickly escaping. The metropolitan police came in between them with about 10 officers. The altercation was brief, roughly 30 seconds.
After a protest leader decided to call the event, the crowd slowly dissipated.
Gabby Giffords stumps for Harris
Gabby Giffords, the former Democratic representative who was grievously wounded in a 2011 shooting, has taken to the campaign trail for Vice President Harris.
Speaking at Salt & Light church in Pennsylvania, Giffords met with community activists in a predominantly Black section of Philadelphia, recently hit by a series of .
While Giffords鈥 husband Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for Harris鈥 running mate, aides say the event had been planned long before.
Giffords and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton 鈥 a Shapiro ally who has rooted for the governor to join Harris鈥 ticket 鈥 batted away questions about the race to become Harris鈥 VP.
Harris is beginning to vet about a dozen people for the vice presidential nomination, two people familiar with the matter . They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential process.
On Monday, Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, another potential pick, are scheduled to headline a campaign rally for Harris in suburban Philadelphia.
Harris to appear on 鈥楻uPaul鈥檚 Drag Race All Stars鈥
Vice President Harris will appear on Friday鈥檚 season finale of 鈥淩uPaul鈥檚 Drag Race All Stars,鈥 according to a spokesperson for Paramount Media Networks, which owns MTV.
Her appearance, in which she advocates for voting, was recorded before Biden departed the race and Harris became the expected Democratic nominee.
LGBTQ+ rights issues are a major dividing line between Republicans and Democrats. At the state level, most Republican-controlled states have imposed bans in recent years on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. There have also been restrictions on transgender girls and women in girls and women鈥檚 sports and on which school bathrooms transgender people can use.
A federal regulation that takes effect next week is intended to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ students in schools. Most Republican states have sued to try to prevent enforcement, and courts have in 21 states.
Republican leaders warned members not to be racist or sexist to VP Harris. The White House suggests it 鈥榮ays a lot鈥
House Republican leaders not to comment on Vice President Harris鈥 race, sex and ethnic background. The White House suggests it 鈥渟ays a lot.鈥
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says that setting 鈥渦p a meeting to tell Republican leaders to stop being racist, to stop being sexist, to stop being misogynist, I think that says a lot that they have to be told to not do that.鈥
She added, 鈥淢ore broadly, I think it鈥檚 desperate, I think it鈥檚 disgusting and I think it鈥檚 a dog whistle.鈥
Trump the Republican party leader, in particular, has .
Harris says she's 鈥榬eady鈥 to debate Trump
Vice President Harris has accused Trump of 鈥渂ackpedaling鈥 away from a previously scheduled debate on Sept. 10.
鈥淚鈥檓 ready. Let鈥檚 go,鈥 she told reporters at Joint Base Andrews after returning from her trip to Indiana and Texas.
Trump has said he鈥檚 willing to debate Harris more than once, but he has sought to shift the event from ABC News to Fox News following Biden鈥檚 endorsement of the vice president.
Now out of the race, Biden鈥檚 dance card has opened up
Now that he鈥檚 no longer seeking reelection, President Biden has more time for travel 鈥 but where he鈥檒l go during the final months of his presidency remains to be seen.
鈥淲e still have a lot more to do,鈥 White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her briefing with reporters.
She said she couldn鈥檛 preview upcoming travel or other plans Biden might have now that he鈥檚 not seeking a second term, but said, 鈥淲e will certainly have more to share.鈥
香港六合彩挂牌资料 Security spokesman John Kirby was asked about foreign travel, including a trip to Africa that Biden once pledged to take but hasn鈥檛 come to fruition.
鈥淣ow that he鈥檚 not running for reelection, certainly, you can expect that there will be opportunities on the calendar that may not have been there before,鈥 Kirby said.
He said that full details are still being assessed.
Illinois governor won鈥檛 say whether he鈥檚 being considered for Harris鈥 running mate
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker isn鈥檛 commenting on reports that he is among the candidates in consideration for Vice President Harris鈥 running mate.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to talk about any private conversations I鈥檝e had,鈥 the second-term Democratic governor said Thursday. 鈥淚 will say that I have said directly to the vice president that I鈥檓 going to do everything and anything necessary to make sure that we defeat Donald Trump and JD Vance.鈥
Pritzker declined to comment on whether he would want the vice president job.
鈥淚 really have been honored to have been elected twice as governor of the state of Illinois. I really enjoy the work,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not much that would pull me away from the job.鈥
鈥楩reedom鈥 has a long history in presidential campaign songs
In Vice President first 2024 presidential campaign video, a familiar rhythm rings out. The clip, which touches on issues of gun violence, health care and abortion, is soundtracked by Beyonc茅鈥檚 鈥淔reedom,鈥 a cut from her 2016
鈥淔reedom鈥 has become a , evoking a long history of presidential campaign songs using a title or hook highlighting freedom or liberty: In 1800, John Adams used the song 鈥淎dams and Liberty鈥 and Thomas Jefferson used 鈥淭he Son of Liberty.鈥 In 1860, Abraham Lincoln used 鈥淟incoln and Liberty.鈥 As recent as 2012, Mitt Romney used Kid Rock鈥檚 鈥淏orn Free.鈥
Kinitra D. Brooks, an academic and author of 鈥淭he Lemonade Reader,鈥 the Beyonc茅 song centers on 鈥渢he idea that you must fight for freedom, and that it is winnable,鈥 referencing some of the lyrics in the chorus: 鈥淚 break chains all by myself / Won鈥檛 let my freedom rot in hell / Hey! I鈥檓a keep running / 鈥機ause a winner don鈥檛 quit on themselves.鈥
Netanyahu praises Biden鈥檚 鈥榮upport for the state of Israel鈥
Netanyahu and Biden have had ups and downs over the years. Netanyahu, in what could be his last White House meeting with Biden, reflected on the roughly 40 years they鈥檝e known each other.
鈥淔rom a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish-American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,鈥 Netanyahu told Biden at the start of their meeting.
The president thanked Netanyahu and noted that his first meeting with an Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, was in 1973 soon after he was elected to the Senate. Biden joked that he was only 12 years old at the time.
Netanyahu arrives at the White House
Israeli Prime Minister has made his long-awaited White House visit to meet with President at an important moment for both politicians.
Netanyahu鈥檚 first White House visit since before President left office in 2020, comes at a time of growing pressure on all three to find an endgame to the nine-month war that鈥檚 left more than . Dozens of Israeli hostages are still languishing in Hamas captivity.
Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris later today.
Protesters return to Capitol Hill, turn their attention to the White House
After a mass demonstration Wednesday outside the Capitol, Gaza war protesters turned their focus to the White House, where President Joe Biden planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day Thursday.
The protesters chanted, 鈥淎rrest Netanyahu,鈥 and brought in an effigy of Netanyahu with blood on its hands and wearing an orange jumpsuit.
The jumpsuit reads, 鈥淲anted for crimes against humanity.鈥
A small number of counter-protesters wore Israeli flags around their shoulders.
Defense secretary praises Harris as a 鈥榢ey player鈥
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says Vice President Kamala Harris has been a 鈥渒ey player鈥 on many critical national security decisions, including the administration鈥檚 decisions on Ukraine and strikes to defend U.S. troops in the Middle East.
鈥淪he鈥檚 represented this country in the international arena on the international stage a number of times and done so in a very, very professional and effective manner,鈥 Austin said at a Pentagon press conference Tuesday.
PAC run by George Conway targets Trump himself with new ad
One of Donald Trump鈥檚 most aggressive Republican critics is trying to get into the former president鈥檚 head with mockery of what鈥檚 already in it.
鈥淎nti-Psychopath PAC,鈥 a group run by George Conway, is launching a 60-second spot with footage of Trump鈥檚 most infamous verbal missteps and odd-ball claims, superimposed over an image of his brain in a cartoonish profile of his head.
In a statement, the PAC explains the ad has one target: Trump himself.
It will run for two weeks only on Fox News, ESPN and the Golf Channel in cable markets surrounding Trump鈥檚 Bedminster resort in New Jersey and Mar-a-Lago resort in south Florida.
The reel includes Trump:
鈥 praising the fictional cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
鈥 declaring that windmill 鈥渘oise causes cancer.鈥
鈥 saying 鈥渢he kidney has a very special place in the heart.鈥
鈥 addressing Apple CEO Tim Cook as 鈥淭im Apple.鈥
鈥 stumbling over his words and losing his train of thought in various meetings and speeches.
Trump spent much of the 2024 campaign mocking 81-year-old President Joe Biden as too old and mentally incompetent for the job.
Now Biden has dropped out and the 78-year-old Trump becomes the oldest major party nominee in history 鈥 a fact Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans want to highlight in contrast to 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris.
Gov. Cooper declines to say if he鈥檚 been asked to submit vetting documents to Harris鈥 campaign
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday 鈥渢here are a lot of good people鈥 that Vice President Kamala Harris could choose as her running mate, but he wouldn鈥檛 address directly his prospects to join her ticket.
At a Harris for President news conference in downtown Raleigh, Cooper declined to respond to a question about whether he鈥檚 received a request for vetting documents.
鈥淚 trust her to make the right decision. But I also respect her process. And I鈥檓 not going to comment on any of those types of things,鈥 he said.
鈥淭here are a lot of people that she can choose. She鈥檚 going to make the right choice,鈥 Cooper said after listing why he backed Harris for president.
Cooper鈥檚 brief speech for Harris talked about her many visits as vice president to North Carolina, a swing state where Donald Trump won electoral votes in both 2016 and 2020. Cooper and Harris also knew each other when they were attorneys general for North Carolina and California.
Cooper meanwhile took a swipe at Trump鈥檚 vice presidential pick in Ohio Sen. JD Vance, saying 鈥渋t鈥檚 pretty clear that Donald Trump chose someone in his own image 鈥 sort of a 鈥楳ini Me鈥,鈥 鈥 a reference to a smaller clone of 鈥淒r. Evil鈥 in the 鈥淎ustin Powers鈥 film franchise.
鈥楬er entry into this race has electrified this race鈥
HOUSTON 鈥 The American Federation of Teachers welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris to its convention in Houston on Thursday.
鈥淗er entry into this race has electrified this race,鈥 said Randi Weingarten, the union鈥檚 president.
Harris told teachers that they 鈥渟hape the future of our nation鈥 and she warned that Donald Trump has 鈥渁 plan to return America to a dark past.鈥
She also targeted Republicans鈥 views on gun control and public education.
鈥淲e want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books,鈥 Harris said.
Hulk Hogan says speaking at the RNC made him feel 鈥榣ike I was on the right path鈥
Hulk Hogan says all of the feedback he received from speaking at the Republican 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Convention has been positive.
鈥淩eal Americans want this country not to be like it used to be but to be like it should be, and be one unit where we come together and we can agree to disagree,鈥 Hogan said Thursday while watching the Detroit Lions practice in Allen Park, Michigan. 鈥淭he Republic 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Convention actually gave me a shot in the arm to make me feel like I was on the right path.鈥
Hogan, a wrestling icon, said he accepted Donald Trump鈥檚 invitation to address the crowd last week in Milwaukee because he鈥檚 no longer shy about saying what鈥檚 on his mind about politics.
鈥淚 actually started to call myself a coward because there鈥檚 so many people that are like me that don鈥檛 speak up,鈥 he said. 鈥... All the sudden, when they tried to assassinate Donald Trump, I said, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 it. I can鈥檛 be silent any longer. This is not correct, this is not correct on any level.鈥 If it was Trump, or Biden, or Clinton, or anybody, that is not right. Something has to change in this country.鈥
Obama plans to formall
y endorse Harris soon, AP source says
Former President Barack Obama plans to soon formally endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a person familiar with the former president鈥檚 deliberations.
Harris and Obama have been in regular touch since President Joe Biden announced that he was ending his 2024 campaign, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations.
Obama had privately shared doubts about Biden鈥檚 reelection chances ahead of the president鈥檚 Sunday announcement but held back on endorsing Harris even as former President Bill Clinton and Democratic leaders announced they were backing her.
Instead, Obama said in a statement that he had 鈥渆xtraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.鈥
The person familiar with Obama鈥檚 thinking said he believed it was important for Democrats to have a 鈥渓egitimate process鈥 where delegates select the new nominee.
Harris by Monday evening secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party鈥檚 likely nominee against Republican Donald Trump, according to an
Obama and Harris have had a close relationship over the past 20 years and she鈥檚 often used him as a sounding board.
House Republicans try to tie Harris to Biden administration鈥檚 handling of US-Mexico border
House Republicans are trying to tie Vice President Kamala Harris to the Biden administration鈥檚 handling of the U.S. border with Mexico, voting to pass a resolution Thursday that labeled her as the 鈥渂order czar鈥 and condemned her handling of the job.
The resolution, which doesn鈥檛 enact any actual law, echoes an attack line that Donald Trump has taken against Harris since she rose to become the likely Democratic presidential nominee. All Republicans and six Democrats in tough reelection races voted for the resolution.
鈥淎s border czar, Vice President Harris has overseen the most catastrophic border crisis in our nation鈥檚 history,鈥 said Rep. Nathaniel Moran, a Texas Republican.
Biden never officially designated Harris as 鈥渂order czar,鈥 but did with addressing the root causes of migration.
Border crossings eventually became a major political liability for Biden when they reached historic levels 鈥 though it is unclear whether voters will also associate Harris with that.
Most Democrats sought to defend how Harris handled the job.
鈥淪he was narrowly tasked with developing agreements that could help bring government and private sector investments to those countries that are sending migrants to the United States,鈥 said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
DeSantis calls protests stemming from Netanyahu鈥檚 visit 鈥榙isgraceful and unacceptable鈥
At a press conference in Aventura, Florida on Thursday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about protests stemming from Netanyahu鈥檚 visit to the United States.
He said he has never seen this 鈥渙utburst of antisemitism鈥 in his lifetime, and that protests and antisemitic messages are 鈥渄isgraceful and unacceptable. He also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for not being there when Netanyahu arrived to Congress.
鈥淜amala can鈥檛 go there and greet him? That鈥檚 not a way to treat an ally,鈥 DeSantis said. 鈥淪he has not condemned what happened at Union Station.鈥
Harris issued a statement on Thursday morning condemning what she called the 鈥渄espicable acts鈥 by some protesters who displayed pro-Hamas graffiti and burned an American flag.
She was absent from Netanyahu鈥檚 address due to a trip to Indianapolis that was scheduled before Biden withdrew his reelection bid and she became the likely Democratic presidential candidate.
Harris condemns 鈥榙espicable acts鈥 by protesters who displayed pro-Hamas graffiti in Washington
Vice President Kamala Harris is forcefully condemning 鈥渄espicable acts鈥 by some protesters opposing Israel鈥檚 war in Gaza, who displayed pro-Hamas graffiti and burned an American flag in Washington on Wednesday.
Railing against 鈥渦npatriotic protesters and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric,鈥 Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden quit the 2024 race, issued her statement before the incumbent as she seeks to navigate the complicated domestic politics over the war.
She is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House later Thursday, as she and Biden have criticized Israel for not doing more to protect civilians in the nine-month conflict.
Harris said she also condemns 鈥渁ny individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas.鈥
She said: 鈥淧ro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation.鈥
Harris said she supports the right to peacefully protest, but 鈥淚 condemn the burning of the American flag. That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way.鈥
GOP group launches ad campaign, hopes to persuade swing state voters to back Harris
A GOP group hoping to drain votes from Trump is again targeting swing state voters, this time hoping to showcase why they should back Harris.
Republican Voters Against Trump on Thursday said it is launching a $500,000 campaign featuring former Trump voters who now say they will back the Democratic vice president鈥檚 general election campaign.
The group says it鈥檚 up with 76 billboards this week in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all considered battlegrounds in this year鈥檚 election. There鈥檚 also a 60-second digital ad with the voices of voters explaining why they won鈥檛 back Trump again.
Last week, the group went up with more than a dozen billboards around the Milwaukee arena that hosted the Republican 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Convention, with similar testimonials from GOP voters. The group also aired two different TV ads across those same three states, plus Arizona.
Democratic PAC targets abortion rights in new ad on behalf of Harris鈥 campaign
A major Democratic political action committee has launched its first digital ad effort on behalf of Kamala Harris鈥 presidential campaign.
The topic: abortion rights.
The Priorities USA Action ad features an Arizona woman, identified in the ad as 鈥淐hloe,鈥 recounting how she was denied abortion access after former President Donald Trump鈥檚 three Supreme Court appointees helped overturn Roe v. Wade.
鈥淚 was told that my baby was not compatible with life, and it was in my best option to terminate,鈥 she says into the camera. 鈥淭he Friday that Roe vs. Wade was overturned, my doctor calls me almost in tears telling me that the hospital board would not approve it.鈥
Another Trump term, she says, 鈥渟cares me鈥 and would be 鈥渄etrimental to women鈥檚 health.鈥
Harris, she says, would be 鈥渁nother woman up there fighting for women鈥檚 rights.鈥
The $250,000 YouTube ad buy will circulate the spot to voters in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona.
Democrats and the Harris campaign believe the contrast with Trump on abortion rights will help the likely Democratic nominee, especially among women in metropolitan areas and younger voters who were ambivalent about President Joe Biden before he ended his reelection bid.
Man who was shot, critically injured at Trump rally released from hospital
A man who was shot and critically wounded in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump has been released from the hospital.
David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, was released from Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, a hospital spokesperson said Thursday.
The other Trump rally spectator who was shot and wounded, James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, remains in serious but stable condition.
Demand for Vance's memoir 鈥楬illbilly Elegy鈥 surges
Former President as his running mate has led to a surge in sales for 鈥淗illbilly Elegy,鈥 his best-selling memoir that came out in 2016.
A spokesperson for HarperCollins told The Associated Press that have been sold since Trump鈥檚 announcement on July 15. The total includes physical books, audiobooks and e-books.
鈥淲e are printing hundreds of thousands of copies to fill the demand at our retail partners,鈥 the publisher announced Thursday.
鈥淗illbilly Elegy,鈥 which Ron Howard adapted into a feature film released in 2020, tells of Vance鈥檚 childhood in Ohio and his family鈥檚 roots in rural Kentucky.
After Trump鈥檚 stunning victory in 2016, as essential reading for opponents trying to understand his appeal to working class whites 鈥 even as some critics faulted it as a narrow and misleading portrait of Appalachia and poverty in the U.S.
Harris has support on the basketball court 鈥 even in Paris
PARIS 鈥 Vice President Kamala Harris is a fan of the Golden State Warriors and has a friendship with Warriors coach 鈥 and U.S. Olympic men鈥檚 basketball coach 鈥 Steve Kerr.
That friendship may change a bit in November.
鈥淚鈥檝e met her a few times, so I call her Kamala,鈥 Kerr said in Paris on Thursday, as the Olympic team was going through final preparations before its opening game Sunday against Serbia. 鈥淏ut if she wins, I need to adjust that. I can鈥檛 call her by her first name.鈥
Much has changed since Harris visited with the U.S. team and delivered a pep talk in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, including the decision by President Joe Biden to not seek reelection. He endorsed Harris as the Democratic candidate.
鈥淪he represents the Bay Area and is a big supporter of us,鈥 U.S. guard and Warriors star Stephen Curry said. 鈥淎nd so, I want to give that energy right back to her.鈥
Trump on whether Biden should stay in office: 鈥業 guess that鈥檚 up to him鈥
Trump, calling into 鈥淔ox & Friends鈥 this morning, was asked if Biden should have used his speech last night to resign.
Many of his Republican allies have been making the case that if Biden isn鈥檛 fit to run again, he isn鈥檛 fit to serve and should step down.
But Trump seemed to disagree.
鈥淪hould he stay? I guess that鈥檚 up to him and it鈥檚 up to the people. And I don鈥檛 think they should use the 25th Amendment,鈥 Trump told the hosts.
Trump went on to say that there鈥檚 鈥渘ot long to go鈥 on Biden鈥檚 term.
鈥淵ou know, we have four months now and then he鈥檚 got another month-and-a-half,鈥 he said, arguing the alternative 鈥 Vice President Kamala Harris taking over 鈥 would be worse. 鈥淚 will say this: The world is at a very dangerous place. I think if he goes, she then takes over. And she鈥檚 worse than he is.鈥
Trump revives his call for jail time for flag burners
Former President Donald Trump is again calling for jail time for flag burners following protests in Washington, D.C.
Responding to demonstrators who took to the streets on Wednesday to condemn , Trump, in a call-in interview with 鈥淔ox and Friends,鈥 said that those who 鈥渄o anything to desecrate the American flag鈥 should be sentenced to one year in jail.
鈥淣ow, people will say, 鈥極h, it鈥檚 unconstitutional.鈥 Those are stupid people,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hose are stupid people that say that. We have to work in Congress to get a one-year jail sentence.鈥
The Supreme Court has held that flag burning is a form of speech protected by the First Amendment.
Thousands of protesters chanting 鈥淔ree, free Palestine鈥 marched toward the Capitol Wednesday.
Outside Washington鈥檚 Union Station, protesters removed American flags and hoisted Palestinian ones in their place.
Trump made after being elected in 2016, saying anyone who burns an American flag should face 鈥渃onsequences,鈥 such as jail or a loss of citizenship.
Harris鈥 campaign rolls out its first video 鈥 with a little bit of flair
Vice President Kamala Harris鈥 presidential campaign is rolling out its first video 鈥 and it has a pop culture flair.
Titled 鈥淲e Choose Freedom,鈥 it underscores a core message of the campaign: freedom on abortion rights, freedom from gun violence and freedom 鈥渘ot just to get by, but to get ahead.鈥 It is set to a soundtrack of Beyonc茅鈥檚 鈥淔reedom.鈥
鈻 Watch the video, which will be promoted on social media, .
These lawmakers boycotted Netanyahu鈥檚 fiery speech to Congress
Overall, more than 60 Democrats boycotted the speech. .
1. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called Netanyahu鈥檚 speech 鈥渢he worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress.鈥
2. Political independent Bernie Sanders.
3. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington declined to attend, so Sen. Ben Cardin, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, served as 鈥渟enator pro tempore鈥 in place of her.
4. The most notable absence: Vice President Kamala Harris, who serves as president of the Senate, was away on an Indianapolis trip scheduled before Biden withdrew his reelection bid and she became the likely Democratic presidential candidate over the weekend.
5. Trump鈥檚 running mate, Sen. JD Vance, who said campaigning would also make him a no-show for the Israeli leader鈥檚 speech.
Netanyahu鈥檚 meeting with Biden and Harris comes at a crucial moment
Netanyahu鈥檚 White House visit, his first since before former President Donald Trump left office in 2020, comes at a time of growing pressure on all three to find an endgame to the nine-month war that鈥檚 left more than 39,000 dead in Gaza. What鈥檚 more, dozens of Israeli hostages 鈥 and the remains of others who have died in captivity 鈥 are still languishing in Hamas captivity
.Biden is pressing to get Israel and Hamas to seal his proposal to release remaining hostages in Gaza over three phases 鈥 something that would be a legacy-affirming achievement for the 81-year-old Democrat who abandoned his reelection bid earlier this week and endorsed Harris. It could also be a boon for Harris in her bid to succeed him.
White House officials say that the negotiations are in the closing stages, but there are still issues that need to be resolved.
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Biden鈥檚 speech: Warnings about Trump without naming him, a hefty to-do list, and a power hand-off
President Joe Biden that laid out in the clearest terms yet why he abandoned his reelection campaign.
He wanted to send an unmistakable warning about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump while anointing Vice President Kamala Harris as his natural successor, without invoking an overtly political tone that would have been out of step in the official setting of the White House.
He was determined to show that he would not act like a lame-duck president, outlining an ambitious agenda that underscored his resolve to continue building on his legacy.
The fight to define Harris is on. And for now, Republicans are dominating Democrats on the airwaves
Just days into her new role as the Democratic Party鈥檚 , Kamala Harris is already facing a wave of Republican-backed attack ads questioning her personality, her progressive record and what she knew about President Joe Biden鈥檚 decline.
But for now, at least, Democrats have yet to engage in the summertime advertising fight. And in a sharp reversal from much of the year, Republicans are suddenly dominating the airways.
鈻 Read more .
Biden delivers solemn call to defend democracy as he lays out his reasons for quitting race
Insisting that 鈥渢he defense of democracy is more important than any title,鈥 Biden used his first public address on Wednesday to deliver an implicit repudiation of .
鈥淣othing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,鈥 Biden said, in a somber coda to his 50 years spent in public office. 鈥淎nd that includes personal ambition.鈥
It was a moment for the history books 鈥 a U.S. president reflecting before the nation on why he was taking the rare step of voluntarily handing off power. It hasn鈥檛 been done since 1968 when Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection in the heat of the Vietnam War.
Biden鈥檚 Oval Office address was a family affair
Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office surrounded by family and close advisers.
As he spoke, seated off to the side and along the curved wall, were mostly relatives. They included the president鈥檚 son, Hunter Biden, and his granddaughter Finnegan Biden, as well as his daughter Ashley Biden.
First lady Jill Biden was also there, as were other family members and the president鈥檚 longtime adviser, Mike Donilon.
Biden鈥檚 voice was very soft and sometimes barely audible, though he got a bit louder occasionally. Toward the end of remarks, Ashley Biden reached for the hand of her mother, the first lady, who was seated next to her.
Standing in the back were White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and other staff.
When Biden concluded, those assembled applauded. Jill Biden then walked to the Resolute Desk and stood next to her husband. 鈥淭his has been the honor of a lifetime,鈥 the president said.
In 1968, Lyndon Johnson turned down a second term of his own
No American incumbent president has dropped out of the race so late in the process. The last president to do so was Lyndon Johnson in March of 1968. When Johnson addressed the nation from the Oval Office, he spent the majority of his remarks talking about the Vietnam War, and his duty to focus on it.
He tried to make the case that American forces were making great progress in the war, and said, 鈥淥ne day, my fellow citizens, there will be peace in Southeast Asia.鈥 That portrait was at odds with the politics in the Democratic Party, riven by division over the war, prompting several prominent Democrats, including Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy.
Johnson also acknowledged how the war was tearing the country apart. 鈥淚n these times as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of party, of region, of religion, of race, is a house that cannot stand. There is division in the American house now.鈥
He then made the stunning announcement that he would not seek reelection.
鈥淚 shall not be a candidate for reelection. I have served my country long, and I think efficiently and honestly. I shall not accept a renomination. I do not feel that it is my duty to spend another 4 years in the White House.鈥
Trump calls Biden鈥檚 Oval Office address 鈥榮ooo bad鈥
Trump posted on his social media website that the president 鈥渨as barely understandable, and sooo bad!鈥
During the speech, Biden called Vice President Harris 鈥渢ough鈥 and 鈥渃apable.鈥
In a separate post, Trump slammed Biden and Harris as embarrassments, noting, 鈥淭HERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME LIKE THIS!"
The view from Trump鈥檚 campaign plane
As President Biden addressed the nation, his former opponent was among those watching.
Trump watched Biden鈥檚 10-minute address from his campaign plane as he flew out of North Carolina following a rally.
Photographs showed Trump watching Biden speak intently, his head tilted sideways.
Trump adviser Chris LaCivita subsequently a different picture showing the former president turned sideways and frowning, intently not watching as Biden spoke.
鈥淥n Trump Force One 鈥ey Joe 鈥ou鈥檙e Fired!鈥 LaCivita wrote over the picture.
