Election 2024 live news: Harris selects Tim Walz, who first called Trump ‘weird’, as running mate

President Joe Biden released the following statement as Vice President Kamala Harris selects her own vice presidential running mate:

The first major decision a party nominee makes is their choice for Vice President. And Kamala Harris has made a great decision in choosing Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.

I’ve known Tim Walz for nearly two decades, first during his time in Congress and as Governor. A husband and father, he’s been a school teacher and a high school football coach. He served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and became the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress. As Governor, he’s been a strong, principled, and effective leader.

The Harris-Walz ticket will be a powerful voice for working people and America’s great middle class. They will be the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy. And they will ensure that America continues to lead the world and play its role as the indispensable nation.

It’s time for all Democrats—and indeed all Americans—committed to freedom, democracy, and American leadership in the world to rally behind the Harris-Walz ticket.

Every generation of Americans faces a moment where they are asked to defend American democracy. That moment is now.

Donald Trump appears to be cashing in on his escape from death as he has unveiled his upcoming book which MAGA fans can snap up for the princely sum of $99.

The new book, titled Save America, claims to offer an “unparalleled look” into Trump’s time as the 45th president as well as, arguably a bit prematurely, his “vision for his next term”.

The front cover of the book, set for release on September 3, features the now-iconic photo of Trump in the aftermath of the assassination attempt.

Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers union, says Tim Walz has “stood with the working class every step of the way”.

“Tim Walz has been a great governor and is going to make a great Vice President. He’s stood with the working class every step of the way, and has walked the walk, including on a UAW picket line last fall. We’re ready to send Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House to keep delivering for the working class, and we’re excited to welcome them both to Detroit this week.”

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia praises Tim Walz following Kamala Harris’s announcement she has chosen him as her running mate.

“My friend Governor Tim Walz will bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment that most of us have ever seen. All of the candidates were strong and any one of them would have been a great pick, but I can think of no one better than Governor Walz to help bring our country closer together and bring balance back to the Democratic Party. Governor Walz is the real deal. I look forward to continuing to work with him to bring normalcy back to Washington.”

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who was under consideration as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris, says he is “excited” for what Tim Walz’s “Midwestern voice, military experience, and common-sense values will bring to our winning ticket”.

Former President Barack Obama says Tim Walz is an “outstanding governor” and that he and Kamala Harris are aligned on their view of the role of government.

He notes that Walz was chosen from a “pool of outstanding Democrats” and that in making the choice, Harris “has made it clear exactly what she stands for”.

And it’s unclear what this Truth Social post is in reference to…