US election live updates: Joe Biden addresses America, Donald Trump rips into Kamala Harris
Donald Trump has posted a brutal single picture response in reaction to Joe Biden’s speech from the Oval Office.
US President Joe Biden has addressed Americans from the White House in the wake of his decision to drop out of the presidential race.
Mr Biden, who intends to remain in his job until the end of his term in January, spoke to the nation from the Oval Office at 10am AEST.
Meanwhile, at his first rally since Mr Biden announced his withdrawal, Donald Trump has torn into his new opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Follow our live coverage below.
Trump’s brutal picture response to Oval Office address
Donald Trump was, it seems, unimpressed by Joe Biden’s speech from the Oval Office.
The Republican nominee posted the reaction on his Truth Social app as he watched from aboard his private jet Trump Force One. He post a picture of himself with a quizzical expression on his face.
Trump was clearly unimpressed as he followed up his initial post up with another that also took aim at the Vice President.
“Crooked Joe Biden’s Oval Office speech was barely understandable, and sooo bad!” he wrote.
“CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND LYIN’ KAMALA HARRIS ARE A GREAT EMBARRASSMENT TO AMERICA,” he added in all caps.
“THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME LIKE THIS!”
‘She can’t win’: Explosive Obama claim
The New York Post, citing an anonymous source “close to the Biden family”, reports former president Barack Obama has yet to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris because he doesn’t think she can defeat Donald Trump.
Most senior Democrats have already thrown their weight behind Ms Harris, including President Joe Biden, the party’s leaders in Congress, and the overwhelming majority of state governors. Anyone who could have conceivably challenged her for the party’s presidential nomination has already fallen in line.
Mr Obama is the notable exception to the conga line of support.
“Obama’s very upset because he knows she can’t win,” the “Biden family source” said, according to The Post.
“Obama knows she’s just incompetent – the border czar who never visited the border, saying that all migrants should have health insurance. She cannot navigate the landmines that are ahead of her.
“When you are running for president there are things you can and can’t say.
“Wait until the debate. She can’t debate. She’s going to put her foot in her mouth about Israel, Palestine, Ukraine. She’s going to say something really stupid.
“Obama knew this was going to happen, Joe knew this was going to happen. Now she is going to have to answer real questions.”
This source claims Mr Obama was “shocked” when Mr Biden endorsed the Vice President, though she was always going to be the favourite to replace him on the ticket.
These are quite interesting quotes from someone ostensibly close to the Bidens. Stripped of context, they sound more like Republican Party talking points. But it’s not exactly hard to imagine why those in Mr Biden’s orbit might resent Ms Harris’s rise at his expense.
Revealing line in Biden’s speech
It is apparent, from Joe Biden’s remarks today, that he did not want to drop out of the presidential race.
Note what he didn’t say. He did not say he was stepping aside due to his health, or his age. Indeed he specifically said he felt his record warranted “a second term” in office. But in the end he was convinced that, to “defend democracy”, he had to “pass the torch”.
Here’s the key line: “I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future, all merited a second term. But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.”
Stepping down was a practical decision. His party was divided; senior leaders felt he was not capable of beating Donald Trump. It is not that Mr Biden feels himself incapable of doing the job for another four years – though voters have made their unflattering view on the matter clear – it’s that his party’s chances of victory hinged on him withdrawing.
“So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation,” he said.
“There is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, but there is also a time in a place for new, fresh voices. Yes, younger voices. That time and place is now.”
So we are left with an election between Mr Trump, 78, and Kamala Harris, 59. Between a return to the former president and a transferral of power to the next generation.
‘Can’t believe this’: Aniston hits out
The actress Jennifer Aniston has a fairly strong opinion, it transpires, on the footage of Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance criticising “childless” Democrats.
To remind you, this is what Mr Vance said during an interview with Fox News a couple of years ago. The clip has been circulating online.
“It’s just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC. The entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children,” Mr Vance said.
“How does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?”
Ms Harris is the stepmother of two children from her husband, Doug Emhoff’s, previous marriage. You can read comments on the matter from his ex-wife below. Mr Buttigieg, who is America’s Secretary of Transportation, has two adopted children with his husband, Chasten.
“We are effectively run in this country ... by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made,” said Mr Vance.
“So they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”
“I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States,” Ms Aniston wrote on Instagram today.
“All I can say is, Mr Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her too.”
Ms Aniston does not have children, and has previously spoken publicly about her struggles to conceive, including via IVF.
She appears to have been referring to Republicans’ efforts, in Congress, to block a bill that would provide nationwide access to IVF treatment.
‘He’s lying’: Trump’s dubious claim
Today Donald Trump claimed Kamala Harris was “more liberal” than Senator Bernie Sanders, in the American sense of the word, which essentially means left-wing.
It is difficult to be more left-wing than Mr Sanders in US politics (shift the discussion to Europe and it might be a slightly different matter). When asked about Mr Trump’s remark during an interview with CNN, Mr Sanders was dismissive.
“Umm, probably not,” Mr Sanders replied.
“It’s just possible that, for the 83,000th time, Donald Trump is lying.
“No, I don’t think that is the case.”
It’s worth noting, though, that Ms Harris did have one of the Senate’s more progressive voting records before she became Vice President. And during her presidential campaign four years ago, when she was seeking the Democratic nomination and trying to appeal to the party’s base voters, she played up her progressive credentials.
That meant downplaying the more centrist parts of her record, including her years as a prosecutor. Remember, this was at a time when George Floyd’s death had fomented anti-law enforcement sentiment in the party.
‘Thank you, POTUS’: Obama praises Biden
Leading Democrats have praised Joe Biden after his speech from the Oval Office.
“‘The sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us.’ Joe Biden has stayed true to these words again and again over a lifetime of service to the American people,” said former president Barack Obama, adding a thank you to the man who was his vice president.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was reportedly instrumental in convincing Mr Biden to step aside, described him as “one of America’s most consequential presidents”.
“Tonight, we saw President Joe Biden show that he is not only on the right side of history, but on the right side of the future,” said Ms Pelosi.
“America has been blessed by the wisdom and magnificent leadership of President Joe Biden as he has protected our democracy and led our nation with progress, hope and unity. President Biden has truly made a tangible difference in the lives of the American people.
“With love and gratitude, I salute President Biden for always believing in the possibilities of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfilment.”
And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who also privately lobbied Mr Biden to exit the race, said his decision was ultimately “a great act of patriotism”.
“America is stronger and more prosperous because of your leadership,” he said
“We have so much more work to do to keep America moving forward.”
Jill Biden thanks husband’s supporters
The First Lady, Jill Biden, has released a letter expressing her gratitude to her husband’s supporters and urging them to swing in behind Kamala Harris.
“To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude,” Dr Biden said.
“Thank you for the trust you put in Joe. Now it’s time to put that trust in Kamala.”
To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude.
— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) July 25, 2024
Thank you for the trust you put in Joe—now it’s time to put that trust in Kamala.
Love,
Jill pic.twitter.com/NakOWknWlC
‘Baseless’: Ex-wife of Harris’s husband defends her
Let’s move away from that Oval Office speech for a moment. Kerstin Emhoff, the ex-wife of Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff, has leapt to the Vice President’s defence. Ms Emhoff is responding to suggestions that, having never given birth to children of her own, Ms Harris is unsuited to the presidency.
Ms Harris is a stepmother to the two children Mr Emhoff has from his previous marriage to Ms Emhoff.
“These are baseless attacks. For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I,” Ms Emhoff said, according to The New York Times.
“She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and I’m grateful to have her in it.”
Ms Emhoff, a film producer and businesswoman, was married to the current Second Gentleman from 1992 until their divorce in 2008. She has been a vocal supporter of Ms Harris, and attended the Vice President’s inauguration in 2021.
An old interview with Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance, has been doing the rounds. In the clip, he takes aim at Ms Harris and other rising Democrats for being childless.
“It’s just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC. The entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children,” Mr Vance said.
“How does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?”
Again, to be clear, Ms Harris is a stepmother to two children. Mr Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation and a potential (albeit quite unlikely) pick to be her vice presidential nominee, has two adopted children with his husband, Chasten.
‘Fate of our nation’: Biden’s Oval Office address
Joe Biden has addressed Americans from the Oval Office, confirming that he intends to remain President until his term ends in January. He acknowledged, however, that it was time for “fresh” and “younger” voices to step forward.
“I revere this office. I love my country more. It’s been the honour of my life to serve as your President. But the defence of democracy, which is at stake, is more important than any title,” Mr Biden said.
“This sacred task, of perfecting our union, is not about me. It’s about you.
“I’ve made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point. One of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will affect the fate of our nation and our world for decades to come.
“America is going to have to choose between moving forwards or backwards. Between hope or hate, between unity or division.
“There is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, but there is also a time in a place for new, fresh voices. Yes, younger voices. That time and place is now.
“Does character in public life still matter? I believe I know the answer, because I know the American people, and I know this: we are a great nation because we are good people.
“The sacred cause of this country is larger than any person.
“In recent weeks it’s become clear to me that I need to unite my party in this critical endeavour. I believe my record as President, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future, all merited a second term. But nothing, nothing can come in the way of protecting our democracy.
“I’ve decided that passing the torch is the best way to unite our nation.
“In the next six months, I’ll be focused on doing my job as President ... I’ll keep calling out hate and extremism, making clear there is no place in America for political violence.
“I will keep working to ensure America remains strong, secure and the leader of the free world.”
Mr Biden proceeded to list his achievements, as he sees them, and foreshadow some of his priorities for his remaining months in power. Those priorities include “reform” of the Supreme Court, which currently has a 6-3 conservative majority.
“I’d like to thank our great Vice President, Kamala Harris. She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country,” he said, praising his replacement as the Democratic candidate.
“Now the choice is up to you, the American people.”
In his concluding remarks, Mr Biden once again expressed his gratitude to Americans.
“My fellow Americans, it has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years. Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter, from modest beginnings in Scranton, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States.
“Yet here I am. That’s what’s so special about America. We are a nation of promise and possibilities, of dreamers and doers. Ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.
“I give my heart and my soul to my nation, like so many others, and I am blessed a million times in return for the love and support of the American people. I hope you have some idea of how grateful I am to all of you.
“The great thing about America is that here, kings and dictators do not rule. The people do. This story is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your
hands.
“You just have to keep the faith and remember who we are. We are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together. So let’s act together and preserve our democracy. God bless you all.”
‘She is nothing’: Trump rips into Kamala Harris
Donald Trump has held his first rally since Joe Biden dropped out of the race, taking aim at the President’s replacement on the Democratic ticket, Kamala Harris.
“So now we have a new victim to defeat: Lyin’ Kamala Harris. Lyin’. L-y-i-n-apostrophe,” Mr Trump said, reviving the nickname he used for Republican rival Ted Cruz in 2015 and 2016.
“The most incompetent and left-wing vice president in American history.
“This November, the American people are going to tell her, ‘No thanks, Kamala, you have done a terrible job. You are ultra-liberal and we don’t want you here. We don’t want you anywhere. Kamala, you’re fired. Get out of here, you’re fired.’”
Mr Trump took issue with some media coverage of Ms Harris’s speech in Milwaukee, which was attended by an estimated 3000 supporters.
“She has a crowd of 1000 people the other day, and the fake news – and they worked hard to get that crowd. We have crowds of 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,000 people. And the fake news said ohhhh, her crowd was amazing. Did you see it the other day? She had maybe a thousand people. I doubt it. They worked their asses off to get those people,” he said.
“I’m telling you the facts, we’re just giving you the facts. But they said it was such a big crowd, such a beautiful crowd. They never mention our crowds. Like this crowd. Look at this crowd.
“You can multiply her crowds times 20 and 30 and she wouldn’t get what we get, 107,000 recently in New Jersey. We might win New Jersey, we’re up in New Jersey.”
For what it’s worth, the former president’s rally in New Jersey, in May, did indeed attract tens of thousands of supporters (nowhere near 100,000 though).
Should he win New Jersey in November, he’ll be the first Republican to have done so since George H.W. Bush in 1988. Mr Trump lost the state to Mr Biden by a 16 per cent margin last time, and to Hillary Clinton by 13 per cent in 2016.
Mr Trump proceeded to further criticise Ms Harris’s record as Vice President.
“When Kamala Harris was sent to Europe to deter Russia – what a joke that was – from attacking Ukraine, how did that work out?” he said.
“Putin laughed at her like she was nothing. She is nothing.
“She is so bad for us. Everything Kamala touches turns into a total disaster. She destroyed San Francisco with her policies. Check out San Francisco 20 years ago, was the greatest city in our country. Today it’s not a liveable city.
“She’ll destroy our country if she’s elected. So we won’t let her be elected.”
He also claimed Ms Harris was “totally against the Jewish people”, which is particularly relevant today, given she skipped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
That said, it should be noted that Ms Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, is the first Jewish spouse of either a president or vice president.
Trump shooter searched for JFK assassination
The gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump had searched for details about the killing of former President John F. Kennedy a week before he opened fired at a Pennsylvanian campaign rally, the FBI has revealed.
JFK was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas, in 1963.
Speaking at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks had used his laptop to search Oswald’s shooting the same day he registered for the Butler rally.
“We’ve just in the last couple of days found that from our review … analysis of a laptop that the investigation ties to the shooter reveals that on July 6, he did a Google search for ‘How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?’” said Mr Wray.
“That’s a search that obviously is significant in terms of his state of mind.”
Mr Wray said Crooks had flown a drone around the area of the rally just two hours before Mr Trump took to the stage.
The 20-year-old also had two explosives in his car and one in his home.
However Mr Wary notes: “It looks like because of the on/off position on the receivers, that if he had tried to detonate those devices from the roof, it would not have worked.”
Investigations into Crooks’ motive are still ongoing.
White House denies Biden cover-up
The White House has denied it covered up any possible decline in President Joe Biden’s health prior to his decision to drop out of the election race.
“It is not a cover up. I know that is the narrative that you all want. It is not,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.
It comes after Donald Trump called for an investigation into whether the White House covered up Mr Biden’s physical and mental decline.
“I think somebody has to look at it,” the former president told Fox News.
“Look, you had people that lied to the American public. And I tell you what, you ought to take a look at his doctors, because his doctors keep giving him this wonderful report.”
“I’m not a doctor, but I saw [Biden] the other day,” he added. “He was unable to get up the children stairs going into Air Force One.
“His doctor says — I know all about his doctor, by the way — his doctor says he’s in good health. He’s not in good health. I don’t think he’s in good health.”
Move to impeach Harris
Impeaching, once a rare move in Washington DC, is all the rage these days.
Now it’s potentially Kamala Harris’ turn with a Republican politician filing articles of impeachment against her.
If she is convicted, Ms Harris would be removed from office as VP.
Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles has stated her record on immigration, one of the responsibilities given to her by Mr Biden, was the chief cause.
Ms Harris has “demonstrated extraordinary incompetence in the execution of her duties and responsibilities, a stark refusal to uphold the existing immigration laws, and a palpable indifference to people of the United States suffering as a result of the ongoing southern border crisis in the United States,” the filing stated.
It also accused Ms Harris of “misleading” Americans on Mr Biden’s health.
“Kamala Devi Harris has knowingly misled the people of the United States and the Congress of the United States, principally to obfuscate the physical and cognitive wellbeing of the President of the United States, Joe Biden”.
In a statement Mr Ogles said Ms Harris had “disgraced the Office of the Vice President”.
“She is not only an embarrassment to the country but has also intentionally ignored her responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States.
“On her watch, every single town has become a border town. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have overdosed on illicit drugs brought across the southern border, and countless women and children have been raped and murdered”.
The Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives so there is every possibility the articles of impeachment against Ms Harris could be approved.
But only the Senate can convict based on the articles of impeachment. Given the Democrats are in the majority in the Senate it is almost certain this won’t happen.
However the process could lead to a heightened focus on the US-Mexico border and immigration in general, all subjects the Republicans are keen to fight the Democrats on.
Biden’s ‘historic speech’
President Joe Biden will address the US on Wednesday night (10am Thursday, AEST) from the Oval Office to explain his decision to step down and what he wishes to achieve in his final six months in office.
Some in the Republican Party have said that if Mr Biden is unfit to run for a further four years then he is unfit to remain in office another six months.
The Democrats have brushed off any notion of Mr Biden resigning early. Nonetheless the speech will be scrutinised to see if the President looks on the ball and fit to lead until January 2025.
CNN has said the address will be “one of the most historic speeches in Mr Biden’s half-century life in politics”.
With the world’s eyes already on a looming clash between Ms Harris and Mr Trump, Mr Biden will insist that he still has work to do, despite his historic decision to bow out.
The 81-year-old Democrat said on X he would discuss “what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people” in the prime time televised event.
The speech, expected to last eight to ten minutes, will be Mr Biden’s first since stepping aside from the race on Sunday after weeks of pressure following a disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump.
Trump’s bombshell $139m move
Donald Trump’s campaign team is trying to block campaign funds raised for Joe Biden from being transferred to Kamala Harris.
Trump campaign general counsel David Warrington filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission.
In it, he claimed: “Harris is seeking to perpetrate a $US91.5 million ($A139m) heist of Joe Biden’s leftover campaign cash”.
In the complaint, reported by CNN, Mr Warrington continues: “It’s a brazen money grab that would constitute the single largest excessive contribution and biggest violation in the history of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended.”
Charles Kretchmer Lutvak, a spokesman for Ms Harris, said it was a “baseless” legal claim, “like the ones they’ve made for years to try to suppress votes and steal elections”.
Harris ‘unconscionable’ snub
Kamala Harris is being criticised for skipping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday.
As Vice President, Ms Harris would usually preside over a joint session of Congress that a foreign leader was addressing.
She will instead attend a university sorority event in Indianapolis.
While she has backed Israel, Ms Harris is thought to be more critical of its actions in the Gaza war then Mr Biden.
She will meet Mr Netanyahu separately for a meeting but her public absence will be seen as a snub to a US ally. The Republicans are pouncing on it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said: “I believe that’s unconscionable”.
However it’s emerged that Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance will also miss Mr Netanyahu’s address.
While he has no official role to play, unlike Ms Harris, Mr Vance is a senator and so would be expected to attend.
‘Get WWIII going’: Huge Russia escalation
Months ago, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin identified a glaring “red line” for the West. Joe Biden has decided to cross it.
Donald Trump’s education pick stuns US
Donald Trump has unveiled his latest controversial nominee for a senior position in the US government.
‘Ready’: Rudd defiant amid ousting threat
Kevin Rudd says Australia is “ready” to deal with Donald Trump amid questions over the former Labor prime minister’s future as Australia’s ambassador in Washington.