Early voting starts in Georgia, putting sweeping election changes to the test
(ATLANTA) — Early in-person voting kicks off in Georgia on Tuesday as uncertainty over new election rule changes looms large in one of the crucial states that will decide this year’s presidential election.
Georgia counties will provide early in-person voting for at least 16 days, with some counties offering an extra voting day on Sunday. Nov. 1 will be the last day of early in-person voting.
The commencement of Georgia’s three-week period for early voting comes as the Georgia state election board recently passed sweeping new changes to the state’s election system, including how votes are tabulated.
Over the summer, the Republican-controlled State Election Board passed a rule requiring all ballots to be hand counted on election night, prompting legal challenges and pushback from both major parties as officials warned about potential delays in reporting results.
Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, told the board it was operating outside of its authority, and warned that the rule changes were likely not lawful. Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign joined a lawsuit from Georgia Democrats suing to block the last-minute rule changes.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Cox Jr. scheduled hearings this week to hear about the lawsuits challenging the new rules, including the hand-counting provision and new rules that expand access to poll watchers.
Another prominent Republican in the state, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, also promised that while Georgia law mandates certification on Nov. 12, he raised concerns about potential false claims that could arise as potential reporting delays linger.
“Everything we’ve been fighting for since 2020 has been to give the voter quicker, you know, responses, quicker results, and that’s why we’re going to post all the early votes by 8 p.m,” Raffensperger said in an interview with the Washington Post on Monday.
“Well, this now drags on for the final 30 percent until one, two, three, or four o’clock in the morning.” he said. “Really, that just becomes a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, and so we don’t support it, but the judge will make that determination. We’ll find out. We’ll follow the law.”
Georgia voters will already face changes this election cycle due to the state’s Election Integrity Act, SB 202, passed in 2021, which adds more verification for voters requesting absentee ballots, limits the amount of ballot drop box locations, and, in one of the most controversial rule changes, the law now makes it a misdemeanor to give away food or water within 150 feet of a polling place or within 25 feet of a voter in line.
Advocates of the rule change argue that those rule changes will provide more transparency to the election process and have been set in place well before November’s election so poll workers and voters have had time to understand the changes.
However, Democrats have repeatedly attempted to block provisions of the law, claiming that the strict rules on identification will disenfranchise voters and criminalize portions of the election process.
Candidates are educating their voters about the new voting landscape in Georgia, emphasizing how crucial turnout will be in the state.
Former President Bill Clinton spent time in middle Georgia on Sunday and Monday, focusing on mobilizing supporters in rural areas for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“They’ve been able to make it easier for states that agree with them to make it harder for people to vote, but not impossible, and Georgia has more experience than almost any other state in climbing those barriers and breaching them,” he said at a campaign stop in Columbus on Monday.
Former President Donald Trump will mark the start of early voting in Georgia with a series of campaign stops on Tuesday. He will first tape a Fox News town hall focused on women’s issues before delivering remarks at a rally in Atlanta.
The Harris campaign is deploying surrogates around the state on Tuesday and the vice president is expected to visit the state later this week as polling shows an extremely tight race in the Peach State — which helped secure President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020 after it narrowly flipped in favor of Democrats.
According to polling forecasts from 538, a victory in Georgia for either campaign would be pivotal to ensuring an electoral victory, which would give Trump around a 3-in-4 shot at winning the presidency and Harris about a 9-in-10 chance of becoming the next president.
That polling is reflective of how both campaigns have been prioritizing Georgia.
“If we lose Georgia, we lose the whole thing and our country goes to hell. Because we can’t have her be president of the United States. She’s grossly incompetent. We can’t let that happen,” Trump said during a rally in Atlanta in August.
Trump in recent weeks has publicly mended his relationship with Brian Kemp, the state’s popular Republican governor, after furiously lashing out at him after Kemp refused to give in to Trump’s demands in 2020 to prevent state officials from certifying the election.
Earlier this month, the two appeared together for the first time since 2020 when Trump toured the state after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Georgia.
Harris has campaigned on the issue of abortion in Georgia, using the state’s six-week abortion ban and Trump’s role in overturning Roe vs. Wade to appeal to suburban women — a key voter bloc.
“Now we know that at least two women, and those are only the stories we know here in the state of Georgia, died, died because of a Trump abortion ban,” Harris said last month after a ProPublica report tied the deaths of two Georgia women to the state’s restrictive ban.
“This is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect. He brags about overturning Roe v. Wade in his own words, quote, ‘I did it, and I’m proud to have done it.’ He is proud, proud that women are done.”
(CHICAGO) — After the excitement sparked by the Obamas Tuesday night, Democrats will try to keep to momentum going when vice presidential nominee Tim Walz headlines the third night of speakers.
He’ll be joined earlier by another former president — Bill Clinton — as well as Nancy Pelosi and Pete Buttigieg.
Here’s how the news is developing:
John Legend performs as DNC stretches past prime time for 3rd night in a row
Wednesday’s lineup at the DNC stretched passed the 11 p.m. mark in the East Coast with a performance by John Legend and Sheila E.
The pair performed a tribute to Prince, a Minnesota legend.
For the third night in a row, scheduled speakers and musicians went past 11 p.m., resulting in Wednesday’s headline speaker, Gov. Tim Walz, speaking closer to midnight.
‘MVP and coach’ heard at DNC
We’ve heard a few times in the United Center, which has seen some championships in its day, “MVP and Coach” — as in “Madame Vice President” and “Coach Tim Walz.”
-ABC News’ Rick Klein
Buttigieg slams Vance over childless comments, policies
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who jokingly noted, “you might recognize me from Fox News,” got cheers from the crowd when he criticized Sen. JD Vance.
Buttigieg, who like Vance is a veteran, particularly slammed the GOP vice presidential candidate over his previous comments against him and Harris for not having any children.
“You know, senator, when I was deployed to Afghanistan, I didn’t have kids. Some of the men and women who went outside the wire with me did not have kids. But let me tell you, our commitment to the future of this country was pretty damn physical,” he said.
Buttigieg goes after Vance
Buttigieg has delivered this convention’s first extended takedown of Vance. That’s a bit surprising considering Vance is a pretty easy target for them: His average net favorability rating (favorable rating minus unfavorable rating) is -10 points, which makes him the least popular of the four people on the presidential tickets.
—538’s Nathaniel Rakich
Pete Buttigieg references his many Fox News appearances
“Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say, I’m Pete Buttigieg and you might recognize me from Fox News,” he said as he introduced himself on stage.
Buttigieg frequently appears on the network to defend Biden-Harris policies.
Wes Moore touts Democratic leadership after bridge collapse
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore discussed how he, Harris and other leaders came together to respond to the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Moore talked about how several players came together to reopen the port in 11 weeks.
“We are a nation of patriots who serve when the mission is hard and who serve when the destination is uncertain,” he said.
‘Let us choose joy!’ Oprah says
At the end of fired-up remarks, Oprah told the crowd: “Let us choose truth, let us choose honor and let us choose joy!”
“Because that’s the best of America. But more than anything else, let us choose freedom. Why? Because that’s the best of America. We’re all Americans. And together, let’s all choose Kamala Harris.”
Oprah gives tribute to Tessie Provost Williams
Oprah gave tribute to Tessie Prevost Williams, who died earlier this year. Williams was one of four Black girls who helped integrate New Orleans public schools in 1960.
She then tied Williams to Harris, saying Williams “paved the way for another young girl who, nine years later, became part of the second class to integrate the public schools in Berkeley, California.”
Harris famously reflected on her experience as a child being bused to school each day. During a spar with President Biden on the debate stage on busing, Harris told him: “That little girl was me.”
Oprah takes indirect jabs at Trump and Vance
Oprah has not mentioned Trump by name, but appeared to reference the former president and his running mate JD Vance.
“America is an ongoing project,” she said. “It requires commitment. It requires being open to the hard work and the hard work of democracy, and every now and then, it requires standing up to life’s bullies.”
She then brought up Vance’s “childless cat lady” comments to cheers.
“Despite what some would have you think we are not so different from our neighbors,” she said. “When a house is on fire, we don’t ask about a homeowner’s race or religion. We don’t wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No, we just try to do the best we can to save them. And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out too.”
Oprah Winfrey backs Harris
“What we’re going to do is elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States,” she said after taking the stage.
The first time Oprah put her legacy brand behind a political candidate was Barack Obama in 2008.
“That was some epic fire,” she said of the Obamas speeches last night, taking inspiration from Michelle Obama’s call on the crowd to “do something!”
Oprah gets one of the biggest receptions of the night
Television star Oprah Winfrey got one of the biggest ovations of the night as the crowd shots to its feet when she walked on stage.
Amanda Gorman, Biden-Harris inauguration poet, reads poem on unity
Amanda Gorman, who gained national fame after reciting her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the Biden-Harris inauguration in 2021, read a new poem at the DNC that stressed unity.
She said everyone is there because “we believe in the American dream” but that is being tested.
“It falls to us to ensure that we do not fall, for a people that cannot stand together, cannot stand at all,” she said.
“We are one family, regardless of religion, class, or color, for what defines a patriot is not just our love of liberty, but our love for one another,” she continued.
“This is loud in our country’s call because while we all love freedom, it is love that frees us all,” she said to applause.
She ended her poem with, “Let us not just believe in the American dream, let us be worthy of it.”
Shapiro pushes ‘freedom’ message
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro continued with the Democrats’ message of freedom contending that they were the party of “real freedom” — to the cheers of the crowd.
“Kamala’s and Tim’s names may be on the ballot, but it’s your rights, it’s our rights and our future and our freedoms on the line,” he said.
Shapiro drew the line from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights movement as examples of how the country has come together to keep those freedoms, prompting chants of “USA” from the crowd.
“E pluribus unum — out of many, one — is not merely a motto from the past, but a direction for our future,” he said.
Shapiro was on the short list for Harris’ vice presidential picks before she selected Walz.
Tony West plays a critical role in Harris campaign
Tony West, Harris’ brother-in-law, also serves as a close adviser to her 2024 campaign. He’s been seen little on the trail but is now on stage talking about meeting Harris and their shared passion for criminal justice.
Harris’ nephews, niece: ‘Let’s win this thing’
Alexander Hudlin, Jasper Emhoff and Arden Emhoff, Harris’ nephews and niece, touted their aunt as someone who listened to their concerns and pushed them to never give up hope.
The three reciprocated that support.
“Most importantly, you’re a baller,” Alexander said.
“Let’s win this thing,” the three said together.
A night of torch-passing
There’s some torch-passing in tonight’s speaker lineup: from Clinton and Pelosi to Shapiro, Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg and ending the night with Gov. Walz.
-ABC News’ Rick Klein
Pelosi does not mention Trump by name, mentions Jan. 6
Former House Speaker Nancy did not mention Trump by name during her speech, including when addressing Jan. 6.
“Never before had a president of the United States so brazenly assaulted the bedrock of our democracy, so gleefully embraced political violence, so willfully betrayed his oath of office,” she said. “Let us not forget who assaulted democracy on Jan. 6. He did! But let us not forget who saved democracy that day. We did.”
She said lawmakers returning to the Capitol that same night demonstrated that “American democracy prevailed” and called on voters now to “reject autocracy” and “choose democracy” by electing Harris and Walz.
Pelosi thanks Biden for his ‘patriotic vision of a fairer America’
After a warm welcome from the crowd, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi began her remarks thanking Biden for his “patriotic vision of a fairer America.”
“Millions of jobs. Stronger infrastructure. A Biden child tax credit. Rescuing union pensions. Honoring our veterans. Bold climate action. Lowering the costs of prescription drugs,” she said of the presidency’s accomplishments, calling it one of the most successful of modern times.
Pelosi said Harris is now “ready to take us to new heights.”
“Officially, she is a leader of strength, with wisdom and eloquence on policy — most recently demonstrated fighting for women’s right to choose. Politically, she is astute and strategic in winning difficult elections — quickly securing the nomination with dignity and grace and choosing Tim Walz as our vice president,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi at DNC after appearing to play a significant role in Biden’s exit
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is addressing the DNC after appearing to play a significant role in Biden’s exit from the top of the Democratic ticket.
Pelosi, who last month endorsed Harris to be the party’s nominee for president, did not publicly call on Biden to withdraw from the race. Instead, Pelosi, in a July 10 interview, declined to directly answer when asked if Biden had her support in his reelection bid after his ruinous debate performance.
At the time, Biden had already committed to running for reelection, writing in a statement congressional Democrats days earlier that he was “firmly committed” to staying in the race.
Her comments blunted any progress Biden was trying to make persuading congressional Democrats that he was up for the job. And Pelosi’s ambiguous public comments instead created space for rank-and-file Democrats to pressure the president to drop out.
-ABC News’ Sarah Beth Hensley, John Parkinson, Lauren Peller and Allison Pecorin
Clinton also warns Democrats not to get distracted as 2016 memories loom
Bill Clinton, like many of this week’s keynote speakers, is advising Democrats at the United Center and around the country not to get distracted or overconfident this election cycle.
Seemingly referencing the 2016 election, he said: “We’ve seen more than one election slip away from us when we thought it couldn’t happen. When people got distracted by phony issues.
“This is a brutal, tough business. I want you to be happy,” he continued. “One of the reasons that Vice President Harris is doing so well is that we’re all so happy. But you should never underestimate your adversary.”
‘Joy’ a key word of the night
Speakers at the DNC have mentioned the word “joy” more than two dozen times tonight.
The most recent reference came from Bill Clinton.
“Like Hakeem Jeffries, I too want an America that’s more joyful, more inclusive, more future focused,” he said. “Just think what a burden that’s been on us to get up day after day after day after day, buried in meaningless hot rhetoric, when there’s so many opportunities out there, so many problems that need to be solved.”
Clinton mocks Trump’s Hannibal Lecter comments
“President Obama once gave me the great honor of being the explainer-in-chief. Folks, I’ve thought about it and I don’t know what to say,” he said of Trump’s references to Hannibal Lecter on the campaign trail.
Clinton jokes about Harris and his love for McDonald’s
“When she was young, she worked at McDonald’s, and she greeted every person with that thousand-watt smile and said, ‘How can I help you?’ Now she’s at the pinnacle of power and she’s still asking, ‘How can I help you?'” he said of Harris.
“I’ll be so happy when she actually enters the White House as president, because she will break my record as the president who spent the most time at McDonald’s,” he said.
As president, Clinton often made stops at McDonald’s — something parodied on “SNL.”
Clinton, Trump, Bush all about the same age
With his quip about Trump’s age, Clinton reminds us of a historical oddity: He, Trump, and George W. Bush were all born within a few weeks of each other in summer 1946. Trump was born on June 14, Bush on July 6, and Clinton on Aug. 19.
—538’s Nathaniel Rakich
Clinton turns age issue onto Trump
Bill Clinton noted he turned 78 years old earlier this week and is the oldest person in his family.
“And I am still younger than Donald Trump,” he joked.
With Biden out of the race, Trump is now the oldest person seeking the White House.
Clinton is going off script
Clinton is going off script pretty considerably — not on the substance, but as if he’s making little edits in his head along the way.
Bill Clinton pointed out he’s younger than Donald Trump, who was born two months before him. Of course, he doesn’t mention that both are younger than Joe Biden.
-ABC News’ Rick Klein
Bill Clinton compares Biden to George Washington
Bill Clinton praised Biden for his work on a number of issues, but expressed thanks for his sacrifice in stepping aside.
“And then he did something that’s really hard for a politician to do: he voluntarily gave up political power,” he said. “And George Washington knew that and he did it, and he set the standard for us serving two terms before it was mandatory. It helped his legacy and it will enhance Joe Biden’s legacy.”
“It’s a stark contrast to what goes on in the other party,” Clinton said.
Bill Clinton says he’s ‘grateful’ to Republicans, independents at DNC
“After the last two days, aren’t you proud to be a Democrat?” he asked the crowd as he began his remarks.
“I’m very grateful to the Republicans and independents that have joined us and I hope they feel better about it now,” he said.
He also said he thought his wife, Hillary, gave a “great speech too.” Clinton spoke on Monday about how she believed Harris could break the “hardest glass ceiling.”
Jeffries says of Trump ‘bro, we broke up with you for a reason’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries got a huge laugh when took a jab at former President Donald Trump, calling him “an old boyfriend who you broke up with, but he just won’t go away.”
“He has spent the last four years spinning the block, trying to get back into a relationship with the American people. Bro, we broke up with you for a reason,” he said to cheers.
Bill Clinton scrapped version of speech after watching 1st night of DNC: Sources
Former President Bill Clinton scrapped a version of his speech after the watching the first night of the convention, several people familiar with the speech told ABC News.
Clinton, who is speaking Wednesday night, revised his speech to make sure the “substance meets the moment” and wanted to strike a more “joyful” tone, after he was struck by the energy of the convention floor, one source said.
A senior adviser to Clinton told ABC News that “it was clear to him that, in the spirit of Mario Coumo, we needed more poetry, not prose.”
Cuomo gave the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic convention, saying, “We Democrats must unite so that the entire nation can unite, because surely the Republicans won’t bring this country together.”
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott and Katherine Faulders
Mindy Kaling hosts tonight
Actress Mindy Kaling is tonight’s celebrity host.
In 2019, she and Harris went viral for a video in which they prepared masala dosa, a South Indian dish.
In her introduction, Kaling referred to herself as “the woman who courageously outed Kamala Harris as Indian in an Instagram cooking video.”
Democrats lean on celebrities to energize crowd on Wednesday
Democrats have already brought out multiple celebrities Wednesday, including musical legend Stevie Wonder and comedian Kenan Thompson. The crowd roared each tome in surprise.
John Legend will also perform later.
Both parties have used celebrities, including wrestler Hulk Hogan at the Republican National Convention.
Kenan Thompson of ‘SNL’ lampoons ‘Project 2025’
Veteran “SNL’ actor Kenan Thompson performed a bit of a stump speech and variety skit at the DNC that poked fun at “Project 2025.”
Thompson brought the prop “Project 2025” book and talked with people across the country about how the conservative policies would harm them drawing boos and laughs from the crowd.
Vulnerable House Democrat attending DNC tonight to support Walz
Many vulnerable Democrats have skipped the convention in Chicago — but not Marcy Kaptur.
The Ohio Democrat, the longest-serving woman in congressional history, now represents a much redder seat after redistricting.
A spokesperson said she traveled to Chicago today to hear Walz — her former House colleague — in person after calling for Harris to choose a running mate from the heartland.
Her presence underscores how the new Harris ticket has reenergized Democrats and given even threatened members of the party hope that they can defend their seats in November and retake the House of Representatives.
They see Walz as one of their own: While he served in Congress, he was one of the few House Democrats to win reelection in a district that supported Donald Trump. (Democrats lost the seat when he ran for governor in 2018.)
-ABC News’ Rachel Scott and Benjamin Siegel
Democratic Senate candidates are avoiding the DNC
Kim is the third Democratic Senate candidate to address the DNC, after Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester. All three are running in safely Democratic states. By contrast, vulnerable Democratic senators like Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jacky Rosen of Nevada are staying away.
—538’s Nathaniel Rakich
Stevie Wonder performs ‘Higher Ground’
“This year I prayed very hard for peace to come to our worlds nations, but also to each one of our hearts.” he said in remarks before his performance.
“Even though our hearts have been beaten and broken beyond prayer, I know the important action and now is the time to understand where we are and what it will take to win. Win the broken hearts. Win the disenchanted, when the angry spirit. Now is the time,” he said.
Congressman in viral Jan. 6 photo
New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim, who just spoke, was captured in a viral photo kneeling to clean up litter-lined floors of the U.S. Capitol after the insurrection.
“What I learned on January 6 is that all of us, all of our, are caretakers for our great republic,” Kim told the crowd.
Jan. 6 video riles crowd up
The video showing scenes from the Jan. 6 attack sparked chants of “lock him up,” which only subsided once Thompson took the stage.
The crowd has gotten very animated whenever the riot is brought up, often chanting for Trump’s imprisonment.
-ABC News’ Tal Axelrod
Former Capitol police officer attacked in Jan. 6 riot greeted with loud applause
Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, a former Capitol police officer who was attacked by rioters on Jan. 6, is now taking the stage to loud applause
Gonell told ABC News a year after the insurrection that he was reminded of the attack on the U.S. Capitol every day.
“From the way I sleep, eating breakfast, making sure I don’t hurt myself putting my shirt on. The way I walk, the way I play with my son. The phone calls from the Justice Department, from the FBI, from the department, asking ‘do I recognize this individual?’… It hasn’t been easy,” Gonell told ABC News’ “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir in an interview that aired in January 2022.
Oprah Winfrey to speak at DNC tonight: Sources
Oprah Winfrey will be on stage at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, multiple sources familiar with the program confirmed to ABC News.
CNN first reported the development.
–ABC News’ Will Steakin and Katherine Faulders
Another Republican endorsement for Harris
Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, another Republican endorsement for Harris scheduled during the DNC this week, said Trump is a “direct threat to democracy.”
“The only thing left to do is dump Trump,” he said, as the crowd chanted “dump Trump.”
Olivia Troye says being in Trump’s White House was ‘terrifying’ Olivia Troye, a former Trump White House National Security official, told the crowd that “being inside Trump’s White House was terrifying.”
“But what keeps me up at night is what will happen if he gets back here,” she continued.
She said she is proud to support Harris because they agree on the most important issue — “protecting our freedom.”
Immigration has been a weakness for Democrats this cycle
Democrats are trying to make progress with voters when it comes to immigration and border security.
A recent ABC News poll found Donald Trump retains the upper hand on the issue, keeping the race a closely contested one.
Trump leads Harris by 10 points in trust to handle the immigration situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, though he had led by 14 points in July.
At the DNC, speakers are bashing Trump for encouraging congressional Republicans to kill the bipartisan border deal negotiated earlier this year.
“He is a self-serving man,” Javier Salazar, the sheriff of Bexar County, Texas, just said on stage. “Just like when he killed the border bill, he just made our jobs harder.”
Former Trump official touts Harris support
Olivia Troye, a former Trump White House National Security official, is on stage — one of several Republicans scheduled to speak during the DNC this week.
Booker once had his own presidential ambitions
In 2020, the New Jersey senator mounted a campaign for the Democratic nomination after decades on the rise within the party.
The theme of his campaign was unity and love. His optimistic messaging was on display again tonight as he spoke.
“We’re not going to lose our faith,” he said. “Look, I want everybody in here to let us all say it together: I believe in America.”
The crowd repeated the phrase back to him.
Trump not serious about the border: Texas congresswoman
As the programming shifts to border security, Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar said that former President Donald Trump and his imitators see the border as a “political opportunity to exploit instead of an issue to address.”
“They are not serious people. You know who is serious? Kamala Harris,” she said, talking about Harris’ visit to El Paso engaging with stakeholders.
“She recognized that the situation at the border is complicated — as filled with challenges as it is with opportunities,” Escobar said.
Maren Morris said she split with country music over Trump-era culture
Maren Morris is now performing at the DNC.
The singer had a public break with the country music industry last year over what she said was its inability to tackle racism and misogyny.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she said the Trump-era exacerbated those issues.
“After the Trump years, people’s biases were on full display,” she said. “It just revealed who people really were and that they were proud to be misogynistic and racist and homophobic and transphobic. All these things were being celebrated, and it was weirdly dovetailing with this hyper-masculine branch of country music.”
Israeli American hostage’s parents push for cease-fire deal, send message to son
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, told the crowd, many whom wore “bring them home bracelets,” that they are pushing for a cease-fire and the safe return of the hostages.
“The time is now,” he said.
Many in the crowd were in tears.
Goldberg ended the speech with a message to her son.
Michigan AG Nessel: ‘You can pry this wedding band from my cold, dead, gay hand’
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had a message for Republicans and the Supreme Court tonight: “You can pry this wedding band from my cold, dead, gay hand.”
“And I’m retaining a lot of water, so good luck with that,” she added.
Taking an apparent jab at Trump, Nessel said: “Kamala knows you go from the courthouse to the White House, not the other way around.”
Crowd chants ‘bring them home’ as parents of Israeli hostage address crowd
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin — one of the Israeli-American hostages, got emotional as they took the stage to a huge ovation.
“Bring them home,” the crowd chanted.
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the American-Israeli hostages, got emotional as they took the stage to a huge ovation.
Harris and Walz are ‘listening’ to calls for cease-fire, Ellison says
To those calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and “an end to the loss of innocent lives in Gaza” and to bring the hostages home, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison had a message.
“They’re listening, friends. They agree with us,” he said.
“They listen, they care, and everyone is included in their circle of compassion,” he told the crowd.
The comments come as pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been protesting outside the DNC this week to put pressure on Harris’ campaign for a cease-fire.
Ellison cashes in progressive capital for Harris
Ellison was one of the few Muslims to serve in the House before becoming Minnesota attorney general and was one of the chamber’s most vocal progressives. He’s likely one of the few Democrats with cache within the party who also has appeal to the pro-Palestinian protesters outside, making him a potent messenger for Harris on this issue.
Trump’s tried to distance himself from Project 2025. DNC not making it easy
The controversial conservative policy blueprint has become a flashpoint in the 2024 election.
As a result, Trump has tried to put space between his 2024 campaign and the project, despite some of his close advisers and former administration officials being involved in its creation.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump has claimed on social media. “I have no idea who is behind it.”
Democrats, however, are intent on tying the policy wishlist to Trump. Speakers this week have decried its proposals on everything from reproductive rights and health care to agency regulation.
Minnesota AG plans to address DNC protesters Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, now taking the stage, indicated to ABC News earlier Wednesday that he would address the Gaza crisis directly — and protesters who have raised their voices at the DNC — during his speech.
“I don’t know how much disagreement there is. I think we all want to see the violence stop and civilians have safety and security, and to see Gaza restored. I think there’s general agreement on that,” he said.
‘Swiftie’ Gov. Jared Polis calls out Project 2025
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis brought back the Project 2025 prop book and continued the theme of slamming its conservative policy proposals.
Polis, a self-proclaimed “Swiftie,” cited one of the pop star’s famous lyrics in denouncing the ideology.
“These Project 2025 people like Trump and Vance are not just weird, they’re dangerous. They want to take us backwards. But we aren’t going back. Like ever, ever, ever,” he said to applause.
Booker jabs at Project 2025 as ‘Project 1825’
Sen. Cory Booker continued to criticize Project 2025 with a bit on how Democrats believe it will take the country backward.
“No matter where you live, so-called blue states or red states, if Donald Trump has his way, he’s going to push through their extreme agenda Project 1825,” Booker said.
“I mean, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I roll that back. I got that wrong. Project 1925. Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Project 2025. That poisonous agenda where every single state will be in a state of crisis.”
Abortion access advocates warn dangers of Trump-Vance policies
A few speakers who lead organizations focused on reproductive rights highlighted Vice President Kamala Harris’ support of reproductive rights and abortion access, saying that a Donald Trump and JD Vance administration would roll back access to abortion.
Alexis McGill Johnson, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, spoke about South Carolina and Florida’s six-week ban on abortion and how it impacted a Planned Parenthood patient in Georgia, who tried to go to those states because Georgia also bans abortion after six weeks.
“I’m here to tell you, in no way are Donald J. Trump and JD Vance more qualified than doctors and women to make these decisions. We decide. We trust women. We trust doctors. And we trust Kamala Harris,” she said.
-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim
Campaign co-chair on DNC goals
Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, the co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign, is now on stage.
She told ABC News earlier this week that the campaign wanted to focus on how Harris and Walz will uplift the middle class during the convention.
Speakers highlight impact of bipartisan infrastructure law
Local officials and workers are taking to the stage to speak about the impact of the bipartisan infrastructure law on their communities.
The law is one of the signature policy achievements of the Biden-Harris administration. When it passed in the Senate, Vice President Harris was there to preside over the final vote.
Milwaukee Mayor Chevy Johnson made headlines for Trump remarks
Milwaukee Mayor Chevy Johnson has taken to the stage.
He made headlines in June after former President Donald Trump reportedly called Milwaukee “horrible” in a closed-door meeting weeks before the city hosted the Republican National Convention.
“Donald Trump was talking about things that he thinks are horrible. All of us lived through his presidency. So, right back at you, buddy,” Johnson said in response during a news conference at the time.
Asked at the time what he meant by the reported “horrible city” comment, Trump told Fox News he was referring to crime in Milwaukee and the 2020 election.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval a history-making official
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval has taken the stage. He is Cincinnati’s first Asian American mayor and, like Harris, has a parent who immigrated to the U.S. from India.
Tom Suozzi vows better immigration policy under Dems
New York Rep. Tom Suozzi, who flipped a Long Island seat this winter, reiterated his message on the campaign trail about the need to solve the nation’s migrant issue.
“To be a nation of immigrants is hard sometimes, too. You have to work for it,” he said.
Democrats jump on ‘freedom’ theme
The DNC marks a culmination of decades of Democratic efforts to take back patriotism after years of Republicans owning messaging around “freedom” and the American flag.
The word “freedom” is seemingly on the lips of every attendee and speaker — and the name of Beyoncé’s hit song and now-campaign anthem. Audience chants of “USA!” puncture speakers’ remarks as they wave signs saying the same. Camo hats bearing the names of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pockmark the crowd. And musician Jason Isbell performed the country hit song “Something More Than Free.”
Read more here about how Democrats have been running on this message, which has long been a staple in GOP messaging.
-ABC News’ Tal Axelrod
Project 2025 in focus again
Project 2025, a playbook of controversial policy proposals intended to guide the next conservative administration, has been invoked again during the DNC, this time regarding reproductive rights.
Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, called Project 2025 a “blueprint for banning abortion in all 50 states” that will give extremists “the power to monitor your pregnancy.”
“Make no mistake — the threat of Project 2025 is very real,” she told the crowd. “But so is our ability to stop it.”
Reproductive rights at the forefront
Day 3 of the DNC kicked off with a focus on reproductive rights — featuring a video of women talking about the importance of the issue this election and speeches so far by Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All, and Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood.
Cory Booker pays tribute to Bill Pascrell
The New Jersey senator took a moment to reflect on Rep. Bill Pascrell, who died Wednesday at the age of 87. Pascrell served in Congress for 14 terms.
“Today while we’re heartbroken, we’re all people who can hold loss and joy in our hearts because we are sad for his loss but we celebrate his life,” Booker said. “Let’s give him a round of applause.”
Chicago police investigating DNC breakfast incident
Chicago police and the FBI are investigating an incident at a DNC breakfast Wednesday morning, according to ABC Chicago station WLS.
One victim was treated and released at the scene, police said.
The Fairmont Chicago hotel, the site of the incident, released a statement confirming that “a group of individuals caused a disruption at a DNC-related breakfast event at our hotel this morning.” The hotel thanked law enforcement for its “swift response.”
-ABC News’ Ben Stein
Bill Clinton speech to be hopeful with jabs aimed at Trump: Source
Former President Clinton’s address at the DNC will be hopeful and aspirational, according to a source familiar with its contents.
The source also said it will include fiery, newsworthy jabs aimed at former President Donald Trump and will highlight the qualities that make for a responsible, qualified commander in chief in the nation’s highest office.
The speech is expected to highlight the striking differences in vision, experience and temperament between Harris and Trump, underscoring the vice president’s story and what her candidacy means for the nation.
-ABC News’ Gabrielle Abdul-Hakim
Night 3 of the DNC kicks off
The third night of the DNC is officially underway, with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker calling the convention to order.
The theme is “A fight for our freedoms” and will feature speeches from former President Bill Clinton and Walz, as he accepts the party’s nomination for vice president.
Wes Moore, rising party star, gets prime-time spot Conventions are also about parties identifying those they view as future leaders.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s coveted speaking spot tonight will not go unnoticed.
His team said this night is about the future, forward momentum, and he is grateful to be a part of that.
He knows Democrats need to show they are delivering actual results, and he thinks he has a story to tell there. A senior staffer to the governor told ABC News he will focus on the Key Bridge collapse and talk about what Biden and Harris did to support his state.
Moore also has a personal relationship with Walz, who reached out to him when he first won and has acted as a sounding board for the governor.
-ABC News’ MaryAlice Parks
The original ‘smoke-filled room’
As I reported on Monday, political conventions in Chicago have a long and storied history. And some of that history can still be found today.
At the 1920 Republican National Convention, the GOP couldn’t decide on a presidential candidate to save their life. After four rounds of balloting on June 11, no candidate had come close to clinching a majority of delegates. That night, a group of party leaders convened in Room 915 of the Blackstone Hotel and decided that Ohio Sen. Warren G. Harding would be an acceptable compromise choice. The following day, after a few more deadlocked votes, delegates decided to follow their lead and switched their votes to Harding, who won the nomination on the 10th ballot.
Those party leaders didn’t technically have the power to nominate Harding themselves, but a popular image soon emerged of Republican elites secretly pulling the strings to get their preferred candidate elected. As an AP reporter put it (probably exaggeratedly), “Harding of Ohio was chosen by a group of men in a smoke-filled room early today as Republican candidate for president.” The phrase “smoke-filled room” captured the public’s imagination and quickly became shorthand for when party leaders coordinate behind the scenes to anoint a candidate.
History buffs will be pleased to learn that the “smoke-filled room” still exists today! Although the room (along with the whole hotel) has been completely renovated, the original fireplace is still there, and the room is decorated with political paraphernalia. If you have the coin, you can even stay there yourself! When I visited on Monday, the room was vacant, but it was booked for Tuesday through Saturday. But it isn’t a political bigwig who’s staying there this week — it’s apparently a musician!
—538’s Nathaniel Rakich
John Legend to perform at DNC Wednesday night
Singer John Legend and percussionist Sheila E. will perform at the DNC Wednesday night. They were photographed in the United Center rehearsing ahead of the convention’s third night.
Vance says DNC ‘vibes’ are not reaching voters
In an interview on “Fox and Friends” on Wednesday morning, GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance said the DNC’s “vibes” weren’t working and reaching people, and suggested there is division within the Democratic Party.
“I don’t think it’s working very well, Ainsley, obviously, I’m not the target audience here, but when you have Barack Obama, the former democratic president of the United States, sitting there and making his big speech, and Kamala Harris is 90 miles away, I think it suggests that their party is not especially unified,” he said.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie
Video shows Harris reacting to roll call Tuesday night from backstage at rally
From backstage at her Milwaukee rally Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris watched California Gov. Gavin Newsom cast his state’s votes during Tuesday night’s ceremonial roll call.
“California, we proudly cast our 482 votes for the next president, Kamala Harris,” Newsom can be heard saying in the video, posted by the Harris campaign.
Harris appeared overcome with emotion watching the moment.
“Congratulations,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was standing next to Harris, told the vice president before exchanging a hug.
-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow
Booker, Moore, Shapiro and more expected to speak Wednesday night
Sen. Cory Booker, and Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania are expected to take the stage Wednesday night before Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s Wednesday prime-time address, according to DNC Executive Director Alex Hornbrook.
Former Trump staffer Olivia Troye will also give remarks, Hornbrook told reporters.
-ABC News’ Brittany Shepherd
Harris’ campaign has raised around $500M since becoming Democratic candidate: Source
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has raised about $500 million since President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, according to a source familiar.
New campaign disclosure filings once again show the Harris campaign and the DNC’s cash on hand advantage over the Trump campaign and the RNC following a major fundraising boost the Democrats saw after Vice President Kamala Harris took over the top of the Democratic ticket last month.
The Harris campaign and the DNC together raised $248 million in July, out-raising The Trump campaign and the RNC, which raised $78 million, disclosures show.
The Harris campaign and the DNC entered August with $285 million in cash on hand, compared to the Trump campaign and the RNC having $250 million in cash on hand entering August.
Harris and the DNC’s latest money advantage comes after Trump and the RNC showed fundraising prowess the past few months and quickly eclipsed the cash on hand edge that Biden and the DNC previously had going into the general election.
The latest filings only show partial figures released by the campaigns and the national party committees’ figures – with full figures from the joint fundraising committees scheduled to be released in October.
-ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kelsey Walsh
Tim Walz takes the convention stage
Amid lingering buzz generated by passionate speeches from Michelle and Barack Obama – vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will be the keynote speaker tonight.
The man Kamala Harris calls “Coach” will likely stress what he calls the politics of “joy” while also taking swipes at Donald Trump.
The theme tonight is “A Fight for our Freedoms.”
Other notable speakers tonight include figures beloved by Democrats – former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
(CHICAGO) —Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday unveiled her economic platform, her first major policy rollout since becoming the Democratic nominee.
Former President Donald Trump on Thursday held a press conference in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he said he’s “entitled” to insult his Democratic opponent because he doesn’t respect her and attacked her record on the economy.
Here’s how the news is developing:
Bulletproof glass shields Trump at North Carolina rally
Former President Donald Trump spoke behind bulletproof glass at his rally in North Carolina on Wednesday as new security measures are being put in place after the assassination attempt against the former president.
Trump was surrounded by the glass barriers as he addressed supporters in Asheboro. The event marked his first outdoor rally since the shooting on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, during which Trump and two others were injured and one person was killed.
-ABC News’ Alexandra Hutzler
RFK Jr. planning to leave 2024 race: Sources
Robert Kennedy Jr. is planning to drop out of the race by the end of this week, sources familiar with the decision tell ABC News.
Sources say that Kennedy is leaning toward endorsing former President Donald Trump, though the sources cautioned the decision is not yet finalized and could still change. One source added that the hope is, in part, to finalize things quickly in order to try to blunt momentum from the DNC.
Kennedy is set to address the nation on Friday, his campaign said earlier Wednesday.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, Will McDuffie, Olivia Rubin, John Santucci and Katherine Faulders
RFK Jr. to address nation Friday about ‘path forward’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will “address the nation” live Friday to discuss his “path forward,” his press secretary posted on X Wednesday.
The campaign did not immediately offer any more specifics.
-ABC News’ Will McDuffie
Harris headed to Milwaukee rally tonight
Democratic candidate for president, Vice President Kamala Harris, is set to speak at a rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday, according to her campaign.
Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ vice presidential running mate, will be in attendance, the campaign confirmed. Also expected at the event are Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, members of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise, including Khris Middleton and President Peter Feigin, and labor leaders.
Harris and Waltz appeared at the DNC in Chicago on Monday night, where Harris surprised delegates by taking the stage early in the night for a brief speech.
Tuesday’s rally, which is being held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, is aimed at energizing Wisconsin voters, the campaign said.
Iran denies involvement in attempts to hack Trump, Biden campaigns
Iran is denying reports it was involved in attempts to hack the presidential campaigns of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, the latter of which while he was still in the race.
In a statement, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, said that reports of attempted hacking, which came from Google and Microsoft, are “unsubstantiated.”
“Such allegations are unsubstantiated and devoid of any standing. As we have previously announced, the Islamic Republic of Iran harbors neither the intention nor the motive to interfere with the U.S. presidential election,” the statement read. “Should the U.S. government genuinely believe in the validity of its claims, it should furnish us with the pertinent evidence—if any—to which we will respond accordingly.”
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas
7:32 AM EDT Bernie Sanders to speak at DNC on ‘lowering health care costs’
Lowering health care costs will be a central theme at the Democratic National Convention this week, campaign and convention officials said on Monday, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), confirmed as one notable program speaker set to focus upon the issue — specifically on “lowering Rx drug prices” and “taking on Big Pharma.”
Speakers throughout the week like Sanders, California Rep. Robert Garcia, Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will highlight the support of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for strengthening the Affordable Care Act, convention officials shared first with ABC News.
In a Friday speech setting out a string of economic proposals, Harris pledged to “lower the cost of insulin and prescription drugs for everyone.” She also said she’d “demand transparency from the middlemen who operate between Big Pharma and the insurance companies, who use opaque practices to raise your drug prices and profit off your need for medicine.”
-ABC News’ Isabella Murray
Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and more to host DNC
Actors Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Mindy Kaling and commentator Ana Navarro will serve as hosts at the Democratic National Convention this week, convention officials confirmed to ABC News.
Each will host one night of the four-day convention, starting the programming with opening remarks and reappearing onstage throughout the night.
Goldwyn will host Monday night, Navarro on Tuesday and Kaling on Wednesday. Washington will host on Thursday, the night Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepts her nomination.
CNN first reported this news.
Harris and Walz debut new campaign buses and kick off tour ahead of DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz debuted their new campaign buses Sunday and kicked off a bus tour of southwestern Pennsylvania ahead of this week’s Democratic National Convention.
Upon their arrival on Air Force Two, a few hundred supporters greeted Harris, Walz and their spouses at a hangar where the new were buses parked.
Supporters told ABC News they were thrilled by Harris’ candidacy, with one saying she had not felt this excited about politics in years. Some said they had never volunteered for a campaign before signing up to work on Harris’.
“I was excited about Biden, but I am a million times more excited about Kamala,” Nicole Molinaro, a Pittsburgh-area mom, said. “I think that we need her leadership. We need her intelligence. We need her progressive, you know, stance. I think we need her experience. We need everything about Kamala.”
Another supporter, Edward Freel, said he was unsure about Harris at first, “but then, as I started listening better and following her, [I thought] this woman is going to be good for this country.”
Trump campaign releases counterprogramming schedule for DNC week
During the week of the DNC, Former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance will be out on the campaign trail, holding events in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.
Trump allies — including Sens. Ron Johnson and Rick Scott, and Rep. Byron Donalds — will travel to Chicago to host press conferences every day of the convention. The Trump team will also give a press conference on Thursday ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic party’s nomination.
“As they meet Americans where they are in battleground states across the country, President Trump and Senator Vance will remind voters that under their leadership, we can end inflation, protect our communities from violent criminals, secure the border, and Make America Great Again,” Trump Campaign Senior Advisors Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa, Soo Rin Kim and Kelsey Walsh
Michelle Obama to speak at DNC this week
Former first lady Michelle Obama will speak at the DNC in Chicago this week, ABC News has confirmed with her office.
Her appearance, first reported by Essence Magazine, will be among a lineup of prominent Democratic leaders who are rallying in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Former President Barack Obama is also scheduled to speak at the DNC.
According to a source familiar with the planning, Michelle Obama will speak on Tuesday — the same day as the former president.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart and Gabriella Abdul-Hakim
Former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will help Trump prepare for presidential debate
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will assist Trump in preparing for his first debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.
“[Trump] does not need traditional debate prep but will continue to meet with respected policy advisors and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard, who successfully dominated Kamala Harris on the debate stage,” Trump campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in a statement to ABC News, confirming a development first reported by The New York Times.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and a one-time Democratic presidential candidate during the 2020 election, gained brief momentum during her presidential run after challenging Harris on the debate stage on topics like criminal prosecutions.
Since leaving the Democratic Party, Gabbard has been gaining traction among Trump supporters, and more recently she has appeared on Fox and other conservative news outlets attacking Harris.
– ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Soo Rin Kim, Kelsey Walsh, and Lalee Ibssa
Election 2024 updates: ABC News Harris-Trump debate to be held in Philadelphia
The first debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump will be held by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
The Sept. 10 debate will be moderated by ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.
It will air live at 9:00 p.m. ET on the network and on its 24/7 streaming network ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.
(NEW YORK) — President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, seeking to burnish his foreign policy legacy amid international turmoil.
“This is the fourth time I’ve had the great honor speaking to this assembly as president of the United States,” Biden said as he began his remarks. “It will be my last. I’ve seen a remarkable sweep of history.”
Biden also took a moment, near the end of his speech, to poignantly reflect on his decision to end his campaign for reelection.
“There’s so much more I want to get done,” Biden said. “As much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided after 50 years of public service, it’s time for a new generation of leadership to take my nation forward.”
“My fellow leaders, let us never forget, some things are more important than staying in power. It’s your people,” he said, prompting applause. “It’s your people that matter the most. Never forget, we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.”
Even though Biden came into office with decades of foreign policy experience, he leaves behind a mixed record.
Biden touted his administration’s rebuilding of alliances, saying when he came into office he was “determined to rebuild my country’s alliances and partnerships to a level not previously seen.”
“We did just that,” Biden said.
But the two wars that started under his administration have no clear end in sight.
His presidency is winding down as the conflict in Ukraine continues to rage and the risk of an all-out war between Israel and Lebanon increases.
The president has said a top priority before the end of his administration is to end Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, but negotiations to achieve a cease-fire have stalled.
Tuesday’s speech marked one of his last high-profile chances to rally world leaders.
“Will we sustain our support to help Ukraine win this war and preserve its freedom, or walk away, let aggression be renewed and a nation be destroyed? I know my answer,” Biden said. “We cannot grow weary. We cannot look away and we will not let up on our support for not Ukraine.”
Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet separately with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House later this week. Harris will not be at UNGA.
With nearly 500 people killed in Lebanon on Monday alone from Israeli strikes, the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the threat of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, will surely overshadow other topics at the U.N.
Speaking on the escalation, Biden warned in his speech that “full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest.”
“A diplomatic solution is still possible,” he said. “In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents of both countries to return to their homes on the border safely. That’s what we’re working tirelessly to achieve.”
A senior administration said this meeting will allow for a range of officials to be in the same room to talk about the situation.
“This is one of the advantages of U.N. General Assembly. You literally have the whole world here. So, when you do have crises of the day, they’ll be addressed. And I have no doubt that the situation in the Middle East will be an important theme in a lot of a lot of the meetings, not just that the president has, but other senior U.S. officials who will be convening to talk about — about various aspects of the crisis and what we can do to stabilize the situation,” the official said.
“I think it’s an opportunity to talk about what we have achieved and what we what we still need to do, given a situation that is just heartbreaking where hostages have not been returned, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and as you know, just such a sensitive issue, and such a delicate and dangerous situation between Israel and Lebanon right now,” the official said.
The president “should’ve been more outspoken from the beginning about what Israel is doing,” said Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group, adding that “Netanyahu constantly bites the hand that feeds him.”
Notably, even though Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be at UNGA, there are currently no plans for Biden and Netanyahu to meet on the sidelines.
Where Biden has made strides is in stabilizing relations with China and strengthening alliances in the Indo-Pacific region: Biden launched a new security partnership with Australia, the U.K. and U.S. (AUKUS); he brought together Japan and South Korea — two countries with a rocky history — to work with the U.S. on defense and economic cooperation; Vietnam upgraded the U.S. to its highest level of diplomatic relations. (Biden is meeting with Vietnam’s general secretary this week.)
All of those relationships are part of Biden’s strategy to counter China’s influence in the region.
“These partnerships are not against any nation,” Biden said at UNGA. “They’re building blocks for a free, open, secure, peaceful Indo-Pacific.”