Biden vows to ensure a peaceful transition to Trump in address to nation

President Joe Biden assured Americans that there will be a “peaceful and orderly” transition to the next Trump administration in a speech in the Rose Garden at the White House on Thursday.

“Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him, I will direct my entire administration work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition,” Biden said in a short speech in front of staff and press.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is celebrating his election win by beginning the process of choosing who will join his second administration, as his conservative allies and surrogates jostle for position in the hope of securing a top role.

Trump’s defeated adversary Kamala Harris called to congratulate him on his victory on Wednesday afternoon and subsequently delivered a concession speech at Howard University, in which she said that, while she concedes the election, she will not give up the fight that fueled her campaign.

“The fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity of all people, and ideals at the heart of this nation… that is a fight I will never give up,” the vice president said.

Key Points

• Donald Trump celebrates election win by planning cabinet picks

• Election 2024 results breakdown: The electoral college, turnout, tightest races and who controls Congress

• Harris delivers concession speech saying she will never give up fight

• Trump’s MAGA allies say they can finally admit Project 2025 ‘is the agenda’ for his second term

• Biden speaks on Harris election loss: ‘The will of the people always prevails’

‘No price tag’ to mass deportation plan says Trump

20:59 , Oliver O’Connell

President-elect Donald Trump has told NBC News that there is “no price tag” to his plan to begin mass deportations of undocumented immigrants in the US illegally, reiterating that his first priority upon taking office would be to make the border “strong and powerful”.

Per NBC News:

“We obviously have to make the border strong and powerful and, and we have to — at the same time, we want people to come into our country,” he said. “And you know, I’m not somebody that says, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ We want people to come in.”

As a candidate, Trump had repeatedly vowed to carry out the “largest deportation effort in American history.” Asked about the cost of his plan, he said, “It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”

Any mass deportation plan would be a huge logistical and financial challenge requiring the involvement of a number of federal agencies.

The president-elect partially credits his win in the election as being down to his message on the border and immigration.

EU leaders tell Trump to stand up to ‘bully’ Putin

20:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Keir Starmer and fellow European leaders have urged Donald Trump to stand up to the “bully” Vladimir Putin as they digest the potential consequences of the historic Republican election victory.

Volodymyr Zelensky made a desperate appeal at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest for leaders to continue their support Ukraine’s war amid fears that Mr Trump will try to force a deal involving concessions.

It came as Sir Keir faces increasing pressure to prioritise a new post-Brexit defence pact with the EU, with concerns growing that Mr Trump may also dilute support for Nato and focus US military objectives elsewhere.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports from London.

EU leaders tell Trump: stand up to ‘bully’ Putin

ANALYSIS: Conservatives hate Mitch McConnell. But he’s the architect of the Trump comeback

20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Garcia explains that while MAGA may hate Mitch McConnell, a decision he made in February 2021 sowed the seeds that allowed the movement to grow and thrive and return Trump to the Oval Office.

Mitch McConnell was the true architect of Trump’s second term

Watch: Fed chair says he wouldn’t leave job even if Trump asked him to resign

20:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says he wouldn’t leave his job even if Donald Trump asked him to resign when he takes office.

When asked if the president has the power to fire or demote him, Powell reminded reporters that was “not permitted under the law”.

Punisher logo with Trump’s hair projected on water tower, sparking outrage

20:10 , Oliver O’Connell

A MAGA supporter has sparked outrage in a Massachusetts town for projecting an edited version of The Punisher skull logo wearing Donald Trump’s hair.

The day after the Republican nominee triumphed in the 2024 election, an image associated with the popular comic book character topped with the president-elect’s well-known hairstyle was displayed on a water tower in the Town of Hanson.

Inga Parkel has the story.

MAGA fan sparks outrage for projecting Punisher logo with Trump’s hair on water tower

Watch: Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden will not pardon Hunter in final weeks of presidency

20:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic Wisconsin governor vows to always fight for better future after Trump takes state

19:56 , Oliver O’Connell

Wisconsin’s Democratic Governor Tony Evers has released a statement on the 2024 election and Trump’s win in the Badger State: “Wisconsin is a purple state. For many Wisconsinites, the presidential election results were a victory, and for nearly as many Wisconsinites, a loss to grieve.”

The governor noted that a record number of people in the state had voted (3.4 million) and had done so for the first time in more than a decade no longer under “some of the most undemocratic, gerrymandered legislative maps in America”.

While Evers reiterates that he will be a governor for all Wisconsinites and will “do the right thing when it matters most”, he also tried to soothe the fears of those hoping for a Kamala Harris victory.

To the Wisconsinites worried about what the future may bring, let me be clear: I will always fight to protect our LGBTQ families and kids, especially our trans and nonbinary kids. I will always fight for women, access to affordable healthcare, and reproductive freedom. I will always fight to reverse the climate crisis and to leave our kids and grandkids with a more sustainable, better world than the one we inherited. I will always fight to defend democracy and the basic institutions on which our country was built. And I will always — always — fight for our kids and for the better future they deserve.

Calls to LGBT+ crisis hotlines surge amid Trump election win

19:50 , Oliver O’Connell

LGBT+ crisis hotlines have been inundated with phone calls from young people distressed by Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US presidential election, according to reports.

The Trevor Project, a nonprofit collective dedicated to supporting queer youths and preventing suicide, revealed it had experienced a nearly 200 percent increase in conversations with election-related keywords such as “election” and “rights.”

Meredith Clark reports from New York.

LGBT+ crisis hotlines reported a month’s worth of calls amid Trump election win

Watch: Karine Jean-Pierre blames ‘global headwinds’ amid criticism that Biden’s unpopularity led to Harris deafeat

19:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Fed cuts interest rates as inflation continues steady decline

19:37 , AP

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Thursday by a quarter-point in response to the steady decline in the once-high inflation that had angered Americans and helped drive Donald Trump’s presidential election victory this week.

The rate cut follows a larger half-point reduction in September, and it reflects the Fed’s renewed focus on supporting the job market as well as fighting inflation, which now barely exceeds the central bank’s 2% target.

Thursday’s move reduces the Fed’s benchmark rate to about 4.6%, down from a four-decade high of 5.3% before September’s meeting. The Fed had kept its rate that high for more than a year to fight the worst inflation streak in four decades. Annual inflation has since fallen from a 9.1% peak in mid-2022 to a 3 1/2-year low of 2.4% in September.

In a statement after its latest meeting ended, the Fed said the “unemployment rate has moved up but remains low,” while inflation has fallen closer to the central bank’s target but “remains somewhat elevated.”

UK seaside town Clacton prepares to roll out the red carpet for Trump

19:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump cheerleader Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and member of parliament for Clacton, a seaside town on the Essex coast, spent election night in the US with Donald Trump.

Has he already persuaded the president to visit his constituency if and when, as expected, Trump visits London?

David Maddox reports.

Nigel Farage’s Clacton prepares to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump

Newsom says California ‘ready to fight’ as he moves to protect state from Trump administration

19:20 , Oliver O’Connell

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called an emergency special session to “help bolster our legal resources and protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration.”

“Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked.”

The special session will begin on December 2.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond.”

On Wednesday, he posted on X: “Kamala Harris set out to fight to defend our fundamental freedoms and build a country that works for everyone. She stood up for working families, decency, and opportunity.

“Though this is not the outcome we wanted, our fight for freedom and opportunity endures.

“California will seek to work with the incoming president — but let there be no mistake, we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law.

“Federalism is the cornerstone of our democracy. It’s the United STATES of America.”

‘Your body, my choice’: Spike in online misogyny after Trump victory

19:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Women are facing a barrage of deeply misogynistic comments online following Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory.

The Republican candidate defeated Kamala Harris following a chaotic campaign dogged by anger, insults and division, winning 51 percent of the popular vote on Wednesday, 6 November.

In the wake of the former president’s shocking political comeback, women have reported men are writing “your body, my choice” on their social media posts, among other troubling reproductive rights remarks.

Lydia Spencer-Elliott reports.

‘Your body, my choice’: Women report rise in online misogyny following Trump victory

Watch LIVE: Karine Jean-Pierre hold White House briefing

19:00 , Oliver O’Connell

‘Straight up BS’: DNC chair hits back after Bernie Sanders slams party’s approach to election

18:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison has hit back after Independent Senator for Vermont Bernie Sanders wrote a scathing critique of the party’s approach to the election, saying it had abandoned working-class people and so they had abandoned them.

Harrison wrote on X: “This is straight up BS… Biden was the most-pro worker President of my life time- saved Union pensions, created millions of good paying jobs and even marched in a picket line and some of MVP’s plans would have fundamentally transformed the quality of life and closed the racial wealth gap for working people across this country. From the child tax credits, to 25k for a down payment for a house to Medicare covering the cost of senior health care in their homes. There are a lot of post election takes and this one ain’t a good one.

Elon Musk’s estranged trans daughter doesn’t see her future being in US

18:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, has spoken out following the 2024 US presidential election results.

On Wednesday (November 6), Republican candidate Donald Trump claimed victory over Vice President Kamala Harris resulting in many women and members of the LGBT+ community expressing fear over regressive policies. One of these people was Musk’s 20-year-old transgender daughter who is an outspoken champion of transgender rights.

Musk has shown his support for the now-president-elect on multiple occasions throughout his campaign with rumors that he could play a role in Trump’s administration.

Brittany Miller has the story.

Elon Musk’s estranged trans daughter says she doesn’t ‘see a future’ in the US

‘You come for my people, you come through me’

18:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic Illinois Governor JD Pritzker has spoken to the press for the first time since Donald Trump’s presidential election win, saying he expects to work with the new administration.

However, the surrogate for Kamala Harris issued a warning: “You come for my people, you come through me.”

The governor was referring to minority and underserved communities in Illinois who remember the “chaos, retribution and disarray radiated from the White House the last time Donald Trump occupied,” Politico reports.

Pritzker said his administration “was not unprepared” for Trump’s victory and had taken proactive steps to protect abortion rights and other laws that might be impacted by decisions coming out of Washington.

He said the state would take action if the new administration tried to circumvent federal government grants to Illinois and that he’s had similar conversations with other governors.

“We have like minds about protecting certain rights and making sure that we’re going to be able to withstand four years of a Donald Trump presidency and also the areas where we might work with the administration, whatever those may be,” Pritzker said.

‘Nostradamus’ bashes rival pollster after both election predictions flopped

18:30 , Oliver O’Connell

With Donald Trump heading back to the White House, it’s not just the Democrats who face a reckoning, but pollsters as well.

Multiple high-profile polling gurus failed to accurately predict what ended up being a decisive victory for the former president on Tuesday, and now some of the experts are taking pot-shots at each other.

Political pollster and historian Allan Lichtman took a swipe at fellow elections forecaster Nate Silver on Wednesday, saying that ‘unlike his rival’ he will admit he was wrong about the 2024 result.

Ariana Baio has the story.

‘Nostradamus’ of polling bashes rival after both election predictions flopped

Axelrod: ‘Biden could not have won this race’

18:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Speaking on CNN, Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod says Joe Biden could not have the 2024 election had he remained in the race and not passed the torch to Kamala Harris.

“Joe Biden could not have won this race,” he said on CNN. “Whether fair or unfair, he had a very low approval rating and people lost confidence in him, and the debate was the culmination of it, just in his stamina and his ability to do the job.”

He added: “Maybe Joe Biden should have decided very early that one term was enough and given the party a chance to have a primary election. And maybe the outcome could have been different, but it might not have been.”

Vance speaks with UK counterpart

18:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President-elect JD Vance has spoken with Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Rayner said it was good to speak with him and that they could build on the special relationship between the two countries.

Trump’s campaign co-chair favorite to be chief of staff, report says

17:59 , Oliver O’Connell

NBC News reports that Donald Trump’s unassuming co-campaign chief Susan Wiles is seen as the frontrunner to become his White House chief of staff. The network cites six sources familiar with the discussions inside the campaign.

If chosen, Wiles would become the first female White House chief of staff in history.

Per NBC:

“She has commanded a ton of respect amongst the staff, as well as loyalty. She doesn’t play games. And she means what she says: On the campaign, she said we are checking egos at the door and held everyone to it,” said one campaign official, who, like others in this piece, was granted anonymity to speak candidly or because they were not authorized to speak on the record. “The team of rivals concept did not apply here.”

“Susie is as good as they get,” a second Trump campaign official said. “She ran a great campaign and has the respect of all — including Democrats who recognize her talent. She’d make for a great chief of staff and would serve at the president’s pleasure. After all, it is his White House.”

A third Trump campaign official said Wiles is already playing the de-facto chief of staff role and that staffers widely want her to get the job. A large staff meeting is taking place at the campaign headquarters on Thursday, and Wiles will lead it.

Here’s our profile on the “ice maiden” who could make West Wing history:

Meet the ‘ice maiden’ behind Trump’s victory who could be his new chief of staff

Biden promises ‘peaceful and orderly’ transition to Trump

17:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Four years after Donald Trump refused to acknowledge losing the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden said his administration would honor Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris by facilitating a “peaceful and orderly transition” to the incoming Republican administration.

In remarks delivered from the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday to an audience that included a large portion of Biden’s cabinet, plus his granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, the president called the American electoral system “the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world.”

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy — the will of the people always prevails,” he said.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Biden promises ‘peaceful and orderly’ transition to Trump

Watch: Biden echoes Harris, saying ‘setbacks are unavoidable but giving up is unforgivable’

17:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden on US election result: Setbacks are unavoidable but giving up is unforgivable

Who is on Trump’s enemies list?

17:10 , Oliver O’Connell

For years, Donald Trump has threatened to go after countless political rivals who he claims have wronged him.

In speeches to supporters and rants on his Truth Social platform, he has on multiple occasions vowed to seek “retribution” and called his political opponents the “enemies from within.”

During an interview with Dr Phil in June, he issued an especially ominous threat. “Well, revenge does take time. I will say that. And sometimes revenge can be justified,” he said.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Trump’s enemies list: political rivals and organizations he threatened to go after

‘The will of the people always prevails’: Biden promises ‘peaceful and orderly’ transition to Trump

16:49 , Andrew Feinberg

Four years after Donald Trump refused to acknowledge losing the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden said his administration would honor Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris by facilitating a “peaceful and orderly transition” to the incoming Republican administration.

In remarks delivered from the White House Rose Garden to an audience that included a large portion of Biden’s cabinet and his granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, the president called the American electoral system “the greatest experiment in self-government in thehistory of the world.”

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and hey do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy — the will of the people always prevails,” he said.

Biden promises ‘peaceful and orderly’ transition to Trump after Harris loss

WATCH: Biden praises Harris while promising peaceful transition of power to Trump

16:47 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden ends Rose Garden speech: ‘We need to keep the faith’

16:37 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden ended his short speech in the Rose Garden, urging supporters to “Remember, defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up.”

He added: “That’s the story of America for over 240 years, and counting. It’s the story for all of us, not just some of us. The American experiment endures. We’re going to be okay, but we need to stay engaged. We need to keep going. And above all, we need to keep the faith.”

Biden calls Harris ‘a partner and a public servant’

16:31 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden said he spoke to Harris yesterday, calling her “a partner and a public servant.”

“She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much. Her character, she has a backbone like a ramrod,” he added.

Biden begins speech on Harris election loss: ‘The will of the people always prevails’

16:28 , Gustaf Kilander

President Joe Biden began his speech from the Rose Garden on Thursday by saying, “For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world. That’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.”

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy. The will of the people always prevails,” he added. “Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him, I direct my entire administration work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.”

Watch live: Biden addresses nation after Trump’s historic presidential win against Harris

16:12 , Lucy Leeson

Watch live as President Joe Biden addresses the nation on Thursday (7 November) after Donald Trump’s historic win against Kamala Harris.

Biden will address the nation from the White House Rose Garden at 11am ET (4pm GMT).

Meanwhile, Trump is celebrating his election win by beginning the process of choosing who will join his second administration, as his conservative allies and surrogates jostle for position in the hope of securing a top role.

Trump completed a shocking political comeback by winning the election four years after leaving the White House.

The former president surpassed the magic number of 270 Electoral College votes early yesterday after winning key battleground states.

He also won 51 percent of the popular vote, picking up 72.5m votes to Harris’s 68m as she fell well short of Biden’s 2020 total of 81m.

Why Trump will likely never see the inside of a prison cell — or be sentenced at all

16:00 , Ariana Baio

In theory, the next President of the United States is supposed to face sentencing for his New York criminal trial conviction at the end of the month.

But following his dramatic election win this week it is looking increasingly likely that won’t happen and Donald Trump will once again evade repercussions for his actions.

More than five months ago, a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from hush-money payments he gave to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

Why Trump will likely never see the inside of a prison cell — or be sentenced at all

Watch: How late-night covered Trump’s return to the White House

15:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Election 2024 results breakdown: The electoral college, turnout, tightest races and who controls Congress

15:35 , Alicja Hagopian

On Wednesday afternoon, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris gave a speech conceding victory to Donald Trump, who has won the 2024 presidential election.

Trump has won at least 295 electoral college votes, more than what was needed to push him over the line of 270 to become the president-elect of the United States. Though two states (Arizona and Nevada) have not yet been called, Trump has already surpassed the number of votes to secure his return trip to the White House.

Votes will continue to be counted and certified in the coming days and weeks, so these numbers may not be final. But at this stage in the race, here are the numbers you need to know from the 2024 presidential election, from turnout to Senate control.

The 2024 presidential election in numbers

What’s next for reproductive healthcare under Trump?

15:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Dobbs decision in 2022 not only eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion but also left chaos and confusion in its wake, raising troubling questions about the future of reproductive healthcare in the United States.

Kelly Rissman and Alicja Hagopian report.

What’s next for reproductive healthcare during the Trump administration?

How celebrities reacted to Trump’s election win

15:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s Jacob Stolworthy to round-up how America’s stars greeted the news of four more years of Donald Trump in the White House.

Celebrities react as Donald Trump wins 2024 US election to become president

What a second Trump presidency means for America

14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican’s third campaign was defined by a promise of retribution and a sharpened nativist agenda to take America back again, Alex Woodward writes.

Emboldened and unshackled: What a second Trump presidency means for America

Philadelphia Democratic leader blames ‘elitist’ Harris campaign’s ‘lack of respect’ for state loss

14:35 , Joe Sommerlad

If you missed this earlier, Philadelphia Democratic Chair Bob Brady has suggested that a lack of communication from the Harris campaign contributed to her loss in Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday, the former congressman told NBC10 that he “would’ve liked to see the Harris campaign, especially the national campaign, coordinate with us a little bit. Talk to us a little bit. Give us a little bit more resources. Show us some respect. Didn’t happen.”

He added: “They were just elitist and went out there, did their own thing, and didn’t include Democratic city committee or (ward leaders) or committee people. They just didn’t do it.”

Gustaf Kilander has more.

Philadelphia Dem leader blames Harris campaign’s ‘lack of respect’ for state loss

How the ‘manosphere’ helped propel Trump to victory in 2024

14:20 , Joe Sommerlad

During Trump’s raucous victory party in West Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday morning, a fired-up Dana White, president of the wildly popular UFC fighting league, approached the microphone to thank the people who made the Republican’s win possible.

After praising Trump as one of “the most resilient, hardworking men I’ve ever met in my life,” White said: “I wanna thank the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin with the Boys and, last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan!”

You’d be forgiven for not knowing who some of these men are, but, if you’re the Democratic Party, you ignore them at your peril.

This collection of edgy alternative podcasters, social media influencers and comedians are part of the “manosphere” that may have helped win Trump the election.

Josh Marcus has this introduction.

How Joe Rogan and the right-wing ‘manosphere’ helped propel Trump to victory in 2024

Watch: Kellyanne Conway thanks host of The View for Trump’s historic victory

14:05 , Joe Sommerlad

Doctors fear disease outbreaks if RFK Jr joins Trump’s administration

13:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Rates of routine vaccinations among children are dropping, the percentage of children who are exempted from vaccine requirements is at an all-time high and cases of measles are being reported across the United States.

And it could soon get worse.

Doctors are now bracing for a future under president-elect Donald Trump’s and his administration, which has floated the idea of bringing in prominent vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr to lead the nation’s federal health agencies.

Alex Woodward has this on a dire health forecast.

Doctors fear disease outbreaks if RFK Jr has federal health oversight under Trump

Watch: Jimmy Fallon roasts Donald and Melania Trump’s return to White House

13:25 , Joe Sommerlad

Jimmy Fallon roasts Donald and Melania Trump’s return to White House

Biden to address nation from White House on Thursday

13:05 , Joe Sommerlad

The 46th president will address the nation from the White House Rose Garden at 11am ET (4pm GMT).

He is expected to reflect on the election result and encourage all citizens to accept it without complaint, congratulate President-Elect Trump and praise Kamala Harris for her campaign.

Radio host blames Harris defeat on culture of chauvinism among Latino men

13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Pennsylvania radio host Victor Martinez appeared on MSNBC yesterday and had this hard truth for Nicolle Wallace on Kamala Harris’s loss:

“As far as the Latino vote in general, it was the Latino man. It was a Latino man who decided that they were going to vote for Donald Trump. And I will dare to say that it’s the Latino man who will – who wouldn’t want a woman president. I mean, you and I had this discussion before, and I have audios from the Latino men who were calling my show, telling me that they wouldn’t vote for her just because she was a woman.

“And that is unfortunate, but that’s part of the Latino culture, right, with the Latino the man. And he’s the one, the provider. And we’re the boss, and we still, unfortunately, have a lot of Latinos with that mentality where the woman belongs in the kitchen. That is a reality of the Latino male chauvinist culture. And I think that’s what exactly what happened.”

Trump AG hopeful says he wants to drag Democrats’ ‘political dead bodies through the streets and burn them’

12:45 , Joe Sommerlad

A Republican lawyer thought to be in the running to be Donald Trump’s attorney general has said he wants to drag Democrats’ “dead political bodies” through the streets and “burn” them in a graphic social media post.

Mike Davis, a former Supreme Court clerk and Senate aide, shared the violent post on X on November 6, shortly after Trump surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

“Here’s my current mood: I want to drag their dead political bodies through the streets, burn them, and throw them off the wall,” Davis said.

“(Legally, politically, and financially, of course),” he added.

“F*** unity… We have the votes. And they tried to kill Trump,” he said in another expletive-laden post, referring to the opposition.

Rhian Lubin has more.

Trump AG hopeful ‘wants to drag Democrats’ political dead bodies through streets’

LGBT+ crisis hotlines report huge spike in contacts after Trump election win

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Trevor Project, a non-profit collective dedicated to supporting LGBT+ youths and preventing suicide, has issued a statement reporting that it experienced a 125 percent increase in calls, texts and chat messages on Election Day and on Wednesday from young people distressed by the dawning news of Donald Trump’s win at the polls.

The Rainbow Youth Project told The Washington Post something similar, saying that it had received more than 3,810 calls this month.

Other groups supporting the LGBT+ community like OneIowa also told The Post it had experienced an increase in emails and messages.

West Wing star Bradley Whitford blames ‘racist and sexist’ country for Trump victory

12:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Actor Bradley Whitford, best known for The West Wing and The Handmaid’s Tale, wants Democrats to avoid falling into “despair” after Trump’s second victory, he told The Independent in an exclusive interview.

Whitford, known for his Emmy-winning West Wing performance as the firebrand political strategist Josh Lyman, said he was surprised by Trump’s decisive win.

The 65-year-old has long been a Democratic ally, and most recently spoke at a Harris rally in Wisconsin on October 22.

“I absolutely thought we were going to win,” Whitford told The Independent outside the White House on Wednesday afternoon, less than 12 hours after Trump secured his second term.

“I thought it was going to be closer,” he added.

“But whenever any of my friends asked me, I would end it with, ‘You can never underestimate how you know, racist and sexist this country is.’”

Katie Hawkinson has more.

‘West Wing’ star blames ‘racist and sexist’ country for Trump victory

Election night ratings reveal which network came out on top

12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

While Trump and Harris battled it out for the presidency, a war was being fought in the shadows among the networks trying to draw in viewers to their election coverage.

Millions of Americans were glued to their TV sets on Tuesday night, watching the results roll in, with one news channel trouncing its competitors in the ratings: Fox News.

Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum led the network’s primetime election coverage on Democracy 2024, garnering an average of 10.3 million viewers between 8pm and 11pm ET on Tuesday evening, according to Nielsen data.

James Liddell has more.

Election night ratings reveal which network came out on top

Steve Bannon suggests MTG serve as Trump’s head of Homeland Security

11:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Project 2025 was not the only concern on Steve Bannon’s mind yesterday.

He also floated the idea that Marjorie Taylor Greene should be appointed to the president-elect’s new administration as the head of Homeland Security.

Fellow Trump ally Greene, who was re-elected to congress for the third time on Tuesday, spoke to Bannon following the sweeping Republican victory.

Bannon noted that the Georgia firebrand had “been with us from the beginning,” adding “Congressman Greene, you’ve done so much work. You’re such a fighter. Now, is there any truth to the rumor that you’re going to take over as DHS?”

Greene laughed but dodged the question somewhat, replying: “I don’t know what’s going to happen Steve, we’re just thrilled to have President Trump back in the White House.”

Mike Bedigan has more.

Bannon suggests Marjorie Taylor Greene serve as Trump’s head of Homeland Security

Watch: Harris’s cousin makes heartbreaking declaration after vice president’s election defeat

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Kamala Harris’s cousin makes heartbreaking declaration after election defeat

Jimmy Kimmel chokes back tears as he says election marked ‘terrible night’ for everyone

11:15 , Joe Sommerlad

In his first show since the election was called, the late-night host, who goaded Trump at this year’s Oscars ceremony, fought back tears as he reeled off a list of people who could now suffer under a second Trump administration.

James Liddell has more.

Jimmy Kimmel fights tears as he says election marked ‘terrible night’ for everyone

Scott Jennings: Election result ‘revenge of the regular old working class American’

11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The former Republican strategist has gone viral with this assessment of the vote, offered as part of Anderson Cooper’s CNN panel on Election Night.

Jennings, often a highly divisive presence, argued that the outcome served as “the revenge of the regular old working class American”, as well as “an indictment of the political information complex”.

He explained that the final weeks of the campaign had been dominated by accusations of Nazism and fascism against the Trump campaign and media narratives like the Puerto Rico joke, Liz Cheney’s support for Harris, disaffected Nikki Haley voters potentially tanking the Trump vote and, before that, the popularity of Tim Walz and Harris-Walz camouflage hats.

None of those talking points ultimately mattered, Jennings argued, accusing the liberal media of “ignoring the fundamentals” in the process, meaning the state of the economy and the cost of living, which is what the public finally voted on.

Here’s John Bowden on why the pollsters got it so wrong – again.

Why the polls got it wrong on Trump — again

Watch: Morning Joe host says Trump win shows US is ‘far more to the right’ than ever in his lifetime

10:45 , Joe Sommerlad

MAGA allies say they can finally admit Project 2025 ‘is the agenda’ for Trump’s second term

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Donald Trump’s allies have boasted they can finally admit that Project 2025 is on “the agenda” when the president-elect returns to the White House next year.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief strategist who walked free from prison just days before the election, took to his War Room podcast on Wednesday to consider the former president’s upcoming second term.

Bannon cited a social media post by conservative activist Matt Walsh, who baited Kamala Harris supporters about the right-wing blueprint.

“Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda. Lol,” Walsh posted on X in a likely bid to get a rise out of his political opponents.

“Matt Walsh, I think, is a very smart and funny guy,” Bannon said on his podcast.

“Now that the election is over, I think we can finally say that, yeah, actually, Project 2025 is the agenda.”

Rhian Lubin reports.

MAGA allies say they can finally admit Project 2025 is Trump’s agenda

Re-election of Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar one of few election upsides for young progressives

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

In amongst all the bad news for Democrats yesterday, one bright spot for the party’s progressive wing was the re-election of representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar in Michigan and Minnesota respectively.

The first two Muslim women to enter Congress are critics of Israel and important voices for Arab Americans.

They are also members of “The Squad” along with New Yorker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a collective that lost two other members earlier this year when Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush were de-selected in favor of opponents who had substantial financial support from the pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Daily Show host has five-word question for America after it elected first convicted felon president

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

An angry Desi Lydic urged Americans to take a “good f***ing hard look” at themselves on last night’s show as she dissected Trump’s victory over Harris – and claimed the electorate would vote for anyone but a woman.

James Liddell reports.

Daily Show host’s five-word question for Americans electing first convict president

Elon Musk claims ‘being a normal person’ won Trump the election

09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The social media kingmaker spoke to Tucker Carlson yesterday and suggested that the Republican nominee won the vote this week because he went on Joe Rogan’s podcast and came across as “a normal person.”

The Harris campaign failed to agree a time slot with Rogan and the influential broadcaster duly delivered a late endorsement for Trump, which in turn saw him thanked by UFC boss Dana White at the candidate’s victory party in Florida in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.

Elon Musk says ‘being a normal person’ won Donald Trump the election

Obamas and Clintons ‘wish Trump and Vance well’ after election win

09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton all posted on social media yesterday wishing Trump and running JD Vance well after their election win (presumably through gritted teeth), leading by example in frankly accepting the result.

Both couples had been on the campaign trail for Harris but their efforts ultimately fell short.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, had a more pragmatic message for disillusioned and disappointed party activists yesterday:

Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.

The Obamas and Clintons wish Trump well after his election victory

Tim Walz says campaigning with Kamala Harris was ‘the honor and privilege of my life’

08:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Minnesota Governor was great fun on the campaign trail and attacked his task with zest.

Here he is paying tribute to the defeated nominee:

The Indy video team meanwhile has this look at where it all went wrong for the Democrats.

Where did Kamala Harris go wrong?

Justice Department reportedly looking to ‘wind down’ criminal cases against Trump

08:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly trying to “wind down” the federal criminal cases against President-Elect Donald Trump before he returns to the White House.

DOJ officials are considering ways to fizzle out the two federal criminal cases that Trump faces – one involving his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the other related to improperly storing a trove of classified documents – in order to comply with its long-standing policy not to prosecute sitting presidents.

The policy in question states: “The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions.”

New York attorney general Letitia James, however, is striking a more defiant note.

Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.

DOJ reportedly looking to ‘wind down’ the criminal cases against Trump

Democrat anger as blame game begins

08:10 , Joe Sommerlad

“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” Bernie Sanders said in a statement yesterday, setting the tone for the Democratic inquest already ongoing.

“While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”

Green Party candidate Jill Stein likewise told Newsweek: “The Democrats have really lost credibility. They are seen as bought and paid for… Their primaries are rigged, power is top down.

“The Democrats betrayed their base. I don’t see them coming back. The economic disparities are real. People are tired of the Democrats. They need to move over and allow a proper opposition.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “It’s time to look in the mirror and make sure [we] either change our substance, if it needs to be changed, or change the way we communicate what we stand for.”

Most damning of all was Philadelphia Democratic Chair and former congressman Bob Brady, who told NBC10: “I would’ve liked to see the Harris campaign – especially the national campaign – coordinate with us a little bit. Talk to us a little bit. Give us a little bit more resources. Show us some respect. Didn’t happen.

“They were just elitist and went out there, did their own thing and didn’t include Democratic city committee or (ward leaders) or committee people. They just didn’t do it.”

Here’s more from Graig Graziosi.

Democrat anger as blame game begins over Kamala Harris’s devastating loss

Who could be in Trump’s cabinet?

07:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Now Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, all eyes are on who he might appoint to his top team.

The individuals selected for cabinet positions are meant to be the president’s close allies, ideally with some interest or experience in the department they head.

But the former president has made it clear his priority will be appointing loyalists rather than those best suited for a position – a takeaway from his first administration where he faced record turnover.

One person who has already ruled himself out is JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who has said he has no current plans to leave the banking sector.

Ariana Baio reports on some of the names being thrown out there.

Who could be in Trump’s Cabinet? Contenders for new top team from RFK Jr to Musk

Trump will meet with Biden at the White House ‘shortly’

07:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The president-elect spoke to Joe Biden late on Wednesday by phone and the two men will soon meet in person in the West Wing to discuss the peaceful transfer of power.

That was not a gesture Trump extended to the Democrat when he left the White House.

“President Joe Biden called President Donald J Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current Administration and the incoming Administration,” Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.

“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”

In their own statement, the White House said the president “expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together”.

Biden is due to make a televised address this afternoon to reflect on the election.

What happens next? The key dates until Trump’s second inauguration

07:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Good morning!

Donald Trump has won the presidency for a second time, overcoming impeachments, indictments, two assassination attempts and unforced errors on the campaign trail that would have taken down most other political candidates.

But he won’t take office for another couple of months.

During that time, states will certify the results, electoral votes will be counted and a new Congress will convene.

Here are the dates that matter leading up to Inauguration Day on January 20 2025.

What happens next? The key dates until Trump’s second inauguration

Bethenny Frankel slams Kamala Harris for ‘hobnobbing with celebrities’

06:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Bethenny Frankel has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for spending too much time “hobnobbing with celebrities” during her failed presidential campaign against Donald Trump.

The former Real Housewives of New York City star, 54, said she felt the tactic was not successful with the American public.

Kevin E G Perry reports.

Bethenny Frankel slams Kamala Harris for ‘hobnobbing with celebrities’

Russian state TV gloats over Trump victory

06:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Russian leaders and media figures responded with a mix of jubilation and caution after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

“There is only one place in the world where the mood is worse than it is at Kamala Harris’s campaign headquarters: Bankova Street, the office of the president of Ukraine in Kyiv,” the host of the Russian TV show The Big Game, Dmitry Suslov, said after the election, according to a translation from Russia analyst Julia Davis.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Russian state TV gloats over Trump victory and hails Putin for fake Harris support

RFK Jr plans on clearing out entire departments of the FDA

06:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Robert F Kennedy Jr, a likely political appointee in Trump’s new government, has already announced his intentions to clear out departments of the Federal Drug Administration.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to let the former independent presidential candidate take over health, food and medicines government sectors during his second administration despite his much-derided obsession with debunked conspiracies.

Michelle Del Rey reports.

RFK Jr warns he plans on clearing out entire departments of the FDA

Why were the polls wrong about Trump?

05:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris’s collapse Tuesday evening was shocking to many in the political press, who had expected a tight election but one that, if anything, looked to be trending in her favor heading into Election Day.

There were real — or so it was thought — signs of her impending success, analysts thought.

John Bowden looks at what went wrong:

Why the polls got it wrong on Trump — again

Who could be in Trump’s Cabinet?

05:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Now Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, all eyes are on who he appoints as his top team.

The individuals selected for Cabinet positions are meant to be the president’s close allies, ideally with some interest or experience in the department they head.

But the former president has made it clear his priority will be appointing loyalists rather than those best suited for a position – a takeaway from his first administration where he faced record Cabinet turnover.

Ariana Baio reports.

Who could be in Trump’s Cabinet? Contenders for new top team from RFK Jr to Musk

Steve Bannon floats idea of Marjorie Taylor Greene serving as head of Homeland Security

05:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Trump advisor and convicted felon Steve Bannon has floated the idea that Marjorie Taylor Greene should be appointed to the president-elect’s new administration as the head of Homeland Security.

Fellow Trump ally Greene, who was re-elected to Congress for the third time on Tuesday, spoke to Bannon following the sweeping Republican victory.

Mike Bedigan reports.

Bannon suggests Marjorie Taylor Greene serve as Trump’s head of Homeland Security

2024’s election results don’t just resemble Trump’s 2016 win over Hillary Clinton. They’re almost identical

05:00 , Oliver O’Connell

In the end, Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory was decided by Wisconsin, just as it was eight years ago in the presidential race against Hillary Clinton.

Clinton was the favorite to take the White House in 2016 and her defeat sent shockwaves around the country and the world.

This year’s results and how election night played out don’t just resemble the 2016 race – it was almost identical.

Rhian Lubin reports.

2024 election result are almost identical to Trump’s 2016 win over Hillary Clinton

Doctors fear disease outbreaks if RFK Jr has federal health oversight

04:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Rates of routine vaccinations among children are dropping, the percentage of children who are exempted from vaccine requirements is at an all-time high and cases of measles are being reported across the country.

And it could soon get worse.

Alex Woodward reports.

Doctors fear disease outbreaks if RFK Jr has federal health oversight under Trump

04:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The Simpsons fails to predict future — for first time ever

ANALYSIS: Another big winner of the US election — cryptocurrency

04:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Anthony Cuthbertson writes:

As soon as it became apparent that Donald Trump was going to win the presidency, bitcoin’s price began to rally. A few hours before the Republican candidate declared victory, and with leads in all of the crucial swing states, the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency hit a new all-time high.

Continue reading…

There’s another big winner of the US election: cryptocurrency

Report: Australian ambassador to US deleted messages about ‘traitor’ Trump

04:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Kevin Rudd, the Australian ambassador to the United States, deleted tweets criticizing Donald Trump in the campaign’s final week.

Rudd, the former Australian prime minister, scrubbed his X page of past anti-Trump remarks days before the Republican clinched the 2024 election on Wednesday morning, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

He took down posts that referred to Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and as a “traitor to the West,” the outlet reported.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Australian ambassador to US deleted messages about Trump, report says

Mapped: Trump’s 2024 election win

04:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has clinched victory in the 2024 presidential election, sweeping several critical swing states to secure 292 Electoral College votes in a dramatic and historic night for America.

The Republican eliminated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris’s chances of making history as the first female president, and will now return to the White House in January 2025 to serve a second term.

Trump cemented his nationwide victory as the announcement of Wisconsin’s results took him over the line to surpass the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

Trump vs Harris: Presidential election results map

Olympian Simone Biles calls on Biden to take action before term ends

03:55 , Oliver O’Connell

US Olympic champion Simone Biles has a message for President Joe Biden following Donald Trump’s win over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Mr Biden,

I need you to stand up, straighten your back and make some things shake before your departure

xoxo the women in america 💙

Absent from family photo, Melania speaks out for first time since Trump’s election win

03:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Former First Lady Melania Trump commented publicly for the first time since her husband’s election victory.

Hours after President-Elect Donald Trump clinched enough electoral votes for a second term, Melania posted on X on Wednesday evening about the former first couple’s coming return to the White House.

Despite being by her husband’s side to vote and as he claimed victory, she was absent from a family photo of “the whole squad” that even included Elon Musk.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Melania speaks out for first time since Trump’s win – but is absent from family photo

China’s Xi Jinping reacts to Trump win

03:46 , Oliver O’Connell

State media in China reports that President Xi Jinping said of Donald Trump’s win that the international community expects “both countries will respect each other, coexist peacefully, and achieve win-win cooperation”.

He added that US-China cooperation is a long-term goal and reiterated “both countries gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation”.

With reporting from Reuters

Despite little open support for it, Californians may vote to keep forced prison labor

03:40 , Oliver O’Connell

California voters unexpectedly look set to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would end involuntary labor in state prisons, despite the proposition facing little public opposition and coming to the ballot with strong support from state leaders.

As of Wednesday evening, nearly 55 percent of voters were in support of rejecting the amendment, compared with just over 45 percent in favor of supporting it, with over half of the estimated vote total reported, according to The New York Times.

The lack of enthusiasm comes as something of a surprise in deep-blue California.

Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.

Californians may vote to keep forced prison labor, despite little open support for it

What is South Korea’s 4B movement?

03:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The South Korean 4B movement has seen a spike in interest amid the shocking results from the 2024 US presidential election.

Olivia Hebert explains what it is…

What is South Korea’s 4B movement? Interest spikes after US election shock