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Combative Biden refuses to debate Trump again before DNC amid plot to oust him: Live
Joe Biden is back on the campaign trail delivering an energetic and passionate speech to the NAACP meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On Monday night he struck a combative tone in his latest campaign reset interview with NBC’s Lester Holt following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month, which led panicked Democrats to call on the president to drop out of the 2024 race.
Biden rejected the idea he should debate Trump again before the Democratic National Convention in August but admitted it had been a “mistake” to use the word “bullseye” prior to the attempted assassination of the former president on Saturday.
“It was a mistake to use the word,” Biden told Holt, adding: “Focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies. Focus on the number of lies he told in the debate.”
During a rally over the weekend, the newly-confirmed Republican presidential nominee was clipped in the right ear by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, whose motive remains unknown.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi is meanwhile reportedly “convinced Biden will lose” and “working the phones” to plot his removal from the Democratic ticket. Rep Adam Schiff is the latest senior Democrat to warn donors of the potential for an overwhelming loss.
Trump appears emotional as he enters Republican convention with bandaged ear
Donald Trump appeared to be emotional as he entered the Republican National Convention’s opening night with a bandage over his right ear on Monday, 15 July, two days after surviving an attempted assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania. The former president was shot in the ear as he spoke on stage in Butler, with blood seen on the side of his head. Mr Trump did not address the hall on Monday, but smiled and occasionally waved as musician Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA.” He eventually joined his newly-announced running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to listen to speeches.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:45
Biden on political violence and guns:
“We have to say with one voice that violence is not the answer. That’s what we should rally around as a nation. That’s the unity I’m talking about. Few organizations know that better than the NAACP.”
“If we’re gonna speak about violence, we’re gonna speak about guns. More children in America died of gunshot wounds than any other reason. That is sick. And it’s sheer cowardice if we do nothing about it. So, you wanna stand against violence in America, then join me in getting these weapons of war off the streets of America. An AR-15 was used in the shooting of Donald Trump, just as other assault weapons used to kill so many others, including children. It’s time to outlaw them. I did it once and I will do it again.”
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:30
In another energized moment, Biden corrected the record on Trump’s claims about Black unemployment:
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:29
Biden delivers fired up speech to NAACP in Las Vegas
President Joe Biden is delivering a fired-up speech to the NAACP meeting in Las Vegas.
He began by acknowledging the rough time he’s been having in Washington: “The story goes, Truman said, ‘You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.’ But guess what, last couple weeks, after the last couple weeks, I know what he means.”
Speaking about Donald Trump’s approach to Black America, Biden said to raucous applause: “Black jobs.’ I love this phrase. ‘Black jobs.’ Tells us a lot about the man and his character. Folks, I know what a Black job is. It’s the vice president of the United States. I know what a Black job is. The first Black president in the history of the United States Barack Obama. … I nominated the first Black justice to the Supreme Court.”
He added about Vice President Kamala Harris: “She’s not only a great vice president, she could be president of the United States.”
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:28
Trump has spoken with family of rally victim, report says
Donald Trump has spoken with the family of Corey Comperatore, the retired firefighter who died on Saturday during the attempted assassination of the former president, according to reporting by CNN.
Here’s our earlier reporting of his widow speaking about his final words.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:18
Ivanka Trump says she believes late mother was watching over father during shooting
The former first daughter highlighted that the Pennsylvania shooting happened almost exactly two years after her mother’s death in 2022.
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:15
Actor Anthony Anderson urges Americans to ‘chill’ after Trump shooting
“It’s a weird night. Everybody’s still shaken up by the tragic events at the Trump rally this Saturday. All weekend, I kept thinking, ‘I wonder what Jimmy Kimmel’s gonna say about this on Monday,’” Anderson joked in his monologue on Monday. “And then I was like, ‘Oh s***! I am Jimmy Kimmel on Monday.’”
Kevin E G Perry reports from Los Angeles.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:10
Watch LIVE: Biden returns to campaign trail with speech to NAACP in Nevada
He’s running late, so here’s that link again to watch Joe Biden speak at the NAACP meeting in Las Vegas. He will take the stage shortly.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 22:00
ICYMI: Widow of rally shooting victim speaks out
Helen Comperatore told The New York Post at the couple’s home on Monday: “I’m not one of those people that gets involved in politics,” she said. “I support Trump, that’s who I’m voting for, but I don’t have ill-will towards Biden. He didn’t do anything to my husband. A 20-year-old despicable kid did.”
Read more of the report from Io Dodds.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2024 21:45
Trump and Vance to speak at a rally in Michigan on Saturday
Donald Trump has announced that he and his chosen running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, will speak at a rally on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The event will be the first rally since both accepted their nominations at the convention.
The scheduled rally comes just a week after the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally last Saturday, where Trump was injured, an attendee died and two others were seriously wounded.