US election live updates: Biden ‘receptive’ to calls to stand down
If you’re wondering why there is such panic about Joe Biden among his colleagues, this map tells the story very succinctly.
Joe Biden has been “receptive” to calls for him to step down, according to media reports in the US.
The President cancelled an appearance after testing positive for Covid and was filmed struggling to climb down the steps of Air Force Once.
His doctor has said his symptoms are mild and he has been given an antiviral coronvirus drug.
Senior Democrats have now briefed the New York Times and CNN about private conversations Mr Biden has had with top leaders in congress.
They said that leaders are deeply concerned about his prospects and that Mr Biden had been “willing to listen”, despite striking a more defiant tone in public.
It comes four days after former US president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.
Follow our live coverage below as we bring you the latest updates.
Biden’s nightmare: The current electoral map
The biggest motivator for all this hand-wringing among Democrats is, of course, the possibility - or perhaps probability - that Joe Biden will lose to Donald Trump.
The reason for their panic is plain enough to see when you project the current polling onto America’s electoral map. The threshold for victory in a presidential election, remember, is 270 electoral votes.
According to the polls, Mr Biden is currently losing in every single major swing state. From left to right on the electoral map below, those critical states are: Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Mr Biden won them all in 2020.
His chances of winning Minnesota and Virginia, both of which we’ve given him below, are also less than excellent.
But give him those two states. Even then, Mr Trump would have 331 electoral votes, easily enough to win. And Mr Biden is staring down the barrel of the worst electoral vote tally for a Democratic nominee since Michael Dukakis in 1988.
Biden’s chances of remaining plummet
After a day when he was diagnosed with Covid and two of his own party’s most influential leaders were revealed to have called for his exit from the race, Joe Biden’s chances of remaining the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee appear to have plummeted.
That was certainly the verdict of Fox News’ veteran political analyst Brit Hume, speaking during the network’s coverage of the Republican Convention.
“Quite apart from the fact that he’s now ill with Covid, I must say Bret that I think, for the first time today, that the chances are well better than even that he will not be the Democratic nominee,” said Hume, speaking to anchor Bret Baier.
“This is a situation where you’ve got that many people saying he shouldn’t be the nominee, and that many people within his own party, it just seems unsustainable.”
‘Willing to listen’: Biden ‘receptive’ to calls to step down
In a sign of dissent building against Mr Biden, sources have briefed American news outlets that he is more open than ever to the idea of stepping down and has begun asking aides how well Ms Harris would perform if she would replace him.
One insider told the New York Times that he was “more receptive” to hearing arguments for him to step down. While previously he had dismissed pleas, he is now “willing to listen”, the source said.
Another source told CNN: “He’s being receptive. Not as defiant as he is publicly.”
Politico and ABC News suggest that even Mr Biden’s closest allies have turned on him, with some Democrats fearing that a weak performance from Mr Biden would not only lose the party the White House but could see both branches of Congress flip to Republican candidates making it easy for Trump to pass any laws he likes.
‘Terrible night’: Joe Biden makes big debate admission
US President Joe Biden has yet again defended his decision not to drop out of the presidential race.
Mr Biden told media outlet Univision that despite people saying he is too old to run “with age comes wisdom.”
The interview was filmed right before Mr Biden tested positive for Covid-19 and he even addressed his debate performance.
“Look, I had a terrible night on the debate night. I was exhausted, I had been travelling around the world, I wasn’t ready, and I performed terribly,” Mr Biden said.
He also addressed concerns about his age, telling the outlet that “with age, comes wisdom”.
“I know the difference between truth and lies. I know the difference between good and bad. I know the difference between what has to be done,” he said.
‘You owe people answers’: Secret Service boss chased at convention
Wild scenes have broken out at the Republican National Convention, where fed-up Republican Senators have confronted the Director of the Secret Service over Trump’s attempted assassination.
Footage shared online by Senator Marsha Blackburn shows a group of Senators questioning Director Kimberly Cheatle on security decisions at Saturday’s rally.
“I don’t think that this is the forum to have this discussion,” Ms Cheatle said, before walking off.
Undeterred, the senators follow her out as they continue to shout questions.
“You answer to us, you answer to us,” one says.
“This was an assassination attempt. You owe the people answers,” said another.
“You owe (former) president Trump answers.”
Ms Cheatle does not react as she walks upstairs attempting to escape.
“You cannot run away,” shouts one of the senators. “You cannot hide from us.”
The chase ends when Ms Cheatle is escorted into a separate area behind a closed door.
It comes after a string of security failures have emerged following the shooting.
Ms Cheatle earlier revealed the agency did not guard the rooftop used by the gunman in the attempted assassination as it was too slanted.
Biden says age questions ‘legitimate’
President Biden has conceded concerns about his age and fitness were “legitimate” but believes he is in “better physical shape” than Trump.
In an interview with BET News, the President was pressed on the growing doubts over his mental and physical capacity following a series of public gaffs and a disastrous debate performance last month.
“But I understand why people say. Look, I’m only three years older than Trump, okay? And I think I’m in a little better physical shape than he is,” he said.
“But the point is though that it’s not unreasonable for people to say ‘wait a minute, you’re 81 years old.’
“And so I think it’s a legitimate thing from the race and as long as I can demonstrate that it’s not affecting my ability to compete and my ability to get things done, my ability to literally lead the world.”
The interview was taped on Tuesday, before Mr Biden was forced to pull out of a speaking event after testing positive for Covid.
The President said as a “practical matter” he would consider his health and capacity to serve in the role on a year-by-year basis if he was elected for a second term in November.
Mr Biden also labelled Trump’s vice presidential running mate JD Vance a “really, really conservative MAGA Republican”.
It comes as the push to force Mr Biden out of the race escalated sharply, with two of his party’s most senior leaders telling him to step aside.
The 81-year-old President also remarked in interview about what it would take to prompt him to reconsider his candidacy.
“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” Mr Biden said in an excerpt released today.
In the same interview, Mr Biden said that he feels the need to run again — rather than serve as a “transitional” leader, as he said in 2020 — because the country is “so divided”.
‘Joe has to go’
JD Vance tapped in to his humble roots as he pointed to President Biden’s track record in Washington, saying the Democrat was part of a “ruling class” that “cast aside” towns like his.
The Ohio Senator, now the Republican’s official vice presidential nominee, claimed the President supported sending American jobs offshore and voted in favour of the war in Iraq.
The former Marine leaned into his rags-to-riches story while he spoke about the impact of such policies on blue collar America.
“When I was in the fourth grade, a career politician by the name of Joe Biden supported NAFTA, a bad trade deal that sent countless good jobs to Mexico,” he said.
“When I was a sophomore in high school, that same career politician named Joe Biden gave China a sweetheart trade deal that destroyed even more good American middle class manufacturing jobs.
“When I was a senior in high school, that same Joe Biden supported the disastrous invasion of Iraq, and at each step of the way, in small towns like mine in Ohio, or next door in Pennsylvania or Michigan, in states all across our country, jobs were sent overseas and our children were sent to war.
“And somehow, a real estate developer from New York City by the name of Donald J. Trump was right on all of these issues while Biden was wrong.
“President Trump knew even then that we needed leaders who would put America first.”
He joined in as the crowd began chanting “Joe has to go” in chorus.
“I agree,” Mr Vance said.
CNN fact checked Mr Vance’s speech, finding his claim about Trump’s stance on Iraq “misleading”.
“In reality, Trump did not publicly express opposition to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq before it occurred,” it reported, adding Trump did go public with his opposition in 2004.
Mr Vance said the US needed a leader who would reject the “green scam” of renewable energies and “bring back our great American factories”.
He was previously a staunch critic of Trump, once saying the 45th president had the potential to be “America’s Hitler” - but has since become a vocal supporter.
The 39-year-old previously gained fame through his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which depicted his upbringing in poverty and was turned into a Netflix film.
Air Force One footage sparks Joe Biden fears
New footage has sparked fear for President Joe Biden after he was filmed slowly boarding Air Force One after testing positive for Covid.
In the video, Mr Biden is seen without a face mask as he very cautiously walks up the stairs to the aircraft at the Las Vegas-area airport.
At one point, he appears to pause briefly before continuing up the steps.
The footage has raised concerns for the President on social media, many of whom questioned why he wasn’t wearing a mask.
“Wow he can hardly make it up the stairs,” one person wrote.
“He’s getting worse,” another said.
“Painful to watch,” said another.
The 81-year-old earlier told reporters at the airport he was feeling “good” as he prepared to fly to Delaware to self-isolate and continue to carry out his duties.
“Good, I feel good,” Mr Biden replied when asked how he was feeling.
Mr Biden last tested positive for Covid in 2022.
JD Vance accepts nomination
The 39-year-old took to the microphone with chants of “JD! JD!”
“Tonight is a night of hope, a celebration of what America once was, and with God’s grace, what it soon will be once again,” he began his speech, before reflecting on Saturday’s assassination attempt.
“This evening could have been so much different. Instead of a day of celebrations, this could have been a day of heartache and mourning.”
Mr Vance referenced Trump’s iconic photo where he raised his fist in the air after the shooting.
“When Donald Trump stood in that field in Pennsylvania all of America stood with him,” said Mr Vance.
“They said he was a tyrant and they said he must be stopped at all costs. But how did he respond? He called for national unity, for national calm literally right after an assassin nearly took his life.”
Mr Vance said those who govern America have failed.
“President Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again.”
Vance was introduced to the stage by his wife, Usha Vance, who said her husband is the “most interesting person” she knows and recalled how the pair met at law school.
“We were friends first because who wouldn’t want to be friends with JD,” she said.
“The JD I knew then is the same JD you know today. Except the beard.
“It is safe to say that neither JD nor I expected to find ourselves in this position. But it is hard to imagine a more powerful example of the American dream.”
‘Normal grandpa’: Trump’s granddaughter speaks at convention
Trump’s teenage granddaughter has taken to the stage at the Republican National Convention, where she described Trump as a “normal grandpa” and weighed in on his attempted assassination.
Kai Trump, 17, was introduced by her father, Donald Trump Jr.
“I’m speaking today to share the side of my grandpa that people don’t often see,” Miss Trump began.
“To me, he’s just a normal grandpa. He gives us candy and soda when your parents aren’t looking. You always wanted to know how we’re doing in school.”
“When I made the high honour roll, he printed it out so his friends could see how proud he was of me. He calls me during the middle of the school day to ask how my golf game is going, and tells me all about his. He’s always surprised that I don’t let him get to me. But I have to remind him that I’m at school.”
Addressing Saturday’s shooting, Miss Trump said she was “shocked” when she learned her grandfather had been shot.
“I just wanted to know if he was OK. It was heartbreaking that someone would do that to another person.,” she said.
“A lot of people put my grandpa through hell and he’s still standing. Grandpa you are such an inspiration. And I love you.”
“The media makes my grandpa seem like a different person, but I know him for who he is. He’s very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country. And he will fight every single day to make America great again.”
Trump arrives for third day of convention
Trump was met with loud applause as he arrived at the Republican National Convention, where J.D. Vance will later make his first address as vice-presidential nominee.
The former president was seen with a bandage on his right ear, as he walked out on the floor for day three of the convention.
James Brown’s song ‘It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ played as attendees took their feet to welcome Mr Trump.
‘I’m sick’: Biden shares post after testing positive for Covid
Shortly after news broke of Biden’s Covid diagnosis, the President used the opportunity to take a swipe at Elon Musk.
“I’m sick,” Biden wrote on his personal X account after it was confirmed he tested positive.
Minutes later he followed up the post writing: “of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election,” with a link to donate to his re-election campaign.
The Tesla CEO endorsed Trump after the former president’s attempted assassination on Saturday.
Mr Biden also shared a health update on his official X account, writing: “I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes.”
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.”
Mr Biden was expected to speak at the UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, US time.
“I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for Covid,” the president and CEO of UnidosUS Janet Murguía told attendees.
Democrats to hold Biden virtual nomination next month
Democrats will delay their plans to hold a virtual vote to officially nominate Mr Biden until next month, following calls to push back the July role call.
In a letter to members of the DNC Rules Committee, co-chairs of the committee wrote: “We have confirmed with the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic National Convention that no virtual voting will begin before August 1.”
They added the vote will take place before the Democratic National Convention on August 19.
“None of this will be rushed,” the letter said.
Sources told Fox News Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries agreed to urge the Democratic National Committee to delay the role call.
It was earlier reported a “substantial” number of congressional Democrats had penned a letter to the DNC expressing their “serious concerns” about the plans to hold the virtual roll call as early as July 21.
“There is no legal justification for this extraordinary and unprecedented action which would effectively accelerate the nomination process by nearly a month,” the letter, obtained by Fox News, read.
Man charged with threatening to kill Biden
A man has been charged with making threats against Mr Biden, days before Trump’s assassination attempt.
According to CNN, Jason Patrick Alday, 39, from Florida, initially threatened to “slit” the President’s throat as he checked into a mental health facility.
He allegedly made another threat in a post on social media, writing: “I’ll kill Joe Biden today!!”
He appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered detained pending trial, the outlet reports.
Incredible response as Trump arrives at hospital
New footage shows the moment Trump arrived at hospital after being shot in the ear, with members of the public heard rejoicing at the sight of him walking.
The video, shared on social media, was taken by an ER patient at Butler Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania.
In the footage, Trump’s convoy can be seen parked outside the hospital as Secret Service agents secure the area.
“There he is! There he is!” multiple patients can be heard shouting as Trump entered the hospital.
“Oh thank God, he’s walking,” another patient exclaims.
“He’s walking! He’s walking!”
New video appears to shows Crooks lurking at rally
Video footage appears to show Crooks lurking at Saturday’s rally an hour before he opened fire at Trump.
The video, obtained by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, shows a man matching the 20-year-old’s description, walking near a building close to crowds of Trump supporters.
The man’s face is not clearly visible in the video, which was taken just after 5pm on Saturday.
At 6.11pm, Crooks fired shots at Trump from about 130 yards away, grazing his ear and killing one rally attendee. Two other people were seriously injured in the attack.
Sniper took final photo of Crooks before shooting
A local sniper took the final photo of Thomas Matthew Crooks crawling on the ground at Saturday’s campaign rally, nearly one hour before the attempted assassination.
The photograph was taken around 5.30pm on Saturday by a local police counter-sniper officer at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, news station WXPI reports.
The 20-year-old can be seen in the photo with long brown hair and glasses while wearing a Gray T-shirt representing the popular gun YouTube channel Demolition Ranch, according to the New York Post.
Shooter’s father profiled by Donald Trump campaign
Matthew Brian Crooks, 53, who legally purchased the AR-15 rifle used in his son’s attack in Butler, Pa., over the weekend, was identified by the Trump campaign as a crucial swing-state voter who was likely to respond favourably to pro-gun messaging, according to data obtained by the UK’s Channel 4 News.
The campaign’s private database analysed 6.7 million people in the Keystone State — about half of the state’s population — to determine which voters could be targeted with messages about gun rights ahead of the 2016 election.
Crooks’ father, a registered Libertarian, was identified in the database as a strong Republican, likely a gun owner and “hunter”.
He was among the top 20 highest-scoring people in their hometown of Bethel Park, which has a population of 19,000, according to the report.
The gunman’s mother, a registered Democrat, was also flagged by the Trump campaign as a likely gun owner who would be receptive to pro-gun messaging.
The 20-year-old gunman, who took a shot at Trump during a rally in Butler on Saturday, grazing Trump’s right ear and killing a hero firefighter and seriously injuring two others, lived with his parents in the Pittsburgh suburb.
CNN reports Crooks should have been at work, but asked for the day off, telling his boss he had “something to do”.
The family’s Bethel Park home had pro-Trump and MAGA decor, including yard signs, in the front yard until recently, one of the family’s neighbours told WPXI.
“There absolutely was MAGA-supporting things for a while,” said neighbour Kelly Little, who was evacuated from her home for 24 hours as authorities removed a device from the Crooks family home.
The Crooks family has remained silent and is co-operating with authorities as they investigate the shooting. Authorities have not yet shared a motive for the attack.
Rambling Biden call ‘worse than the debate’
President Biden held a “tense” Zoom call with dozens of moderate Democrats that was “even worse than the debate” — less than an hour before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, a new report says.
The 81-year-old repeatedly lost his train of thought on the call and was dismissive of the Democrats’ concerns about his 2024 re-election campaign following his trainwreck debate performance last month, Puck reported Wednesday, citing multiple sources.
“The call was even worse than the debate. He was rambling; he’d start an answer then lose his train of thought, then would just say ‘whatever’. He really couldn’t complete an answer. I lost a ton of respect for him,” one person on the call said.
“The president was rambling, dismissive of concerns, unable or unprepared to present a campaign strategy,” added a second source, who is a member of Congress.
The sniper attack on Trump at his campaign rally essentially stopped the Democrats from leaking details of the call and coming out publicly against him, that source added.
“Had the assassination attempt not occurred an hour later, I imagine 50 people on that Zoom were ready to come out publicly against him,” the member of Congress said.
In one particularly testy exchange, sources recalled Biden ripping into Colorado’s Rep. Jason Crow after the congressman had asked him about the importance of national security to voters.
“First of all, I think you’re dead wrong on national security,” Biden told him, according to a recording of the call.
“You saw what happened recently in terms of the meeting we had with NATO. I put NATO together. Name me a foreign leader who thinks I’m not the most effective leader in the world on foreign policy. Tell me!” he continued.
The Biden campaign, however, has pushed back on the suggestion that the commander-in-chief was rambling throughout the call.
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