August 2, 2024, presidential campaign news | CNN Politics (2024)

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Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on July 31, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump said he has agreed to participate in a debate hosted by Fox News on September 4 and will no longer participate in the debate he previously agreed to hosted by ABC, when President Joe Biden was the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Trump said the new debate would be hosted in Pennsylvania with a live audience and that the moderators would be Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. It is unclear whether Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted the invitation from Fox News.

“I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th. The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump said: “The FoxNews Debate will be held in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at a site in an area to be determined. The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and the Rules will be similar to the Rules of my Debate with Sleepy Joe, who has been treated horribly by his Party – BUT WITH A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!….”

It’s unclear whether Harris would agree to those new terms. The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

Mike Donilon walks towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, July 13, 2021.

Mike Donilon, a longtime aide to President Joe Biden, is returning to the White House from the former Biden campaign, at the president’s request, to help him shape the final six months of his presidency, a source familiar with the matter said.

Donilon moved over to the campaign earlier this year and became its chief strategist, focusing on the campaign’s messaging and paid media strategies.

Some context: Last month, questions remained about Donilon’s role on the Harris campaign. His expertise was in channeling Biden’s voice and spirit, CNN previously reported, and few saw a significant role for him after the president stepped aside from the Democratic ticket.

This post has been updated with additional details.

Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives a keynote speech during the Bitcoin 2024 conference on July 26, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to testify in New York state court next week defending his campaign’s petition to gain ballot access in the state.

Kennedy’s name appears on a witness list submitted by lawyers defending a legal challenge against his ballot access petition ahead of a trial beginning next week. Paul Rossi, the Kennedy campaign’s senior ballot access counsel, also appears on the witness list.

A person familiar with the Kennedy campaign’s legal strategy confirmed to CNN that Kennedy and Rossi are planning to testify in person in New York Supreme Court in Albany next week.

A Kennedy campaign spokesperson declined to comment on Kennedy’s expected court appearance. A spokesperson for Clear Choice declined to comment on his appearance.

Background: Next week’s trial centers on a legal challenge filed by Clear Choice PAC, a Democrat-aligned outside group working to combat third parties, which claims that Kennedy is violating state election law by not living at the Katonah, New York, address listed on his petition. Kennedy has lived in Los Angeles, California, for several years and has publicly referred to Los Angeles as his home on several occasions.

On Monday, the New York State Board of Elections told CNN that Kennedy’s ballot access petition contains more than the required number of valid signatures for ballot access in New York.

CNN’s Ethan Cohen contributed reporting.

As of Friday evening, the Harris campaign does not have a set time or day for when it will announce Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate pick, a source told CNN – even as Harris heads into a pivotal weekend of final interviews and a decision that must come by Tuesday.

Harris and her future running mate plan to appear together for the first time at a joint campaign event in Philadelphia Tuesday evening.

President Joe Biden acknowledged to reporters Friday morning that he and Vice President Kamala Harris have spoken about her upcoming decision on a vice presidential running mate.

But he wouldn’t say much else: “I’ll let her work that out,” Biden said, when pressed on what top qualities the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee should consider.

Still, inside the White House, the president’s close advisers have a good sense of how Biden feels about several of the men currently believed to be Harris’ top contenders.

One well-known Biden favorite? Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Biden is a “big fan of Shapiro’s,” a senior adviser to the president told CNN. And given that the president himself frequently traveled to Pennsylvania as a candidate and has made no bones about the fact that he sees the state as one of the most important battleground states heading into November — just as it was in 2020 — for some of the president’s advisers, it’s hard to imagine him personally rooting for anyone but Shapiro.

That is, perhaps, anyone other than Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The most obvious reason? “He’s just a blast,” this adviser said.

In January, Walz was among a group of Democratic elected officials that joined Biden at an infrastructure event in Superior, Wisconsin. The president’s formal remarks were atEarth Rider Brewery – afterward, the group made their way over to the Cedar Lounge taproom to greet voters, where beers were freely flowing. Walz, the adviser recalled, was having a great time – and it all felt infectious.

Read the full report here.

This post has been updated with additional details.

Vice President Kamala Harris earned enough votes to win the Democratic nomination on Friday, and will become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket.

The announcement came during a virtual event with supporters Friday after delegatesbegan casting virtual ballotsfor the nomination Thursday.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance on Friday leaned into their personal attacks on Harris.

Here’s what you else you need to know about Friday’s developments in the campaign:

##Catch Up##

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance boards his air plane on Thursday, August 01, in Sierra Vista, Arizona, after visiting the border.

Some Donald Trump supporters in key battleground states said in interviews with CNN that they aren’t completely sold on JD Vance as former President Donald Trump’s running mate, saying he wouldn’t have been their first choice and that they don’t know much about him.

Gena Bivens, who lives in southeastern Pennsylvania and attended Trump’s Harrisburg rally this week, said she wasn’t sure what she thought of Vance.

“I don’t know a lot about him. I hear good, I hear some interesting things. I still have to do some research, but I support Trump if that’s his decision,” Bivens said.

Bivens said, “I hear a lot of maybe he could be a little hardcore with some of his policies and I’m a little concerned about that but it’s not going to make me not vote for Trump.”

Kelly McNew said Vivek Ramaswamy would’ve been her first choice for Trump’s running mate.

“Just because he was also a businessman and I think Trump being a businessman — I think he did a good job running, you know, with the finances and everything so I thought maybe two businessmen in the White House would be a good pick. But Trump will, you know, I trust his choice,” McNew, who was also at Trump’s Harrisburg rally, said.

Dylan All, who attended Trump’s rally in Grand Rapids, said, “Honestly I don’t know too much about him, so I don’t want to speak on that, but I’m going to look into him after this interview and learn more about him.”

Chasten Carroll, who is from Charlotte, said, “I don’t know a whole lot about him, but I’ve heard he’s a great debater and really cares about our country, so I think he’ll be great with him.”

Others had much more effusive praise for Vance and said he was their first choice for Trump’s running mate.

Jackie Ogden, who was attending Trump’s rally in Harrisburg, said, “I think he’s phenomenal. I’ve watched his movie, I’ve followed him for many years, so I know it’s not an act. I’m very pleased with the courage that he holds and with the confidence that he has and that’s what America needs.”

Judge Tanya Chutkan

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals received the formal notice of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case.

This means the case is on the move, and the Circuit is now expected to return the case back to the court of Judge Tanya Chutkan, where pre-trial proceedings will resume.

Chutkan of the DC District Court will have to interpret the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity and what it means for the case against Trump going forward.

Chutkan has long signaled she wanted the case presented to a jury before voters go to the polls in November, initially pushing for a March trial date. But the Supreme Court interceded earlier this year and put the case on pause to consider Trump’s claims of presidential immunity.

By granting Trump sweeping immunity for official acts as president, the Supreme Court’s ruling may gut special counsel Jack Smith’s case. That leaves Chutkan with a number of crucial decisions to make, including whether Trump’s efforts to undo the 2020 election results count as official acts.

Attorneys working on the case believe that Chutkan will move quickly with the case back in her jurisdiction, according to sources familiar with their thinking. She could soon set the schedule for any upcoming hearings.

President Joe Biden congratulated Vice President Kamala Harris ina post on socialmedia Friday saying that he “couldn’t be prouder” of her after she earned enough votes to win the Democratic Party nomination.

Harris has received enough votes from Democratic delegates to win the party’s nomination for president, the Democratic National Committee announced Friday. Harris said she will formally accept the nomination next week after the virtual roll call is complete.

She will become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket.

JD Vance revealed Friday that during the GOP vice presidential vetting process, he was asked “the most invasive questions imaginable.”

Vance told the Full Send Podcast that a lawyer came to his house during the vetting process and asked him several questions while sitting with his wife, including if he has a secret family.

“At one point the lawyer’s like, I’m going to ask some uncomfortable questions, and I’m like ‘OK, have at it.’ And he goes, ‘Do you have any secret family?’” Vance said. “And I’m like, ‘Are you serious? Do I have any secret family?’”

“He said sometimes people have like another spouse, and they’ll have other kids in a place like Alaska. And I’m like dude, ‘I’ve never even been to Alaska,’” Vance said.

“It’s all these just weird questions they ask because they want to make sure they’re prepared for the news media firestorm,” he added.

Vance also said that now that he’s the Republican vice presidential nominee, the “biggest difference” is the constant Secret Service detail.

“We’re done being anonymous basically at this stage in our lives,” Vance said. “But it’s cool, we get to fly around in our nice plane and get to meet a lot of people.”

Vice President Kamala Harris is adding considerable political muscle to her campaign, bringing aboard several top party operatives and veterans of recent Democratic presidential campaigns.

Harris is retaining the entire leadership team in Wilmington, which will continue to be led by Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chair. Julie Chávez Rodríguez will continue her role as campaign manager, but will focus on Arizona and Nevada and Latino voters.

The consultants, many of whom are veterans of the Obama-Biden 2008 and 2012 campaigns, will be tasked with a variety of assignments, including: David Plouffe, a senior adviser for the path to 270; Stephanie Cutter, senior adviser for message and strategy; Mitch Stewart, senior adviser for battleground states. Jennifer Palmieri will serve as a senior adviser to Doug Emhoff.

##Harris##

Far from the boring rematch that had many Americans tuning out politics, the 2024 presidential election has had wild twists and scary turns.

Here’s what to expect in the sprint to Election Day:

August: Nominating Harris, picking a vice president and a convention in Chicago

September: Debates? A Trump sentencing?

October: Voting is underway

November: Election Day

Read more about what to expect beyond Election Day.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29 in Ambler, Pennsylvania.

See Also

July 30, 2024, presidential campaign news | CNN Politics

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a running mate contender for Vice President Kamala Harris, reaffirmed his desire for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and for peace in the Middle East at an event on Friday.

Shapiro expressed his hope for a day when “peace will reign in the Middle East,” and urged the US government to forever be a partner in peace and continue to try and find a path forward in the region.

Former President Donald Trump claimed earlier Friday that Harris could lose support among Palestinian voters if she chooses Shapiro, who is Jewish, as her running mate.

CNN also reported Friday that some Jewish Democrats are wondering if America would be ready for a Jewish vice president, especially alongside the first Black and South Asian woman president, who happens to be married toa Jewish man.

One former Democratic statewide leader outside of Pennsylvania who is a Shapiro fan expressed concerns about whether having a Jewish first gentleman and vice president would “make it more dangerous for those of us in the Jewish community.”

Meanwhile, Democratic Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen, who was the president of a synagogue in the Las Vegas suburbs before getting into politics, said, “It’s really great to have representation and to have someone who understands what it means to work to fight antisemitism and all forms of hate.”

Vice PresidentKamala Harrishas received enough votes from Democratic delegates to win the party’s nomination for president, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison announced Friday.

Harris, who said she will formally accept the nomination next week after the virtual roll call is complete on Monday, will become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket.

The announcement came during a virtual event with supporters.Delegatesbegan casting virtual ballotsfor the nomination Thursday.

Sen. JD Vance boards his air planeon August 1 in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance ripped Vice President Kamala Harris for failures at the US-Mexico border and criticized her staff turnover rate, claiming people don’t want to work for her.

As CNN previously reported, during an influx of unaccompanied migrant children in 2021, Biden tasked Harris with overseeing diplomatic efforts in Central America. In the last three years, her assignment hasbeen bundled with the administration’s larger migration issues. And on the campaign trail recently, she has gone on the offensive on the issue as she fields attacks.

Vance also ripped Harris for her staff turnover rate, claiming if she were to win the 2024 election, no one would want to work for her anyway. He also argued that Harris doesn’t care about public policy.

Political strategist David Plouffe visits "Wall Street At Large" at Fox Business Network Studios on March 4, 2020 in New York City.

David Plouffe, the former campaign manager for Barack Obama, is joining Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign as a senior adviser, a Democrat close to the campaign said.

Plouffe will not replace the existing campaign hierarchy in Wilmington, but rather will be added to the ranks of strategists and leaders guiding the Harris campaign.

Politico was first to report Plouffe’s new gig. CNN previously reportedthat Plouffe was under consideration for a campaign role.

Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and Julie Chávez Rodríguez, who were leading the Biden campaign, are remaining in their top leadership roles that Harris cemented on her first day on top of the ticket last week, the source said.

Harris has also brought on two other Obama campaign alums as senior advisors for the campaign: Stephanie Cutter, who will advise on messaging, and Mitch Stewart, who will advise on battleground state operations, according to two Democratic officials familiar with the matter.

The Harris campaign will also soon be announcing its top advertising strategist and media consultant.

Ann Liston and the firm AL Media, a veteran of the Obama reelection fight in 2012 and a longtime EMILY’s List adviser, are among the leading contenders for the position, a Democratic adviser said.

This post has been updated with additional reporting on Harris’ staffing.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential vice presidential pick for Kamala Harris, referred questions Friday about being her running mate to the Harris campaign.

Shapiro also confirmed that the last time he spoke to Vice President Harris was on Sunday.

When asked what Harris is looking for in a running mate, Shapiro said that it’s a “deeply personal decision” that she understands well because she went through it four years ago.

When asked about Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Harris’ identity, Shapiro said the former president’s comments are “shameful” and reflect his character.

Shapiro also described Trump’s running mate JD Vance as “a total phony baloney”and “the most inorganic candidate I think I have ever seen on the national stage.”

“He doesn’t know what he believes and that is why it is impossible for him to articulate a coherent message to the American people ‘cause he doesn’t believe it,” Shapiro said.

This post has been updated with additional comments from Shapiro.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in the running for one of the highest offices, against a field with much longer resumes jostlingto join Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket.

That he’s made it to this point speaks to the strength of hisappeal among Democrats, bolstered by years of well-received media appearances and viral moments in congressional hearings. But it also demonstrates the durability of the movement he built as a 2020 presidential candidate — particularly online — that propelled him to a narrow victory in the Iowa caucuses and a close second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary.

Buttigieg has continued to build his brand as a Democrat willing to talk to anyone, anywhere — including Fox News — even as transportation secretary. Hisdigital army has kept track, amplifying department initiatives and congressional hearings.

Over the past few days, as speculation over who Harris will pick for her running mate has surged, Buttigieg’s supporters have amplified clips from the wave of media appearances he’s done to promote Harris’ campaign and to mobilize on her behalf.

Harris is expected to make her decision by Tuesday, when she and her running mate will hold a rally in Philadelphia. Among the candidates she is considering, Buttigieg is not considered a top contender on the level of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz,CNN reported this week.

Read more here.

Former President Donald Trump on Friday said if Vice President Kamala Harris picks Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate, “she’s going to lose the Palestinian vote.”

Trump said he thought there was more enthusiasm for Harris than for President Joe Biden.

Trump said he wants to debate Harris but also said, “Right now, I say, ‘Why should I do a debate?’”

“We’re leading in the polls it seems by quite a bit, still,” Trump said. “She’s better than he is. But I think ultimately, she’ll be worse than him. She’s more radical than him.”

President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday that he has spoken to Vice President Kamala Harris about who she should pick for her running mate, but played coy about that conversation.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign said it raked in a whopping $310 million in its July fundraising efforts — more than double the amountraised by former President Donald Trumplast month.

Harris’ fundraising numbers mark the latest sign of how transformative and energizing the change to the top of the Democratic ticket has been among grassroots and high-dollar supporters.

A majority of that $310 million haul, more than $200 million, was raised in the first week of Harris’ candidacy, the campaign said in a statement, with two-thirds of the fundraising coming from first-time donors to the campaign.

The campaign also said it has $377 million cash on hand, while the Trump campaign has $327 million cash on hand.

The July haul was the second month in a row that Democrats have outraised Trump’s team, and the surge in donations lifted Democratic fundraising above the $1 billion mark – the fastest a campaign has crossed that threshold in presidential history, according to Harris’ team.

Read more here.

The value of Donald Trump’s stake in thecorporate owner of Truth Socialhas dropped by $800 million since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race for the White House on July 21.

Trump Media & Technology Group’s share price has tumbled by about 20% since then.

The value ofTrump’s dominant stakein the conservative social media company stood at just over $4 billion as of July 19, the final trading day before President Joe Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris. It has since dropped to about $3.2 billion.

The selloff comes as national and battleground polls indicate a tight matchup between Trump and Harris. The stock has become a vehicle for Wall Street traders to bet on the prospects of Trump returning to the White House, as Truth Social could become the platform for presidential communications if Trump wins.

Read more here.

Sen. JD Vance speaks during a campaign rally at the Van Andel Arena on July 20 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

JD Vance’s Republican colleaguesin the Senate say they’re largely sticking withthe Ohio freshman —despite criticism over newly resurfaced comments—warning that Vance represents where Republican lawmakerssee theirvoters moving.

Trump’s selection ofVanceas his running mate set up the 40-year-old Ohio senator as the heir apparent to Trump’s brand of Republicanism, which has transformed the Republican Party over the past eight years. For many in the party, Trump’s populist and isolationist impulses were often met with an eye-roll, especially during his first term, when GOP lawmakers were constantly forced to comment on Trump’s latest policy stance issued via tweet.

ButVance, who has been in the Senate for under two years, has fully embraced the populism mantle of the party, putting him at odds with many of his fellow senators -– including GOP Leader Mitch McConnell –- on issues like aid to Ukraine.

Read more here.

Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Atlanta, on July 30.

In the moments afterPresident Joe Bidenpulled out of the 2024 race, a scramble unfolded as officials raced to reframe the Democratic National Convention around a new candidate:Vice President Kamala Harris.

But the change — while abrupt — also presented an opportunity. Celebrities who had not been inclined to attend now showed new interest. Donors were energized. And a different tone for the convention began to take shape.

It’s a stark pivot from the state of play only a couple of weeks ago, when celebrity endorsem*nts and attendance were atough sell.

According to a source familiar with the DNC’s current plans, a handful of major Hollywood figures have been confirmed to attend. No performers have been set yet, though various representatives for musicians have been in talks with the Harris campaign, according to two sources.Plans are still being finalized.

With the young vote being key, sources said that Gen Z stars have expressed interest in appearing at the DNC.

Read more here.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Atlanta, on July 30.

Voting to officially make Vice President Kamala Harris the Democratic Party’s nominee for president began Thursday, with the party’s roughly 4,700 delegates receiving digital ballots.

Delegates have until 6 p.m. ET on Monday to return their ballots.

There isn’t much suspense over the outcome of the vote. Harris is the only name on the ballot, as she was the only candidate to gather the necessary number of signatures from delegates.

The party announced Tuesday that 3,923 delegates had petitioned for Harris, or 99% of those who participated in the process. No other candidate met the 300-signature threshold to qualify for the ballot.

After Harris is officially the nominee, party rules allow her to name her running mate without a separate vote.

Democrats are nominating Harris ahead of their convention in Chicago later this month to avoid potential litigation over ballot access, especially in Ohio.

While the official voting is happening virtually, delegates will have a ceremonial roll call at the convention, which begins August 19.

Former President Donald Trump said Friday he’s no longer wearing a bandage on his ear after the assassination attempt because he’s had “a good healing process.”

Trump didn’t appear to be wearing a bandage during his rally in Harrisburg on Wednesday. He has previously said he wasn’t wearing the bandage anymore.

Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to meet over the weekend with the top finalists to join her on the Democratic ticket, according to a source familiar with the vetting process.

Among those expected to meet with Harris are Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and JB Pritzker of Illinois; Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly; and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Most of the meetings are expected to be in person, but some could be conducted virtually.It is possible that additional candidates could be added to the schedule, the source said.

According to the source, Harris has not yet made her choice, and these face-to-face meetings will play a critical role in her decision-making.

Beyond whom Harris gets along with on a personal level, two sources familiar with how Harris is approaching her decision say her top consideration is electability – how and where a vice presidential candidate will help with independents and swing voters, especially in battleground states.And, the sources add, they don’t want someone who will be a distraction.

Multiple sources familiar with the campaign tell CNN Shapiro, Walz, and Kelly are considered among the top contenders for the job. Beshear is also being looked at closely, while Buttigieg and Pritzker are considered less likely to be chosen.

CNN has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.

National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby speaks during a daily press briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on July 31 in Washington, DC.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby is pushing back on comments from GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to Thursday’s prisoner exchange because he was “cleaning house” ahead of a possible Trump administration.

Kirby also stressed that some of the prisoners freed under Biden were taken when Donald Trump was in office. The former president has hit the Biden administration for giving up too much in exchange for Thursday’s swap.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich on August 1 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Vice President Kamala Harris tied Thursday’s historic prisoner swap and the diplomatic efforts of the Biden administration to the 2024 election, telling reporters moments afterthe freed Americans arrived on US soil that it was a reminder of what is at stake in November.

The presumptive Democratic nominee did not name former President Donald Trump, but alluded to his “America First” policies and isolationist rhetoric to draw a contrast.