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Trump doubles down on calling Kamala Harris ‘stupid’ without evidence as George Santos pleads guilty: Live

Trump says he will take part in a town hall on Fox News on 4 September, claiming Harris refused to debate him

Lindsey Graham warns Donald Trump could lose election if he doesn’t change strategy

Donald Trump has doubled down on his use of personal attacks against Kamala Harris, despite Republican strategists urging him to focus on election issues, calling her “stupid” without offering evidence.

“Our country needs a very smart person, and I don’t think she’s a very smart person,” he told CBS News in a new interview.

Challenged on why he holds this view, Trump gave a rambling answer referring to “the things that she’s said” and “the way she deals” before concluding: “I just don’t happen to think so.”

During the interview Trump said he would accept the results of this year’s election if it is “free and fair”, implying – again without basis in fact – that the 2020 result wasn’t.

In a Truth Social post late on Monday night, Trump said he would participate in a town hall on Fox News on 4 September, claiming Harris refused to debate him on the channel.

And elsewhere, the disgraced former New York Republican congressman and Trump ally George Santos, ousted amid a series of scandals, faces prison time after pleading guilty to fraud.

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Judge Luttig endorses Harris and slams Trump as threat to democracy

A prominent former appeals court judge and conservative legal scholar has endorsed Kamala Harris, while branding Donald Trump a unique threat to American democracy.

In a statement obtained by CNN, J Michael Luttig, who was appointed to the federal bench by the Republican George H.W. Bush administration, described Donald Trump’s support for the January 6 rioters and continued lies about winning the 2020 election as a stake being “driven through the heart of America’s Democracy.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Conservative judge endorses Harris and slams Trump as threat to democracy

Harris-Walz campaign has been courting support from prominent Republicans

Oliver O'Connell20 August 2024 10:15
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Baby boomers are fleeing Trump and switching allegiance to Harris

The Emerson College poll released Thursday shows voters over 70 backing Harris over Trump 51 to 48 percent. That’s a small but positive shift for Harris, as last month, 50 percent of the group supported Trump while 48 percent backed President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris last month.

The group includes some baby boomers, who were born between 1946 and 1964, and the Silent Generation, born between 1925 and 1945.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Why are baby boomers fleeing Donald Trump and switching allegiance to Harris

Voters over 70 are backing Harris over Trump, 51 to 48 percent, Emerson College poll finds

Oliver O'Connell20 August 2024 09:15
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Senator and veteran slams Trump’s ‘despicable’ comments about military veterans

Senator and Army National Guard veteran Tammy Duckworth has slammed Donald Trump, calling him “despicable” for his degrading comments about military veterans and for suggesting the highest civilian award is more prestigious than the Medal of Honor awarded to service members who have demonstrated “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity.”

Myriam Page has the story.

Tammy Duckworth slams Trump’s ‘despicable’ comments about military veterans

‘Frankly, he’s not fit to be commander in chief,’ the Illinois senator and army veteran said

Oliver O'Connell20 August 2024 08:15
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Trump posts AI-generated image of Harris speaking at DNC surrounded by communist flags

Donald Trump has taken a last-minute swipe at Kamala Harris ahead of the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, as he posted an AI-generated image of the vice president speaking to a jam-packed crowd of Communists.

Harris has been on the receiving end of a barrage of personal attacks from the former president as she pulls ahead in the national polls – including all seven battleground states, bar Nevada.

James Liddell has the story.

Trump posts AI-generated image of Harris speaking at DNC with communist flags

Former president shared the artificial intelligence-generated image following his meltdown last week as he accused the vice president of using the technology to ‘fake’ her crowd sizes

Oliver O'Connell20 August 2024 07:15
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Musk says he would be ‘willing to serve’ as Trump adviser

Elon Musk says he is “willing to serve”, hours after former president Donald Trump said he was considering the Tesla CEO for an adviser role in his cabinet if elected to power.

“He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy,” Trump said after a campaign event in Pennsylvania.

In a post on X, Musk wrote: “I am willing to serve”.

It was accompanied with a picture of him standing in front of a podium emblazoned with the words “Department of Government Efficiency” along with the acronym DOGE, a reference to a popular cryptocurrency that Musk has often backed in the past.

Musk last month publicly endorsed Trump in the US presidential race.

Namita Singh20 August 2024 06:38
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Fake electors still donating to Trump despite some facing criminal charges over 2020 election

A number of fake electors who attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election have donated to Donald Trump as recently as this year, financial records show.

Fake electors have continued to donate thousands to Trump, his running mate JD Vance and other Republicans despite some of them facing criminal charges for their role in the 2020 election.

Rhian Lubin has the story.

Fake electors donating to Trump campaign despite some facing criminal charges

Financial campaign records show fake electors continued to donate to the GOP candidate, his running mate JD Vance and other Republicans despite some facing criminal charges for their role in the 2020 election

Oliver O'Connell20 August 2024 06:15
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Trump claims Harris will not do Fox News debate on 4 September

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social late on Monday that vice president Kamala Harris will not do a Fox News debate that was under consideration for 4 September.

Trump said that he instead agreed to do a televised town hall, anchored by Sean Hannity, on Fox News in Pennsylvania.

Namita Singh20 August 2024 05:58
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Trump says he will accept results of 'free and fair' election

Donald Trump said he would accept the presidential election result only if they are “free and fair”, as he claimed that if he loses, the US “will go into a tailspin” like the great depression of 1929.

By “fair” he means “that votes are counted”, explained the former president.

“It means that votes are fair. It means that they don’t cheat on the election, they don’t drop ballots, they don’t install new rules and regulations that they don’t have the power to do.”

“If I see that we had a fair and free election, which I hope to be able to say, but if I see that, I will be — you will never see anybody more honorable than me.”

Namita Singh20 August 2024 04:59
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Trump defends calling Harris ‘stupid’ without offering evidence

Former president Donald Trump has doubled down on calling Kamala Harris “stupid” without offering any evidence as to why.

“I think that the message is what a bad job they’ve done,” he told CBS News, on being asked if the use of personal insults like this was the way to win over moderate voters.

“I mean, if you look at this economy, if you look at inflation, and you know, I love this country,” said Trump. “I have to do what it takes to win. I have to get this country going, because we’re going to lose our country.”

On being probed about the evidence to support his characterisation of Ms Harris as stupid, he said: “Our country needs a very smart person, and I don’t think she’s a very smart person.

Republican Presidential nominee, former president Donald J. Trump remarks during a campaign event at Precision Custom Components on 19 August 2024 in York, Pennsylvania
Republican Presidential nominee, former president Donald J. Trump remarks during a campaign event at Precision Custom Components on 19 August 2024 in York, Pennsylvania (Getty Images)

“So, I’m not looking to — I don’t consider that an insult — that’s just a fact.”

“What evidence do you have for that?” CBS News’ Caitlin Huey-Burns asked.

“I looked at the things that she’s said, I looked at the way she deals, I looked at her record — her crazy record — I look at her policies. I just don’t happen to think so,” the one-time president responded. “Now, I could say she is [smart] and I know that would be very nice. And the other thing, we have to win this election.”

Namita Singh20 August 2024 04:58
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Trump would ‘gladly’ release his medical record

Former president Donald Trump said he would “gladly” release his medical record, as he denied suffering from post-traumatic stress following the attempt on his life.

The GOP presidential nominee told CBS News that in his medical exams, he received a “perfect score,” and two cognitive tests, which he said he “aced.”

“I got everything right,” Trump said. “And one of the doctors said, ‘I’ve never seen that before, where you get everything right.’ No, I have no problem [in releasing medical records]. I’d go a step further, I think anybody that runs for president, whether they’re 75 or 65 or 45, I think should take a cognitive test.”

Former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump delivers remarks to the press on his economic agenda at a machining manufacturer in York, Pennsylvania, USA, 19 August 2024
Former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump delivers remarks to the press on his economic agenda at a machining manufacturer in York, Pennsylvania, USA, 19 August 2024 (EPA)
Namita Singh20 August 2024 04:56

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