Trump pursues Latino votes during roundtable; Harris sits down for NBC interview

Kamala Harris has taken a slim three-point lead over election rival Donald Trump in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, which puts her ahead of the Republican by 46 percent to 43 percent.

The vice president is in Washington, DC, today recording an interview with NBC. On the campaign trail, former president Barack Obama will join her running mate Tim Walz in Wisconsin and later appear with rapper Eminem in Detroit, Michigan.

Former president Trump is pursuing the Latino vote with a roundtable and will hold a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina to shore up the vote in a state Democrats have not won since 2008 but that seems to be in play this year.

Trump was on the campaign trail in the hurricane-hit state on Monday, where he again pushed a false conspiracy that the government has been giving FEMA disaster relief funding to illegal immigrants, also scaremongering over “migrant crime” and smearing Harris on human trafficking.

In Michigan, Harris appeared alongside Never Trump Republican Liz Cheney and accused her “increasingly unstable” rival of “hiding” by not debating her again, urging voters: “We cannot despair.”

“We rise to a moment and we stand on the broad shoulders of people who have fought this fight before for our country,” she said.

Key Points

• Donald Trump loses edge over Kamala Harris on economy two weeks out from Election Day, new poll finds

• Harris accuses Trump of hiding from her and tells voters: ‘We cannot despair’

• Trump claims to know nothing about scandal-hit gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson despite endorsing him

• Tim Walz defends Harris campaigning with Cheney as he makes Daily Show debut

• Campaign schedule: Who’s doing what where on Tuesday

Watch LIVE: Trump participates in roundtable with Latino civic leaders

15:58 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump wants divine help to count California’s ballots?

15:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump suggested that if God could serve as “vote counter” for one day, he might win California.

The former president argued at a Greenville, North Carolina rally that while he boasts large crowd sizes in the historically blue state, he will probably lose due to voter fraud, so he hoped that God would count the votes instead.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Trump wants God to come down and count votes in the election

Harris to campaign in Texas on Friday

15:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris will campaign in Houston, Texas, on Friday, with a focus on the state’s abortion restrictions.

She will be joined by Democratic Senate nominee Colin Allred who is running to try and unseat incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

Democrats have long dreamed of turning Texas purple, but polling in the presidential race still sees Donald Trump leading by more than the margin of error.

Cruz is leading Allred, a former professional football player, but the margins are somewhat closer and he was deemed to have performed well in their recent debate.

Lifelong Republican transitions to a new party, years after gender reassignment surgery

15:40 , Oliver O’Connell

A decade ago, Jessie McGrath began a physical transition to make her body match her gender identity. More recently, she underwent a political transformation.

A veteran, NRA member and lifelong Republican, McGrath stuck with her political leanings even after starting gender reassignment surgeries in 2014 at the age of 53. Then Donald Trump and his opposition to gender reassignment surgery changed her mind.

“The Trump campaign and his history show he is no friend of trans people,” she told The Associated Press.

Continue reading…

AP PHOTOS: A lifelong Republican transitions to a new party, years after gender reassignment surgery

Democrats worry about possible crack in blue wall, report says

15:28 , Oliver O’Connell

NBC News reports there are concerns within the Harris-Wlz campaign that a crack might be developing in the so-called “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — winning these three tends to pave the path to a Democratic candidate taking the White House.

Citing three sources with knowledge of the campaign’s strategy, the network reports that there is concern that Donald Trump could win either Michigan or Wisconsin, while the other two states go to Kamala Harris.

Per the network:

Losing Wisconsin or Michigan would mean that even if Harris secures Pennsylvania — where both Harris and Trump have spent the most time and resources — she would not reach the necessary 270 electoral votes to win the White House without winning another battleground state or possibly two.

“There has been a thought that maybe Michigan or Wisconsin will fall off,” said a senior Harris campaign official, who stressed that the bigger concern is over Michigan. Two other people with knowledge of campaign strategy — who, like others in this article, were granted anonymity to speak candidly — also underscored deep concern about Michigan. Those people still believe that all the states are close and that there are alternative routes to victory.

A campaign spokesperson rejected the notion that they are worried about either of those states, noting that recent polling had Harris with a small lead in both.

NBC also reports that while a few weeks ago the Harris campaign was bullish about the possibility of winning North Carolina, that optimism has receded in the wake of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene and the rampant spread of disinformation that followed.

However, Harris battleground state director Dan Kanninen said in a recent interview: “I don’t see a blue wall path or a Sun Belt path or a Southern path. I see seven states that are as close as it gets that will all be decided by margins on the ground … truthfully, one of the seven has as good a chance as any other to be the tipping-point state.”

Eminem to introduce Obama at Detroit rally for Harris

15:10 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN reports that Eminem will open for former President Barack Obama tonight at a rally for Kamala Harris in Detroit, Michigan.

Per the network:

A Democratic official familiar with planning for the event said Eminem is not expected to perform, but rather to welcome Obama to the Motor City for a get-out-the-vote rally for Kamala Harris. In doing so, Eminem is expected to offer his thoughts on the presidential race, which he has rarely done.

But Eminem’s views of Donald Trump are well known, accusing the former president of “brainwashing” his supporters. He delivered a blistering critique on Trump that went viral at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Here’s our report on the rapper’s takedown of Trump in 2017:

Eminem obliterates Donald Trump in powerful new freestyle

We’ll be following the rally live this evening.

Is Elon Musk breaking the law with his $1 million giveaways?

15:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The Department of Justice has confirmed to CBS News that it has received an enquiry from former federal prosecutors and Republican appointees to “request that [the DOJ] review payments that are being made by the Elon Musk-founded America PAC to voters in Pennsylvania and other states that experts say raise serious questions under applicable law.”

Here’s Alex Woodward’s report from Monday on this very issue:

Is Elon Musk breaking the law with his $1 million giveaways? Experts weigh in

Trump’s policies ‘could drain Social Security in just six years’

14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

If the former president wins the November election and institutes his planned agenda, the Social Security Trust Fund may be empty in just six years, according to a new report.

The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), which opposes large federal deficits, said in their report released on Monday that Vice President Kamala Harris’s proposed policies wouldn’t change the current timeline.

As the US is aging, the funding of the program will come into sharper focus as the current prediction by trustees that the fund will become insolvent in 2035 gets closer.

The CRFB found that Trump’s policies would bring that deadline closer by a magnitude of years.

The group found that many of his proposed policies for a second term push the fund towards insolvency.

Gustaf Kilander has more.

Trump’s policies could drain Social Security in just six years, report warns

Watch: AOC says Trump and Musk are ‘making fun of us’ with McDonald’s stunt and cash giveaways

14:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Inside the Harris campaign’s efforts to turn Republican voters blue

14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Andrew Feinberg speaks to the former Trump voters who are now planning to pull the lever for Harris – and the campaign politicos who came up with an unusual strategy.

Inside the Harris campaign’s efforts to turn Republican voters blue

Has this publicity stunt secured the White House for ‘McDonald Trump’?

14:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s Sean O’Grady’s take on the Republican donning the apron, which could do more for him than patiently outlining coherent policy positions.

Is this the publicity stunt that secures the White House for ‘McDonald Trump’?

Campaign schedule: Who’s doing what where on Tuesday

13:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s where the main players are today (all times ET):

• Donald Trump taking part in Latino roundtable at Doral, Florida 11am

• Joe Biden meeting with Prime Minister of Slovenia at White House 11.30am

• JD Vance in Las Vegas, Nevada 1pm

• Tim Walz and Barack Obama in Madison, Wisconsin 2.30pm

• Vance in Peoria, Arizona 3pm

• Doug Emoff and Maya Harris in Cary, North Carolina 3.35pm

• Biden in Concord, New Hampshire 3.45pm

• Emoff and Maya Harris in Carrboro, North Carolina 6.25pm

• Kamala Harris interview on NBC Nightly News 6.30pm

• Vance in Tucson, Arizona 6.30pm

• Trump in Greensboro, North Carolina 7pm

• Walz in Racine, Wisconsin 7.45pm

• Obama in Detroit, Michigan 7.45pm

Adam Schiff roasts Trump over ‘authoritarian slip’

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Democratic congressman running to be a California senator, whom Trump once derided as “Pencil-Neck” and recently cited as an example of “the enemy within”, is enjoying himself here pointing out a particularly telling typo.

Almost one in five Republicans say Trump must call election invalid if he loses

13:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Nineteen percent of GOP voters believe the former president should do “whatever it takes” to return to power, even if that means calling the results invalid if he loses, according to a new national poll by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.

Worrying, in a word.

Here’s Gustaf Kilander’s report.

19% of Republicans believe if Trump loses he should do ‘whatever it takes’ to win

In the final stretch, Harris and Trump are taking two different strategies

12:50 , Joe Sommerlad

As Kamala and Tim Walz methodically campaign in the swing states stressing the importance of the issues and politely articulating policy positions that might actually help people, Trump is out joking about Arnold Palmer’s three-wood and salting fries for yucks while JD Vance goes largely unnoticed.

Here’s Eric Garcia on two sharply contrasting strategies for the final weeks.

In the final stretch, Harris and Trump are taking two different strategies

Harris holds 2:1 lead over Trump in early voting – as poll goers cite abortion as key issue

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s Graig Graziosi with some better news for democracy fans: the vice president has a near two-to-one lead over Trump among voters who have already cast their ballots, according to the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll.

Harris holds 2:1 lead in early voting – as poll goers cite abortion as a main issue

Trump cashes in on McDonald’s stunt with new ‘MAGADonald’s’ merch

12:10 , Joe Sommerlad

“True Trump patriots” can now purchase a white T-shirt emblazoned with an image of the Republican nominee waving from the drive-thru window in his apron.

Although pitched as a “McGift” in a fundraising email to supporters, the shirt is not free, with his campaign’s website suggesting a donation of $100 would be appropriate.

I think it was Stephen Colbert who characterized the relentless MAGA cash grab as “the grifting of the rubes” and perhaps there is no finer example.

James Liddell reports.

Trump cashes in on McDonald’s stunt with new ‘MAGADonald’s’ merch

‘Why is that funny?’ Lara Trump snaps when Charlamagne tha God laughs at her claim Donald isn’t racist

11:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican nominee’s daughter-in-law snapped at the Detroit radio host when he laughed at her for claiming she had “never seen” her Trump “say a racist thing.”

Appearing on The Breakfast Club on Monday, the co-chair of the RNC was asked about Trump being sued for defamation by the Central Park Five when the disagreement erupted.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Lara Trump snaps when Charlamagne tha God laughs at her claim Donald isn’t racist

McDonald’s workers roast Trump over ‘insulting cosplay’ stunt at restaurant that failed health inspection

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Staff from the Golden Arches have given their verdict on Trump’s performance behind the fry cooker on Sunday.

Here’s Kelly Rissman on where they marked him down.

McDonald’s workers roast Trump over ‘insulting cosplay’ fry cook stunt

Seth Meyers unpacks Trump’s latest ‘insane’ rally obsession: Arnold Palmer’s manhood

11:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Over on NBC, another late-night host pronounced himself baffled by the Republican presidential nominee’s crude anecdote in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night about the legendary golfer.

James Liddell reports.

Seth Meyers unpacks Trump’s latest ‘insane’ rally obsession: Arnold Palmer’s manhood

Tim Walz defends Harris campaigning with Cheney as he makes Daily Show debut

10:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Minnesota Governor assured Jon Stewart that Democrats would not adopt former GOP vice president Dick Cheney or his daughter Liz Cheney’s foreign policy postitions despite accepting their endorsement.

Here’s Eric Garcia on Walz’s latest late-night appearance on Comedy Central.

Tim Walz defends Harris campaigning with Cheney as he joins Jon Stewart on Daily Show

Trump suggests criticism of judges is a crime

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s another interesting line from Trump during his Concord address yesterday.

I wonder what Judge Juan Merchan thinks about this, given that the former president spent the entire spring smearing him and his family as he attempted to preside fairly over his Manhattan hush money trial, repeatedly insisting without evidence that Merchan was corrupt and the instrument of a “weaponized” justice system.

His dear friend and supposed “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk should also surely be incensed by the hypocrisy.

Trump claims to know nothing about scandal-hit gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson despite endorsing him

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican yesterday shamelessly claimed that he was “not familiar with the state of the race” in North Carolina that Robinson is currently losing to Josh Stein after being caught in the “Black Nazi” porn website scandal.

Meanwhile here’s Gustaf Kilander on that master of sensitivity showing off his McDonald’s fry cook pin while surveying hurricane damage during the same visit.

Trump shows off his McDonald’s fry cook pin while surveying hurricane damage

Trump discusses a world without taxes at ‘Bronx barbershop’ event

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Also yesterday, Fox broadcast Trump’s sitdown with Lawrence Jones and a gathering of New York barbers at which he talked about his fantasy of funding the federal government solely through tariffs, pushed his insane lie about forced sex-change operations in schools (which, again, is simply not happening) and claimed that RFK Jr would sort out clean living for Americans because he’s “big into the health food and women things”.

Harris accuses Trump of hiding from her and tells voters: ‘We cannot despair’

09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

In Michigan, Harris appeared alongside Never Trump Republican Liz Cheney and accused her “increasingly unstable” rival of “hiding” by not debating her again, also telling voters: “We cannot despair.”

“We rise to a moment and we stand on the broad shoulders of people who have fought this fight before for our country,” she said, in a rousing moment.

Seeing an opportunity, Trump attacked Harris over her association with Cheney on Truth Social, calling the latter a “Crazed Warhawk” and saying her father’s central role in the War on Terror should deter Arab-Americans from voting Democrat.

Donald Trump loses edge over Kamala Harris on economy two weeks out from Election Day, new poll finds

09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump has lost his advantage over Harris on the economy, with a majority of voters now saying they believe the Democrat is best placed to steward the country and favor her tax and housing policies, according to a new poll.

The survey from Associated Press/NORC gives the Vice President a lead over the Republican on the issue, which the electorate consistently places as the most important of the race, putting her ahead by 46 percent to 35 percent.

However, voters are about evenly divided on whether Trump or Harris is better on prices for everyday essentials like groceries and gas and neither candidate has an edge on jobs and unemployment.

They are also slightly more likely to prefer Trump on the issue of tariffs, which were defined in the poll as taxes on imported goods.

“Do I trust Trump on the economy? No. I trust that he’ll give tax cuts to his buddies like Elon Musk,” said poll respondent Janice Tosto, a 59-year-old Philadelphia woman and self-described independent.

By contrast, poll respondent Amber Moody, 36, from Halifax, Virginia, said she trusts Trump – and Republicans in general – much more on economic matters.

“It seems to me that in my lifetime, every time a Democrat holds office, the economy suffers,” she said.

“Prices go up, taxes go up and the national debt goes up. While I don’t approve of everything Donald Trump says and does, I do believe he is the better choice.”

Good morning!

08:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the US presidential election as the race for the White House between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump enters its final two weeks.