This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/sep/08/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-debate-preview-campaign-election-live
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 13 | Version 14 |
---|---|
Clinton attacks Trump for praise of Putin: 'It is scary' – campaign live | Clinton attacks Trump for praise of Putin: 'It is scary' – campaign live |
(35 minutes later) | |
10.44pm BST | |
22:44 | |
Sabrina Siddiqui | |
One day after Donald Trump reiterated his admiration for Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian president was a better leader than Barack Obama, Republicans on Capitol Hill struggled to explain why their party’s presidential nominee was enamored with a man they have long cast as one of America’s primary foes. | |
Many Republicans who returned to Washington this week after the summer recess expressed confidence that Trump was improving as a candidate in both tone and message. But on Thursday, they found themselves in the familiar routine of distancing themselves from Trump’s comments – the latest being his praise for Putin in an NBC News national security forum held Wednesday. | |
“If you’re running for leader of the free world and you’re expressing admiration for Putin, well then you’re losing me,” Lindsey Graham, a senator from South Carolina and former Republican presidential candidate, told reporters. | |
“I think Vladimir Putin is a thug, a dictator, an autocratic ruler who has his opposition killed in the streets of Russia. He has dismembered his neighbor.” | |
While Graham said he found Obama to be “weak”, “indecisive” and someone Putin had “walked all over”, the visibly frustrated senator added: “But no, I’m not going to say that Putin’s a better leader than a Democratic elected president of the United States even though I have differences with him.” | |
It was just earlier this week that Graham, who has thus far declined to endorse Trump and has been among the candidate’s biggest critics, spoke positively for the first time of the direction his campaign had taken. After telling reporters on Monday that Trump would give Hillary Clinton “a hell of a race”, the senator hardly minced his words when reacting to Trump’s overtures toward Putin. | |
“This whole idea of admiring Putin is the biggest misunderstanding of a relationship in a person since Munich,” Graham said. | |
Marco Rubio, the senator from Florida who made his opposition to Putin a central tenet of his own presidential campaign, similarly disagreed with Trump’s assertion that the Russian president was a better leader than Obama. | |
“Look, I have tremendous policy disagreements with President Obama, but Vladimir Putin is an authoritarian thug who is accountable to no one,” Rubio told the Guardian. | |
“I don’t think what Vladimir Putin exhibits is leadership. I think what he exhibits is thuggery … and we should be clear-eyed about that,” he added, noting that Putin controlled the media, the military and often his political opponents were either imprisoned or found dead. | |
Asked by the Guardian if he was concerned that Trump had a penchant for commending Putin, despite those facts, Rubio said he was hopeful the candidate’s posture might evolve. | |
“My sense is those views will probably change once he understands better who Vladimir Putin truly is – that’s my hope,” responded the senator, who is backing Trump. | |
10.27pm BST | 10.27pm BST |
22:27 | 22:27 |
Who could it be? | Who could it be? |
Kagan on social media: "I'm pretty confident none of us have Twitter accounts—or maybe one or two of us do and they're under a false name." | Kagan on social media: "I'm pretty confident none of us have Twitter accounts—or maybe one or two of us do and they're under a false name." |
10.13pm BST | 10.13pm BST |
22:13 | 22:13 |
The Associated Press has deleted a two-week-old tweet in which it falsely characterized half of Hillary Clinton’s meetings during her tenure as secretary of state as having been held with donors to the Clinton Foundation: | The Associated Press has deleted a two-week-old tweet in which it falsely characterized half of Hillary Clinton’s meetings during her tenure as secretary of state as having been held with donors to the Clinton Foundation: |
AP deleted an 8/23 tweet on Clinton's meetings at State that omitted key context. Details: https://t.co/V2wfiijZqd pic.twitter.com/KweL8QrWef | AP deleted an 8/23 tweet on Clinton's meetings at State that omitted key context. Details: https://t.co/V2wfiijZqd pic.twitter.com/KweL8QrWef |
10.09pm BST | 10.09pm BST |
22:09 | 22:09 |
Trump: Hillary Clinton believes in 'globalism, not Americanism' | Trump: Hillary Clinton believes in 'globalism, not Americanism' |
Tom Kutsch | Tom Kutsch |
Donald Trump today attacked Hillary Clinton for espousing “trigger-happy” interventionist policies which he said has made the US less safe than ever before. The Republican presidential nominee also targeted the Democrat for what he said was her belief in “globalism” instead of “Americanism”. | Donald Trump today attacked Hillary Clinton for espousing “trigger-happy” interventionist policies which he said has made the US less safe than ever before. The Republican presidential nominee also targeted the Democrat for what he said was her belief in “globalism” instead of “Americanism”. |
Trump repeated his claim to have been opposed to the Iraq war for which Clinton voted “from the beginning”, a claim which has repeatedly been shown to be untrue. | Trump repeated his claim to have been opposed to the Iraq war for which Clinton voted “from the beginning”, a claim which has repeatedly been shown to be untrue. |
The Republican nominee was speaking in Cleveland, a day after taking part with Clinton in a “commander-in-chief forum”, hosted by NBC and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, in New York City. That event offered a preview of the forthcoming presidential debates and led to criticism of the host, Matt Lauer, over his questioning of the two candidates. | The Republican nominee was speaking in Cleveland, a day after taking part with Clinton in a “commander-in-chief forum”, hosted by NBC and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, in New York City. That event offered a preview of the forthcoming presidential debates and led to criticism of the host, Matt Lauer, over his questioning of the two candidates. |
“She believes in globalism, not Americanism,” Trump said. “On top of it all, Hillary Clinton is trigger happy.” | “She believes in globalism, not Americanism,” Trump said. “On top of it all, Hillary Clinton is trigger happy.” |
The Cleveland speech was ostensibly dedicated to education policy and school choice. But Trump devoted significant time to well-worn campaign themes, including a lengthy prelude about what he called Clinton’s “criminal cover-up” over her use of a private email server while secretary of state, her views on foreign policy and her record in office, and what he said were her frequent factual misrepresentations. | The Cleveland speech was ostensibly dedicated to education policy and school choice. But Trump devoted significant time to well-worn campaign themes, including a lengthy prelude about what he called Clinton’s “criminal cover-up” over her use of a private email server while secretary of state, her views on foreign policy and her record in office, and what he said were her frequent factual misrepresentations. |
Earlier, at a press conference on an airport tarmac in White Plains, New York, Clinton criticised Trump’s comments at the NBC forum about Russian president Vladimir Putin, of whom the Republican has often spoken favorably and who, he said on Wednesday, has “been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader”. | Earlier, at a press conference on an airport tarmac in White Plains, New York, Clinton criticised Trump’s comments at the NBC forum about Russian president Vladimir Putin, of whom the Republican has often spoken favorably and who, he said on Wednesday, has “been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader”. |
Clinton said: “Now that is not just unpatriotic and insulting to the people of our country as well as to our commander-in-chief. It is scary.” | Clinton said: “Now that is not just unpatriotic and insulting to the people of our country as well as to our commander-in-chief. It is scary.” |
Trump said: “She tried to make up for her horrible performance last night. So she went on the tarmac and told more lies.” | Trump said: “She tried to make up for her horrible performance last night. So she went on the tarmac and told more lies.” |
Trump chose again to highlight his own historic statements in opposition to the Iraq war and call out Clinton’s 2003 vote in support of it, when she was the junior senator from New York. | Trump chose again to highlight his own historic statements in opposition to the Iraq war and call out Clinton’s 2003 vote in support of it, when she was the junior senator from New York. |
“Iraq is one of the biggest differences in this race,” he said. “I was opposed to the war from the beginning.” | “Iraq is one of the biggest differences in this race,” he said. “I was opposed to the war from the beginning.” |
Trump read aloud statements he made to Esquire magazine in August 2004, more than a year after the start of the Iraq war, in which he was critical of US policies in the country. | Trump read aloud statements he made to Esquire magazine in August 2004, more than a year after the start of the Iraq war, in which he was critical of US policies in the country. |
“The media is so terribly dishonest, so I had to do this,” he said. | “The media is so terribly dishonest, so I had to do this,” he said. |
9.55pm BST | 9.55pm BST |
21:55 | 21:55 |
Mike Pence: It is 'inarguable' that Vladimir Putin is superior to Barack Obama | Mike Pence: It is 'inarguable' that Vladimir Putin is superior to Barack Obama |
Indiana governor Mike Pence has defended running mate Donald Trump’s declaration that Russian president Vladimir Putin is a superior leader compared to US president Barack Obama, telling CNN’s Dana Bash that it is “inarguable” that the Russian strongman is better than Obama. | Indiana governor Mike Pence has defended running mate Donald Trump’s declaration that Russian president Vladimir Putin is a superior leader compared to US president Barack Obama, telling CNN’s Dana Bash that it is “inarguable” that the Russian strongman is better than Obama. |
“I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country. And that’s going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes president,” Pence said. | “I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country. And that’s going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes president,” Pence said. |
In NBC’s “Commander-in-Chief” forum last night, in which Trump and rival Hillary Clinton were separately questioned about matters relating to the military and national security, Trump told host Matt Lauer than Putin, who he has previously praised, has “been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.” | In NBC’s “Commander-in-Chief” forum last night, in which Trump and rival Hillary Clinton were separately questioned about matters relating to the military and national security, Trump told host Matt Lauer than Putin, who he has previously praised, has “been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.” |
Trump has been publicly enamored with the Russian strongman since the primaries, and is given to inaccurately repeating the anecdote that Putin once called him “brilliant.” | Trump has been publicly enamored with the Russian strongman since the primaries, and is given to inaccurately repeating the anecdote that Putin once called him “brilliant.” |
“I think when he calls me ‘brilliant,’ I’ll take the compliment,” Trump said last night about Putin. “If he says great things about me, I’m going to say great things about him.” | “I think when he calls me ‘brilliant,’ I’ll take the compliment,” Trump said last night about Putin. “If he says great things about me, I’m going to say great things about him.” |
The story refers to remarks Putin made in December 2015, in which the Russian president - who has been criticized internationally for the invasion and annexation of Crimea, the murder by poisoning of a Russian citizen and has been implicated in the death of an investigative journalist, although Trump has dismissed such claims as baseless - when Putin used the word “yarkii” (or яркий) to describe Trump. | The story refers to remarks Putin made in December 2015, in which the Russian president - who has been criticized internationally for the invasion and annexation of Crimea, the murder by poisoning of a Russian citizen and has been implicated in the death of an investigative journalist, although Trump has dismissed such claims as baseless - when Putin used the word “yarkii” (or яркий) to describe Trump. |
The word means “brilliant” or “bright,” but in the sense of spectacle or shininess - akin to “flashy” or “flamboyant.” | The word means “brilliant” or “bright,” but in the sense of spectacle or shininess - akin to “flashy” or “flamboyant.” |
Updated | Updated |
at 9.55pm BST | at 9.55pm BST |
9.30pm BST | 9.30pm BST |
21:30 | 21:30 |
Indiana governor Mike Pence doesn’t speak Hebrew - not that that’s a prerequisite for the office of the vice president - but according to The Forward, it makes reaching out to Hebrew-speaking voters a little, well, tricky: | Indiana governor Mike Pence doesn’t speak Hebrew - not that that’s a prerequisite for the office of the vice president - but according to The Forward, it makes reaching out to Hebrew-speaking voters a little, well, tricky: |
The Republican vice presidential candidate was photographed holding a sign written in Hebrew that was supposed to read ‘Make America Great Again’ - but translates roughly as ‘To Reverse America to Great Once More.’ The first word on the bottom of the sign is a verb in its infinitive form, making it confusing to Hebrew speakers from the get go. | The Republican vice presidential candidate was photographed holding a sign written in Hebrew that was supposed to read ‘Make America Great Again’ - but translates roughly as ‘To Reverse America to Great Once More.’ The first word on the bottom of the sign is a verb in its infinitive form, making it confusing to Hebrew speakers from the get go. |
This sign translates as “To Reverse America to Great Once More.” Close enough, right? https://t.co/vjhulbhlNL pic.twitter.com/lv1PPbAGj7 | This sign translates as “To Reverse America to Great Once More.” Close enough, right? https://t.co/vjhulbhlNL pic.twitter.com/lv1PPbAGj7 |
Updated | Updated |
at 9.30pm BST | at 9.30pm BST |
9.21pm BST | 9.21pm BST |
21:21 | 21:21 |
David Smith | David Smith |
As the election nears, the Obama swan song continues with ever growing poignancy. Today, first lady Michelle Obama hosted her fifth and final class of national student poets at the White House. | As the election nears, the Obama swan song continues with ever growing poignancy. Today, first lady Michelle Obama hosted her fifth and final class of national student poets at the White House. |
“Well, I have to say that this event - I’ve said this too many times, because we’re celebrating a lot of ‘last’ here this year - but this is the last time that we’re going to have the pleasure of welcoming a class of national student poets to the White House, at least under this administration,” Obama said. “So I’m feeling a little melancholy here, because this has truly been an honour and a privilege and a joy.” | “Well, I have to say that this event - I’ve said this too many times, because we’re celebrating a lot of ‘last’ here this year - but this is the last time that we’re going to have the pleasure of welcoming a class of national student poets to the White House, at least under this administration,” Obama said. “So I’m feeling a little melancholy here, because this has truly been an honour and a privilege and a joy.” |
The first lady condemned the “pretty devastating” cuts to art and music classes in schools across the country that preceded her husband’s administration. A recent Washington Post article suggested that arts communities feel let down by the president for not showing a greater interest. | The first lady condemned the “pretty devastating” cuts to art and music classes in schools across the country that preceded her husband’s administration. A recent Washington Post article suggested that arts communities feel let down by the president for not showing a greater interest. |
But Obama said: “Barack and I also happen to be pretty huge poetry fans ourselves. My husband considers himself kind of a poet, but we’ll see. We’ll see. Maybe when he’s done he’ll write one for me. You hear that, honey? So that’s kind of where the idea of the national student poet programme came from.” | But Obama said: “Barack and I also happen to be pretty huge poetry fans ourselves. My husband considers himself kind of a poet, but we’ll see. We’ll see. Maybe when he’s done he’ll write one for me. You hear that, honey? So that’s kind of where the idea of the national student poet programme came from.” |
Obama also recalled the first White House poetry jam in 2009 where Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped about Alexander Hamilton, soon to be expanded into the hit musical Hamilton, “one of the most extraordinary pieces of art that I - and probably so many others - have ever seen”. | Obama also recalled the first White House poetry jam in 2009 where Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped about Alexander Hamilton, soon to be expanded into the hit musical Hamilton, “one of the most extraordinary pieces of art that I - and probably so many others - have ever seen”. |
But it was a poetry medley by students past and present, beneath a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the state dining room, that moved Obama to the brink of tears on Thursday. “If we ever wonder...” she began, sighing with emotion, “if what we do makes a difference, it does.” | But it was a poetry medley by students past and present, beneath a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the state dining room, that moved Obama to the brink of tears on Thursday. “If we ever wonder...” she began, sighing with emotion, “if what we do makes a difference, it does.” |
Her voice still low and unsteady, Obama added: “Thank you everyone for all of this. Thank you, guys. I’m so proud of you. That was beautiful. You guys are awesome. Have a great year.” | Her voice still low and unsteady, Obama added: “Thank you everyone for all of this. Thank you, guys. I’m so proud of you. That was beautiful. You guys are awesome. Have a great year.” |
9.07pm BST | 9.07pm BST |
21:07 | 21:07 |
Jana Kasperkevic | Jana Kasperkevic |
While speaking in Cleveland earlier today, Donald Trump said that there are only bad jobs in the US. | While speaking in Cleveland earlier today, Donald Trump said that there are only bad jobs in the US. |
“We only have bad jobs. We don’t have good jobs anymore,” said Trump. He added that if elected, he would be “the greatest jobs producing president that God ever created”. | “We only have bad jobs. We don’t have good jobs anymore,” said Trump. He added that if elected, he would be “the greatest jobs producing president that God ever created”. |
Trump’s remarks come less than a week after the US Department of labor released its August jobs report. In August, US created 151,000 jobs - about 30,000 below expectations. However, on average the US economy added about 230,000 a month over the last three months. August was the 71st consecutive month of overall job creation- longest streak on record. It was also the 77th consecutive month of private sector job growth. | Trump’s remarks come less than a week after the US Department of labor released its August jobs report. In August, US created 151,000 jobs - about 30,000 below expectations. However, on average the US economy added about 230,000 a month over the last three months. August was the 71st consecutive month of overall job creation- longest streak on record. It was also the 77th consecutive month of private sector job growth. |
The Obama administration insists that the jobs added over the past few months tend to be good, middle class jobs rather than “bad jobs” as Trump described them. According to US labor secretary Tom Perez, education and health sectors have added the most job in the last year, followed by professional and business services. | The Obama administration insists that the jobs added over the past few months tend to be good, middle class jobs rather than “bad jobs” as Trump described them. According to US labor secretary Tom Perez, education and health sectors have added the most job in the last year, followed by professional and business services. |
“I use these two examples to highlight what we are seeing in this recovery, which is over the last two to three years, not only do we see a growth in the quantity of jobs but we are seeing a distinct growth in the quality of jobs. More and more middle class and above jobs are being created in the last two to three years,” he told the Guardian on Friday. | “I use these two examples to highlight what we are seeing in this recovery, which is over the last two to three years, not only do we see a growth in the quantity of jobs but we are seeing a distinct growth in the quality of jobs. More and more middle class and above jobs are being created in the last two to three years,” he told the Guardian on Friday. |
“Another sector that is really rebounding - especially in the last few months is government, which during the early stages of the recovery it usually recovers really fast but it didn’t. And now we are seeing some real rebound in government jobs, which tend to be solid middle class jobs. I am heartened not just by the number of jobs we are creating but by the quality of jobs that are being created.” | “Another sector that is really rebounding - especially in the last few months is government, which during the early stages of the recovery it usually recovers really fast but it didn’t. And now we are seeing some real rebound in government jobs, which tend to be solid middle class jobs. I am heartened not just by the number of jobs we are creating but by the quality of jobs that are being created.” |
One of the main reasons for the delay in recovery in government sector is the sequester - the automatic budget cuts that were included in the 2011 Budget Control Act. Had it been not for the budget cuts championed by Congress Republicans after the 2008 economic crisis, unemployment rate might have been higher, said Perez. | One of the main reasons for the delay in recovery in government sector is the sequester - the automatic budget cuts that were included in the 2011 Budget Control Act. Had it been not for the budget cuts championed by Congress Republicans after the 2008 economic crisis, unemployment rate might have been higher, said Perez. |
“If we had the investment rates that we saw during the Reagan administration now, we would have an unemployment rate that would be probably two to three tenths of a percent lower than it currently is,” he said. The US unemployment rate is 4.9%. “But the lingering effect of sequester has a dramatically negative impact on government hiring and it also had on a federal level and on state and local level.” | “If we had the investment rates that we saw during the Reagan administration now, we would have an unemployment rate that would be probably two to three tenths of a percent lower than it currently is,” he said. The US unemployment rate is 4.9%. “But the lingering effect of sequester has a dramatically negative impact on government hiring and it also had on a federal level and on state and local level.” |
Despite better jobs being created, there are still more than six million Americans who want full time jobs, but are only working part-time at the moment. Additionally, there are 7.5 million Americans who are working more than one jobs to make ends meet. | Despite better jobs being created, there are still more than six million Americans who want full time jobs, but are only working part-time at the moment. Additionally, there are 7.5 million Americans who are working more than one jobs to make ends meet. |
9.01pm BST | 9.01pm BST |
21:01 | 21:01 |
Esquire Magazine has added an editor’s note to a profile of Donald Trump that the Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly cited as proof that he never supported the invasion of Iraq, calling the characterization inaccurate: | Esquire Magazine has added an editor’s note to a profile of Donald Trump that the Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly cited as proof that he never supported the invasion of Iraq, calling the characterization inaccurate: |
The following story was published in the August 2004 issue of Esquire. During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have been against the Iraq War from the beginning, and he has cited this story as proof. The Iraq War began in March 2003, more than a year before this story ran, thus nullifying Trump’s timeline. | The following story was published in the August 2004 issue of Esquire. During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have been against the Iraq War from the beginning, and he has cited this story as proof. The Iraq War began in March 2003, more than a year before this story ran, thus nullifying Trump’s timeline. |
Trump has falsely insisted that he was opposed to the Iraq war since before its inception, despite a 2002 interview with Howard Stern in which he said “yeah, I guess so” when asked if he supported the invasion. | Trump has falsely insisted that he was opposed to the Iraq war since before its inception, despite a 2002 interview with Howard Stern in which he said “yeah, I guess so” when asked if he supported the invasion. |
The Esquire interview was mentioned as recently as last night, when he told NBC host Matt Lauer during a forum on national security that “you can look at Esquire Magazine from ’04” as proof of his opposition to the war. | The Esquire interview was mentioned as recently as last night, when he told NBC host Matt Lauer during a forum on national security that “you can look at Esquire Magazine from ’04” as proof of his opposition to the war. |
8.42pm BST | 8.42pm BST |
20:42 | 20:42 |
Clinton campaign raises money off of Matt Lauer criticism | Clinton campaign raises money off of Matt Lauer criticism |
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign is officially fundraising off of frustration with Matt Lauer’s moderation of NBC’s “Commander-in-Chief Forum” last night, emailing supporters under the subject line “Matt Lauer” that the Today Show co-host failed to fact-check the proven falsehood that Donald Trump opposed the invasion of Iraq. | Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign is officially fundraising off of frustration with Matt Lauer’s moderation of NBC’s “Commander-in-Chief Forum” last night, emailing supporters under the subject line “Matt Lauer” that the Today Show co-host failed to fact-check the proven falsehood that Donald Trump opposed the invasion of Iraq. |
“Donald Trump kicked off his evening by lying to the American people about his position on the Iraq War - and no one stopped to call him on it,” the email, penned by Clinton campaign deputy communications director Christina Reynolds, begins. | “Donald Trump kicked off his evening by lying to the American people about his position on the Iraq War - and no one stopped to call him on it,” the email, penned by Clinton campaign deputy communications director Christina Reynolds, begins. |
“Not only did the moderator, Matt Lauer, fail to fact-check Trump - he then kept the conversation moving,” Reynolds continues. “The worst part is, there’s nothing new about this happening. We all know that Trump lies a lot. And we all know that many outlets in the press apparently lack the wherewithal to call him out - and help voters understand that what they’re hearing from Trump isn’t just normal political talk, but an unprecedented descent into unqualified nonsense from a major-party presidential nominee.” | “Not only did the moderator, Matt Lauer, fail to fact-check Trump - he then kept the conversation moving,” Reynolds continues. “The worst part is, there’s nothing new about this happening. We all know that Trump lies a lot. And we all know that many outlets in the press apparently lack the wherewithal to call him out - and help voters understand that what they’re hearing from Trump isn’t just normal political talk, but an unprecedented descent into unqualified nonsense from a major-party presidential nominee.” |
Lauer has been castigated by journalists and viewers for being “lost at sea” during the one-hour event aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, focusing nearly a third of his time with the former secretary of state on questions about her use of private email servers while letting Trump’s assertion that he was opposed to the Iraq war go unchallenged. | Lauer has been castigated by journalists and viewers for being “lost at sea” during the one-hour event aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, focusing nearly a third of his time with the former secretary of state on questions about her use of private email servers while letting Trump’s assertion that he was opposed to the Iraq war go unchallenged. |
Trump has long maintained that he was opposed to the invasion of Iraq from the beginning as evidence that he has better judgment on national security matters than his opponents, despite the discovery of a radio interview with shock jock Howard Stern on Sept. 11, 2002 by Buzzfeed News wherein Trump declared “Yeah, I guess so” when asked if he supported the war. | Trump has long maintained that he was opposed to the invasion of Iraq from the beginning as evidence that he has better judgment on national security matters than his opponents, despite the discovery of a radio interview with shock jock Howard Stern on Sept. 11, 2002 by Buzzfeed News wherein Trump declared “Yeah, I guess so” when asked if he supported the war. |
That was six months before the invasion. | That was six months before the invasion. |
For the Clinton campaign, Lauer’s fumble - the hashtag #LaueringTheBar, a play on “lowering the bar,” has been trending on social media all day - is their gain. | For the Clinton campaign, Lauer’s fumble - the hashtag #LaueringTheBar, a play on “lowering the bar,” has been trending on social media all day - is their gain. |
“We have to work even harder to get the facts out there on TV, online, and in conversations with voters across the country,” Reynolds concludes. “We have to speak so loudly that every voter in America hears us. And we have to recommit ourselves to delivering Trump a definitive rebuke on November 8th.” | “We have to work even harder to get the facts out there on TV, online, and in conversations with voters across the country,” Reynolds concludes. “We have to speak so loudly that every voter in America hears us. And we have to recommit ourselves to delivering Trump a definitive rebuke on November 8th.” |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.43pm BST | at 8.43pm BST |
7.45pm BST | 7.45pm BST |
19:45 | 19:45 |
No TV person has done more to boost Donald Trump than Fox host Sean Hannity. Today Hannity plans to shine that spotlight on Wikileaks’s Julian Assange, who has promised to release information that reflects poorly on the Clinton campaign. | No TV person has done more to boost Donald Trump than Fox host Sean Hannity. Today Hannity plans to shine that spotlight on Wikileaks’s Julian Assange, who has promised to release information that reflects poorly on the Clinton campaign. |
Julian Assange will be on @seanhannity's radio show for an hour today, Hannity tells me | Julian Assange will be on @seanhannity's radio show for an hour today, Hannity tells me |
7.41pm BST | 7.41pm BST |
19:41 | 19:41 |
Trump continues to talk in Cleveland. He’s stopped quoting his old interviews on Iraq. He is now touting his ability to create jobs: | Trump continues to talk in Cleveland. He’s stopped quoting his old interviews on Iraq. He is now touting his ability to create jobs: |
I will be the greatest jobs producing president that god ever created. | I will be the greatest jobs producing president that god ever created. |
7.40pm BST | 7.40pm BST |
19:40 | 19:40 |
Trump now jumps into a litigation of whether he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. | Trump now jumps into a litigation of whether he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. |
“I was opposed to the war from the beginning, long after my interview with Howard Stern,” Trump says, referring to a 2002 interview with Stern in which he said “yeah... I guess” the Iraq invasion was a good idea. | “I was opposed to the war from the beginning, long after my interview with Howard Stern,” Trump says, referring to a 2002 interview with Stern in which he said “yeah... I guess” the Iraq invasion was a good idea. |
Trump goes on to quote extensively from an interview he gave Esquire in August 2004, which he keeps saying, incorrectly, was “right at the beginning” of the war, “right after the war started.” The invasion was in March 2003. | Trump goes on to quote extensively from an interview he gave Esquire in August 2004, which he keeps saying, incorrectly, was “right at the beginning” of the war, “right after the war started.” The invasion was in March 2003. |
The Fallujah bridge ambush was in March 2004. Trump rn is claiming clairvoyance for second-guessing war in Aug 2004 https://t.co/u31yk7LTgX | The Fallujah bridge ambush was in March 2004. Trump rn is claiming clairvoyance for second-guessing war in Aug 2004 https://t.co/u31yk7LTgX |
Update: | Update: |
Here (once again) is our timeline of Trump statements which disproves his false claim he opposed the war in Iraq. https://t.co/NfqLTbVhUp | Here (once again) is our timeline of Trump statements which disproves his false claim he opposed the war in Iraq. https://t.co/NfqLTbVhUp |
Updated | Updated |
at 7.51pm BST | at 7.51pm BST |
7.30pm BST | 7.30pm BST |
19:30 | 19:30 |
Trump: 'whole country saw how unfit [Clinton] was' | Trump: 'whole country saw how unfit [Clinton] was' |
Here’s Trump now in Cleveland. He’s talking about Clinton’s emails. He says she was hacked. And that she was emailing about the drone program. | Here’s Trump now in Cleveland. He’s talking about Clinton’s emails. He says she was hacked. And that she was emailing about the drone program. |
“The whole country saw how unfit she was at the town hall middle night, where she refused to take accountability for her failed policies in the Middle East,” Trump continues. | “The whole country saw how unfit she was at the town hall middle night, where she refused to take accountability for her failed policies in the Middle East,” Trump continues. |
Then he makes a series of wild claims, headily conspiratorial and heedless of evidence, about criminal conduct, he says, by Clinton and her associates: “giving up uranium to Russia, doing favors for UBS bank and giving contracts to family and friends in Haiti.” | Then he makes a series of wild claims, headily conspiratorial and heedless of evidence, about criminal conduct, he says, by Clinton and her associates: “giving up uranium to Russia, doing favors for UBS bank and giving contracts to family and friends in Haiti.” |
7.25pm BST | 7.25pm BST |
19:25 | 19:25 |
Donald Trump, somewhat confusingly, even more than usual, is tweeting his condolences for Mexico’s finance minister, Luis Videgaray, having lost his job, which happened because Videgaray helped set up Trump’s visit last week, which the entire country of Mexico seems to concur was a disaster. | Donald Trump, somewhat confusingly, even more than usual, is tweeting his condolences for Mexico’s finance minister, Luis Videgaray, having lost his job, which happened because Videgaray helped set up Trump’s visit last week, which the entire country of Mexico seems to concur was a disaster. |
Trump goes out of his way to assert that Videgaray is a favorite of Nieto, who accepted his resignation. Is Trump asking us to think someone else was behind the resignation? Why is Trump bothering? Is he deaf to the resounding “No” with which the country of Mexico is greeting his wall proposal, his candidacy and lo his very existence? | Trump goes out of his way to assert that Videgaray is a favorite of Nieto, who accepted his resignation. Is Trump asking us to think someone else was behind the resignation? Why is Trump bothering? Is he deaf to the resounding “No” with which the country of Mexico is greeting his wall proposal, his candidacy and lo his very existence? |
Mexico has lost a brilliant finance minister and wonderful man who I know is highly respected by President Peña Nieto. | Mexico has lost a brilliant finance minister and wonderful man who I know is highly respected by President Peña Nieto. |
With Luis, Mexico and the United States would have made wonderful deals together - where both Mexico and the US would have benefitted. | With Luis, Mexico and the United States would have made wonderful deals together - where both Mexico and the US would have benefitted. |
7.13pm BST | 7.13pm BST |
19:13 | 19:13 |
The Republican running mate is tweeting a master’s thesis equating Donald Trump with Ronald Reagan and what does the Democrat come up with? | The Republican running mate is tweeting a master’s thesis equating Donald Trump with Ronald Reagan and what does the Democrat come up with? |
A dogpile with his kids? Oh well that’s pretty cute. | A dogpile with his kids? Oh well that’s pretty cute. |
Back-to-school time always makes me nostalgic. #TBT pic.twitter.com/Ak6oadtxK0 | Back-to-school time always makes me nostalgic. #TBT pic.twitter.com/Ak6oadtxK0 |
7.06pm BST | 7.06pm BST |
19:06 | 19:06 |
The Washington Post is reporting that Donald Trump’s Washington, DC-based policy shop has collapsed because nobody has been getting paid or listened to. | The Washington Post is reporting that Donald Trump’s Washington, DC-based policy shop has collapsed because nobody has been getting paid or listened to. |
At which the nearly universal reaction has been: Donald Trump had a policy shop? | At which the nearly universal reaction has been: Donald Trump had a policy shop? |
Here’s the top of the Post’s Josh Rogin’s report: | Here’s the top of the Post’s Josh Rogin’s report: |
The Trump campaign built a large policy shop in Washington that has now largely melted away because of neglect, mismanagement and promises of pay that were never honored. Many of the team’s former members say the campaign leadership never took the Washington office seriously and let it wither away after squeezing it dry. | The Trump campaign built a large policy shop in Washington that has now largely melted away because of neglect, mismanagement and promises of pay that were never honored. Many of the team’s former members say the campaign leadership never took the Washington office seriously and let it wither away after squeezing it dry. |