Election live updates: Harris campaign brands Trump and Vance ‘weird’ as Democrats prepare for party convention

As Democrats unite around Kamala Harris ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month, some Republicans are reportedly not happy with Trump’s choice of running mate, JD Vance.

Gustaf Kilander has the story:

A progressive congresswoman mocked Donald Trump for “losing his memory” after he apparently confused her with another Muslim member of Congress during his visit to her home state on Saturday.

John Bowden has the story:

Amid the ramping up in Kamala Harris’ campaign, president Joe Biden has released a statement on the “record decrease” in violent crime.

Every American deserves the freedom to feel safe in their community. Since Vice President Harris and I took office, America has become safer. According to preliminary data in two new reports, violent crime continued to fall to historic lows in the first half of 2024.

One report from the University of Chicago shows ‘unprecedented’ declines in crime across multiple categories, including homicides and motor vehicle thefts, across more than 40 cities.

Another report, from the Council on Criminal Justice, found that homicides decreased by 13%, motor vehicle theft fell by 18%, and violent crime fell overall in more than two dozen cities. This progress is no accident. After the largest increase in murders ever recorded during the previous Administration, my Administration got to work protecting the American people.

My American Rescue Plan – which every Republican voted against – delivered more than $15 billion to cities to hire and retain more cops, invest in community violence interventions, and keep communities safe.

My Administration took dozens of actions to reduce gun violence and I signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law, the most significant gun violence legislation in nearly 30 years. There is more work to do.

I will continue fighting for funding for 100,000 additional police officers and crime prevention and community violence intervention programs. And I will continue to call for Congress to ban assault weapons and keep guns out of dangerous hands.

Former vice president Al Gore has thrown his support behind the Harris campaign.

Gore, who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under Bill Clinton, backed Harris record on climate action.

“As a prosecutor, @KamalaHarris took on Big Oil companies – and won. As @VP, she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the most significant investment in climate solutions in history, the Inflation Reduction Act. That’s the kind of climate champion we need in the White House,” Gore wrote on X.

“With so much at stake in this year’s election – from strengthening democracy in the US and abroad, to expanding opportunity for the American people, to accelerating climate action – I’m proud to endorse Kamala Harris for President.”

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At one point on Thursday, the Kamala Harris campaign was raising $20,000 per minute, campaigners have said.

The campaign for the vice president was hosting a Zoom call for white women to “answer the call” and “show up for Kamala Harris.”

Read more from Gustaf Kilander here:

Outside police agencies that will help to secure the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago next month will not be posted in city neighborhoods, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said on Thursday as federal authorities released maps of convention security perimeters.

The renewed attention on out-of-town police comes after Ohio officers stationed in Milwaukee for the Republican convention last week fatally shot a man at a park not far from the Fiserv Forum.