Trump attacks kidnap plot victim Gretchen Whitmer as campaign heads to Wisconsin and Michigan
Both states break records for coronavirus cases as nation enters third ‘surge’
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer just weeks after she was the victim of a right-wing militia kidnap plot.
Earlier Mr Trump lashed out at a Republican senator who warned that the president will inspire a GOP “blood bath” on Election Day.
He said that the president “regularly sells out our allies under his leadership” while he “spends like a drunken sailor."
“He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors," Senator Sasse said. "He's flirted with white supremacists."
Mr Trump hit back in a pair of tweets comparing “little” Sasse to Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, two other GOP senators who feuded with the president.
He said: “Both Senators became totally unelectable, couldn’t come even close to winning their primaries, and decided to drop out of politics and gracefully “RETIRE”. @SenSasse could be next, or perhaps the Republicans should find a new and more viable candidate?”
Meanwhile, with less than three weeks so Election Day, the president said he “won’t feel so good” if he loses to Joe Biden, as more than 25 million voters have already cast their ballots.
“Could you imagine if I lose?” he told rallygoers on 16 October. “I’m not going to feel so good. Maybe I’ll have to leave the country, I don’t know.”
The president headed to rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan on Saturday, despite both states reporting their largest single-day case counts since the onset of the public health crisis.
As the nation surpasses 8 million infections and is climbing its way into a third “surge" of cases and hospitalisations, Michigan reported its second consecutive day of more than 2,000 confirmed cases on Friday.
Wisconsin health officials reported three consecutive days with more than 3,000 cases. On Friday, the state recorded more than 4,000.
Nearly 70,000 coronavirus infections were reported in the US on Friday, marking the nation’s single highest confirmed daily case count since July.
US reports highest daily coronavirus infections since July
Nearly 70,000 coronavirus infections were reported in the US on Friday, marking the nation’s single highest confirmed daily case count since July.
Dr Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, said the curves – including hospitalisations and deaths – are all heading “in the wrong direction.”
We took a look at the numbers.
US reports highest daily coronavirus infections since July
Third ‘surge’ underway as nation surpasses 9 million confirmed infections
Biden vies for the important cat vote
Not to be outdone by his campaign’s dog-centric social adverts, Joe Biden rolled out this:
Anti-Trump Republican group pounces on Ben Sasse recordings in new ad
As part of its $30m campaign, Republican Voters Against Trump will unveil an ad targeting Nebraskan voters following Senator Ben Sasse’s leaked audio recordings from a constituent call in which he said Trump "kisses dictators' butts" is inspiring a GOP “blood bath” on Election Day.
Hours before his arrival, Michigan reports its highest-ever coronavirus case count
A recently hospitalised Trump is on his way to Michigan, the first of back-to-back rallies in the state and in Wisconsin.
As the nation surpasses 8 million infections and is climbing its way into a third “surge," Michigan reports at least 2,015 confirmed cases from its Friday reporting, the most discovered in a single day since the onset of the outbreak, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lynn Sutfin.
Trump will be on stage at 5pm EST.
‘Seems legit’: President and Eric Trump post photo of a house Joe Biden sold more than 20 years ago
Eric Trump, sharing a photo of a pricey-looking mansion, said: “The salary of a U.S. Senator is $174,000 per year. This is Joe Biden’s house.... seems legit.”
His dad, Donald Trump, retweeted it.
Yes, that’s the Biden family home in Greenville, Delaware, which he bought for $185,00 in 1974.
And sold in 1996.
Trump to speak at campaign rally in Michigan
Donald Trump about to speak at MAGA campaign rally in Muskegon, Michigan.
Trump falsely claims he is leading in early voting
“Who knows? This should be much bigger as we have done everything we said we would,” said Mr Trump at event in Michigan.
‘Lock her up’ crowd chant at rally
“You have to get your governor to open up your state and get your schools open,” said Mr Trump as the crowd chanted ‘Lock her up’ about Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments