Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated1729309070

Trump paces for 18 minutes after mic goes out before launching into usual rants during Detroit rally: Live

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both held rallies in Michigan on Friday night as former president Barack Obama campaigned for the vice president in Arizona

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Friday 18 October 2024 23:37
Comments
Kamala Harris calls out Trump for devaluing autoworkers

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both held rallies in Michigan on Friday in an effort to secure voters in the key swing state.

Trump spoke in Detroit, where his microphone malfunctioned. The former president was forced to pace the stage for 18 minutes, occasionally waving at attendees.

“I won’t pay the bill for the stupid company that rented us this crap,” he said once the issue was fixed.

Before the audio error, Trump was telling supporters that his Democratic opponent is “grossly incompetent” and he will “save” the city. Meanwhile, Harris spoke in Oakland County. The latest Emerson College poll shows the two candidates are tied in the key swing state with just over two weeks until Election Day.

Former President Barack Obama also campaigned on the vice president’s behalf in Tuscon, Arizona on Friday.

Ahead of the Detroit rally, the former president called Judge Tanya Chutkan “the most evil person” and labeled special counsel Jack Smith a “sick puppy” after new evidence was released in the January 6 case against him.

Trump has called the case against him “a terrible thing” and “election interference” as he navigates indictments in Washington and Georgia for his efforts to subvert his 2020 loss.

1729208890

WWE star Dave Bautista tears into Trump over ‘tough guy’ pose: ‘Weak, tubby toddler’

Dave Bautista has mocked Donald Trump’s “tough guy” pose, calling the presidential candidate “a weak, tubby toddler.”

Bautista, 55, rose to fame as a WWE wrestler before building a career as an action star in movies including Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, the James Bond film Spectre and both instalments of Dune.

On last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, late-night host Kimmel quoted a recent New York Times poll that found Trump is leading rival candidate Kamala Harris by 17 points among male voters. “But is he the strong, alpha man these men believe him to be?” asked Kimmel. “Not according to one of the toughest guys I know, he isn’t.”

Read on:

WWE star Dave Bautista tears into Trump over ‘tough guy’ pose

‘A lot of men seem to think that Donald Trump is some kind of tough guy,’ said the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ star. ‘He’s not’

Kevin EG Perry18 October 2024 00:48
1729207900

Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

US leaders denounced Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar after reports of his death were confirmed by the Israeli military on Thursday, calling him a “terrorist”.

President Joe Biden said that he was informed early Thursday morning that Sinwar had likely been killed in a targeted operation the day earlier, and described his killing in the Gaza Strip as an opportunity for diplomacy to begin again.

“DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead. This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” said the president.

Read more:

Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Biden says Hamas leader guilty of ‘unspeakable savagery’ as State Department promises to ‘redouble’ ceasefire talk efforts

John Bowden18 October 2024 00:31
1729207170

NRA take a dig at Tim Walz and it totally backfires

The National Rifle Association, the influential firearms lobbying group, was mocked online for allegedly getting the facts wrong on a video claiming vice presidential candidate Tim Walz doesn’t know how to use a shotgun.

“Tim Walz previously claimed he kept a shotgun in his car so he could hunt pheasants after football practice,” the group wrote introducing the video, posted on X on Tuesday. “This is Tim Walz attempting to load his shotgun this past weekend.⁩”

The clip then features a video of Walz using a shotgun over circus-like music, and captions that claim “that dog don’t hunt” and urging viewers to defeat “confiscation Kamala.”

X users quickly added a community note to the post, linking to a video suggesting Walz was in fact unloading the shotgun.

“Clearly unloading and checking the action,” one user, a Colorado cattle rancher, commented.

Keep reading:

NRA take a dig at Tim Walz and it totally backfires

Spat comes as both campaigns try to win over gun-owners

Josh Marcus18 October 2024 00:19
1729203609

Full story: Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

US leaders denounced Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar after reports of his death were confirmed by the Israeli military on Thursday, calling him a “terrorist”.

President Joe Biden said that he was informed early Thursday morning that Sinwar had likely been killed in a targeted operation the day earlier, and described his killing in the Gaza Strip as an opportunity for diplomacy to begin again.

“DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead. This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world,” said the president.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Harris and Biden each respond to death of ‘terrorist’ Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Biden says Hamas leader guilty of ‘unspeakable savagery’ as State Department promises to ‘redouble’ ceasefire talk efforts

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 23:20
1729202409

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Donald Trump held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war in an interview — but made no reference to Vladimir Putin.

Two and a half years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump pinned the blame squarely on Zelensky and Biden for the conflict during an interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, which aired Thursday.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump blames Zelensky and Biden – but not Putin – for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

President Biden ‘instigated that war,’ Trump claimed during a podcast interview that aired Thursday

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 23:00
1729201809

Where’s Trump ahead of the Al Smith dinner?

You might be wondering where Donald Trump is ahead of tonight’s Al Smith dinner.

Well, this afternoon he visited a barber shop in the Bronx:

And then posted that he had just found out Kamala Harris would be delivering a video message to the dinner:

Just found out that Lyin’ Kamala is doing a video message tonight instead of being at the Al Smith Dinner. She shouldn’t be allowed to do a video message. Kamala should be there like almost every other Presidential Candidate in their History, except Walter Mondale, who lost 49-1. They didn’t give me the option of a video message, nor would I have done it. This is very disrespectful to everyone involved. She should be here, or lose the Catholic Vote!

This evening Trump will be joined by his wife Melania Trump at the white-tie dinner for Catholic charities, as well as by a host of New York luminaries and elected officials, including the state’s attorney general Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted him for fraud.

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 22:50
1729201209

McConnell called Trump ‘stupid’ and ‘despicable’ after 2020 election, new biography says

Senator Mitch McConnell reportedly referred to Donald Trump as a “despicable human being” and “narcissist” who is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered”.

In the weeks leading up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, McConnell privately told people he was “counting the days” until Trump left office as the former president spread lies about mass voter fraud in an attempt to overturn election results in his favor.

His comments, revealed in a forthcoming biography, give some insight into his contentious relationship with Trump and his true feelings about the former president.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Mitch McConnell called Trump ‘stupid’ and ‘despicable’ after 2020 election

Senate Minority Leader and former president have had a fraught relationship through their time in office together

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 22:40
1729200609

Watch: Harris claps back as demonstrator is escorted out of rally

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 22:30
1729200309

Watch: Bill Clinton mocks Trump over his age and impromptu ‘swaying’

Bill Clinton mocked Donald Trump for his impromptu dance party this week after two members of the audience at his town hall had medical emergencies: “I’m only two months younger than Donald Trump. But I will not spend 30 minutes swaying back and forth listening to music. And I will not clap offbeat… I am not here running for anything anymore except for my grandchildren’s future.”

Bill Clinton makes jab at Trump's age and rally dancing
Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 22:25
1729200009

Boebert’s opponent has outraised her by five times in third quarter

Lauren Boebert’s Democratic rival in her congressional reelection bid has reportedly raised five times more cash in the third fundraising quarter.

The campaign for Trisha Calvarese, who is hoping to deny the Republican firebrand a third term in Congress, plans to file their official totals on Tuesday.

Calvarese plans to declare bringing in more than $2.68 million from July through September, compared to roughly $532,000 raised by Boebert, according to figures shared by her campaign with The Independent.

Mike Bedigan reports.

Lauren Boebert’s opponent has outraised her by five times in third quarter

The campaign for Trisha Calvarese, who is hoping to deny the Republican firebrand a third term in Congress, plans to file their official totals on Tuesday

Oliver O'Connell17 October 2024 22:20

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in