US election latest: Trump travels to Harris's backyard as she targets swing states (2024)

The Democratic National Committee (DNC)is launching adverts referring to Taylor Swift in Times Square and on the Las Vegas Strip, after the popstar endorsed Kamala Harris for president earlier this week.

The ads refer to Ms Swift with statements such as"We're in our Kamala era!" and "A new way forward… ready for it?"

They also urge voters to visit a website that helps them research where and how to vote.

"We're reminding voters that it is critical to speak now to dump Trump and enter our Kamala era by visiting IWillVote.com and doing their research on how, where, and when to vote in this election," DNC spokesperson Rosemary Boeglin said in a statement.

The DNC previously listed Walz-Harris friendship bracelets - an apparent nod to fans of Ms Swift swapping them at her concerts.

Kamala Harris will continue her targeting of swing states with a visit to Pennsylvania later.

While her rival speaks in California and Nevada (see previous post), the vice president has her eyes set on the keystone state - which many analysts have pointed to as the pivotal battleground of this election.

She'll be speaking at Wilkes-Barre as she looks to ride the momentum of Tuesday night's debate performance.

Additionally, her campaign has said she will start doing more interviews with local media outlets.

Donald Trump has arrived in California for a private fundraiser and a news conference (which we'll be covering from 5pm).

In doing so, he's entered Kamala Harris territory.

The vice president was born in the golden state, and has served as its attorney general and senator.

It's considered a very safe Democrat seat - voting blue for the past 36 years.

That hasn't deterred Mr Trump, with reports his private fundraiser billionaire software developer Tom Siebel and his wife, Stacey Siebel.

Attendees will pay at least $3,300 per person or raise $10,000 for the campaign, according to an invitation. Top-tier donors will get a photo, reception and roundtable, paying $500,000 for a couple to be on the host committee or $150,000 per person to be a co-host.

Before that, at 5pm UK time, he'll speak near his golf club in Los Angeles.

Much later this evening (and into the early hours UK time) he'll resume his tour of swing states - travelling to Las Vegas to win over voters in the crucial Nevada battleground.

The United Arab Emirates wants to revive a multi-billion dollar deal with the US for F-35 fighter jets and armed drones - but only if Donald Trump wins a second term as president, according to Reuters.

Foreign policy is one of the dividing lines between Mr Trump and his opponent, Kamala Harris.

The UAE has long sought the jet - and hopes to become the second country in the Middle East to operate them (the well-supported Israel being the other).

Mr Trump had signed off on a deal in the final days of his presidency in 2021 - but talks hit stumbling blocks when the UAE picked up talks with Biden administration.

Three sources told Reuters that if Trump was re-elected, the UAE would seek to resume talks over the $23bn deal.

The UAE established ties with Israel in 2020 as part of accords brokered by the Trump administration, making the deal more achievable.

The moment Donald Trump uttered the words at the debate on Tuesday night I knew I'd be off to Springfield.

And so here I am, with a dispatch from a once unremarkable small American town that's now utterly remarkable, if you believe the claim.

"They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats! They're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump had said.

First stop - the park to find the dog walkers. The first man I met, with his dog, was called Bruce.

"I've heard about it…" he told me when I asked if he could verify the Trump claim. "…but I haven't seen anything really."

"You're not worried about your dog?" I asked. "No."

"You should ask them…" he then said, pointing to a man in a municipal vehicle.

Read more from Stone here.

Welcome back to our live coverage of the US election.

Yesterday Kamala Harris and Donald Trump jumped back on their campaign trial, both heading to key swing states in a bid to win over undecided voters.

Ms Harris visited Charlotte and Greensboro in North Carolina, where she told crowds that they were owed a second presidential debate.

But, Mr Trump had other ideas, telling his supports that he will not take part in another one.

"We've done two debates and because they were successful, there will be no third debate," he told his rally in Tucson, Arizona.

We are expecting to see Ms Harris head to Pennsylvania for more events today, stopping off in Johnstown and Wilkes Barre.

Meanwhile, her husband Doug Emhoff will arrive in Florida before visiting Mississippi for a Harris for President campaign fundraiser.

We'll be bringing you live updates throughout the day, but here's a quick recap of the key moments from yesterday:

• Former Republican attorney general Alberto Gonzales endorsed Kamala Harris in an explosive column published online;
• A city hall in Springfield, Ohio, was forced to close following a bomb threat amid unfounded claims by Donald Trump that immigrants were eating pets in the area;
• A senior Harris campaign official said the team raked in $47m (£35.8m) in the 24 hours after Tuesday's presidential debate;
  
• Crowds chanted 'we're not eating cats' while Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz called Mr Trump "weird" at a rally in Michigan.

That's all our live coverage of the US election for now.

It's been a busy day, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris holding rallies in key swing states.

Mr Trump headed to Tucson in Arizona, where he told supporters he had a "monumental victory" in his debate against Ms Harris earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Ms Harris visited Charlotte and Greensboro in North Carolina.

She called for a second debate against her opponent, saying: "We owe it to the voters".

Her comment came after Mr Trump ruled out the possibility.

We'll be back with all the latest updates later, but here's a quick recap of the other key events from the last 24 hours:

• Former Republican attorney general Alberto Gonzales endorsed Kamala Harris in an explosive column published online, saying he "can't sit quietly" and allow "the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation" - Donald Trump - return to the White House;
• A city hall in Springfield, Ohio, was forced to close following a bomb threat. It came amid unfounded claims by Mr Trump that immigrants were eating pets in the area;
• A judge in Georgia dismissed two criminal counts in the state's 2020 election interference case against Trump;
  
• A senior Harris campaign official said the team raked in $47m (£35.8m) in the 24 hours after Tuesday's presidential debate;
  
• Crowds chanted 'we're not eating cats' while Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz called Mr Trump "weird" at a rally in Michigan.

The certification of the presidential election on 6 January 2025 is set to get extra security.

House members have expressed their support for heightened security at the Capitol, with some saying the transition of power needs to be protected.

The day has been named as a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security, which means federal, state and local resources will be directed towards the Capitol.

After the 2020 last election, supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building as Congress was meeting to certify the results.

Violent and heavily armed, the rioters broke windows, vandalised offices and threatened members of Congress for refusing to back Mr Trump's attempts to overturn the election in his favour.

Five people were killed, including one police officer who was beaten by rioters.

Republican congressman Tim Burchett was there at the time, and told our US partner NBC News that more security would be needed if threats are made.

"I'm not in the security business. ... I was the last person, last House member, to leave the House floor on January 6, and I stayed to fight," he said.

"So if they think there's going to be trouble, yeah, I think we need to have security. Maybe this time they'll call out the National Guard."

Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez agreed, saying: "I believe that former President Trump incited what is essentially a domestic terrorist attack here on the Capitol on January 6.

"We have to protect the peaceful transition of power in the United States, and it’s very normal to call for enhanced security to make sure that happens."

Donald Trump plans to launch his sons' cryptocurrency business on Monday.

The former president plans to deliver remarks about crypto as he launches World Liberty Financial, which will be controlled by his Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump.

His speech will come 50 days before election day - an extraordinary use of dwindling campaign time to promote a personal business.

The Republican presidential candidate has long mixed his political and business interests and marketed sneakers, photo books and Trump-branded Bibles during his 2024 campaign.

"We're embracing the future with crypto and leaving the slow and outdated big banks behind," he said in a video posted on X.

As part of his presidential campaign, Mr Trump has pledged to turn the US into the "crypto capital of the planet".

His comment has raised red flags that he could use the federal government to help support a business tied to his family.

Cryptocurrencies are forms of digital money that can be traded over the internet without relying on the global banking system.

The trading often depends on online marketplaces that charge fees for transactions, so that the cryptocurrencies can be exchanged for US dollars and other currencies.

Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate taxes on overtime pay if he is elected as president.

The Republican nominee told his campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona that the move would give people "more an incentive to work".

He said that when people work more than 40 hours a week, their "overtime hours will be tax-free."

"I'm also announcing that as part of our additional tax cuts, we will end all taxes on overtime," he told the crowd.

"That gives people more of an incentive to work. It gives the companies a lot - it's a lot easier to get the people."