Biden wants to appeal to the American people. More and more Democrats are pledging their support for Kamala Harris. All information in the news blog.
0.30 am: According to his spokeswoman, US President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race has nothing to do with the 81-year-old’s health. “It’s not about his health. I can say: No, that’s not the reason,” said Karine Jean-Pierre at the regular press conference in the White House.
She did not want to give any precise details about what motivated Biden to make his decision. When asked whether he had been presented with relevant polls, she did not answer. Jean-Pierre stressed that Biden would explain his motives in a speech to the nation on Wednesday evening (local time/German night to Thursday).
Biden announced his withdrawal on Sunday in the form of a letter that he published on social media. This was an unusual step. At the time, Biden was in isolation in his private home in Rehoboth Beach with a corona infection. Jean-Pierre now said that the Democrat had discussed the future with a small group of advisers and his family on Saturday evening. “He then made this decision on Sunday afternoon,” said the spokeswoman. Shortly before the letter was published, he had spoken to some advisers and staff on the phone.
0.10 am: The US Democrats want to officially nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate before the party convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22. Harris could be nominated as early as August 1, the responsible committee announced. Harris should select her candidate for the office of Vice President by August 7.
3.43 p.m.: Since Joe Biden withdrew, Donald Trump has become the oldest presidential candidate in the history of the United States. Critics have expressed doubts about his physical and mental abilities. Read about his health here.
12.48 pm: Kamala Harris wants to become the next US president. Young people on the internet are reacting to this with numerous inside jokes. Harris’ team jumped on the idea immediately and is trying to reach these potential voters in an unusual way. Read how this works here.
2.58 am: Tesla boss Elon Musk has rejected reports of an alleged million dollar donation to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. “I never said I was donating $45 million to Trump,” Musk said on the short message service X. He did not provide any further details. The entrepreneur is reacting to reports of possible financial support for Trump in the election campaign. Musk often speaks out on political issues, but emphasizes his political independence.
1.25 am: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reportedly wants to prevent US Vice President Kamala Harris from accessing certain campaign funds. The New York Times and CNN reported that the Republican’s team had filed a complaint with the US Federal Campaign Finance Commission (FEC). Trump’s team accuses Harris of violating campaign finance laws because she is accessing funds previously collected by US President Joe Biden when he was still a presidential candidate.
“Kamala Harris is trying to steal Joe Biden’s remaining campaign funds of $91.5 million,” the newspaper and broadcaster quoted from the complaint filed by Trump’s legal adviser David Warrington. This is a “blatant” violation of the law. Warrington argues, among other things, that Harris is not entitled to the money because she is not yet the official candidate. It also states that Biden cannot simply pass on the money because he is no longer running and therefore no longer has a claim to the millions.
