Election 2024 live updates: trump rallies in New York; Teamsters union won't endorse in race

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff responded today to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' apparent criticism of Harris for not having biological children at a trump town hall she moderated last night.

"They said that, somehow, because Colin and Ella aren't Kamala's biological children, that she doesn’t have anything in her life to keep her humble. As if keeping women humble, whether you have children or not, is something we should strive for. It is not," Emhoff said at a campaign event in Brooklyn, New York.

Huckabee Sanders, who was moderating a trump town hall in Michigan, said her children keep her humble before she added that Harris “doesn’t have anything keeping her humble.” Harris is a stepmom to two adult children from Emhoff’s previous marriage.

trump briefly interrupted his remarks in Uniondale, New York, as someone approached the stage, apparently acknowledging being more on-edge after Sunday's apparent assassination attempt and the attempt on his life in July.

"I thought this was a wise guy coming up," trump said, interrupting his train of thought.

"This guy, I thought, I'm getting ready, I'm going like this," he continued, raising his arm into a defensive stance. "You know, I've got a little bit of a yip problem here, right? That was amazing. I was ready to start duking it out."

trump appeared to admit during a rally that he has not read his wife Melania's book, which is set to be released next month.

"I hope she said good things about — I don't know. I didn't — so busy," trump said when talking about the book.

"She just wrote a book called 'Melania.' Go out and buy it. It's great. And if she says bad things about me, I'll call you all up and I'll say, 'Don't buy it. Get rid of it,'" he added as the crowd laughed.

At his rally in Uniondale, New York, trump addressed the second apparent assassination attempt.

"God has now spared my life. It must have been God. Thank you," trump said as his supporters cheered.

"Not once, but twice," he added, referring to the attempt on his life in July in Butler, Pennsylvania.

During a Hispanic Heritage Month event at the White House, Biden pushed back against trump's recent rhetoric about immigrants.

"Let me be clear: We believe in an immigration system that reflects our values," Biden said. "We don’t demonize immigrants. We don’t single them out for attacks. We don’t believe they’re poisoning the blood of the country. We’re a nation of immigrants, and that’s why we’re so damn strong."

trump has said immigrants are "poisoning the blood of our country," among other derogatory comments about migrants.

Biden also said he was "so happy" about Harris' being the Democratic nominee and slammed "the other team" as "the most closed-minded people I've ever dealt with."

Iranians sent "unsolicited emails" that included an excerpt of nonpublic material stolen from trump’s campaign to people associated with Biden’s campaign over the summer, the FBI and two other government agencies said today.

"There is currently no information indicating those recipients replied," said the statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI.

"Furthermore, Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public material associated with former President trump’s campaign to U.S. media organizations," the statement continued. "This malicious cyber activity is the latest example of Iran’s multi-pronged approach, as noted in the joint August statement, to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our electoral process."

NBC News reported this month that the Justice Department plans to file criminal charges in relation to the hacking of trump's campaign.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said today that they haven't uncovered hazardous material in any of the suspicious packages sent to elections officials in more than a dozen states.

In its ongoing investigation, the FBI is taking custody of the packages, some of which contain a white powder substance — in the case of Oklahoma, it turned out to be flour.

The latest packages were sent to election officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island.

Asked whether he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York next week, trump told reporters "probably yes."

World leaders will soon converge in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

trump and Zelenskyy could meet after trump would not say during his Sept. 10 debate with Harris whether he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia.

trump called the Teamsters' decision to not endorse a presidential candidate "a great honor" during a stop in New York.

“The Teamsters carry a lot of weight. The Democrats cannot believe it. Look, it was always automatic that Democrats get the Teamsters, and they said we won’t endorse the Democrats this year. So that was an honor for me," trump said.

trump also reacted to the Federal Reserve's cutting interest rates by half a percentage point, saying that it was "a big cut" and that it shows “the economy is very bad."

During a stop in New York, trump addressed the apparent assassination attempt during his round of golf, telling reporters that "you don’t want to ever be curtailed because of the crazy people out there."

"We’ll let the Secret Service determine that if they think things are safe, you do it," he added.

He added that he doesn't feel he is at risk, saying, "I just have to lead my life, and I have to make America great again. That’s what it’s all about.”

trump's and Harris' running mates will attend a business roundtable meeting tomorrow morning in Washington, the campaigns confirmed.

Vance and Walz are both set to address the roundtable, though the exact timing and order of their remarks are unclear.

trump will also be in Washington tomorrow for campaign events in the evening.

The Harris and trump campaigns both responded to the Teamsters not endorsing a candidate in the presidential election.

"While Donald trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career," Harris campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said. "The Vice President’s strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organized labor."

While the national Teamsters union did not endorse a candidate, local chapters, including Philadelphia and the Teamsters National Black Caucus, have endorsed Harris.

trump's campaign also responded to the announcement, saying the Teamsters want trump back in the White House.

“While the Teamsters Executive Board is making no formal endorsement, the hardworking members of the Teamsters have been loud and clear— they want President trump back in the White House," trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "These hardworking men and women are the backbone of America and President trump will strongly stand up for them when he’s back in the White House."

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell downplayed any potential political impact of the central bank's bigger-than-expected interest rate cut, saying the reduction would take its time to have an discernible impact on the economy.

"I would also point out that the things that we do really affect economic conditions for the most part with a lag," Powell said at a news conference following the Fed's announcement while reiterating the central bank's independence from politics.

It's the first time since the early days of the pandemic the Fed has cut its benchmark rate. Since then, it had raised the rate and held it steady to combat inflation. Now, inflation has cooled significantly, and Powell and his colleagues are moving to shore up a solid but softening jobs market. trump had spoken out against a rate cut before the election, saying it would help Democrats.

trump, a proponent of low rates who appointed Powell, often criticized him both while he was in office and after his term. trump has promised to bring down rates if he wins again while also suggesting he would seek to exert more control over the central bank.

Asked to explain his past comments about trump's policies, Vance said he and trump do not agree on every issue.

"Do I agree with President trump on every single issue? Of course nobody agrees with any person on every single issue," he said. "You know what the difference is between me and President trump? Number one, he got millions and millions of Republican primary voters. He is the leader of this party, and he sets the agenda."

Vance did not specify what policies he and trump disagree on. During the presidential debate last week, trump said he and Vance had never discussed what he would do if an abortion ban crossed his desk. Previously, Vance said trump would veto a national abortion ban.

At a rally in North Carolina, Vance said the Federal Reserve's half-percentage-point cut to its key interest rate was "nothing" compared to what Americans have gone through.

"A half a point is nothing compared to what American families have been dealing with for the last three years," he said after the crowd booed the news. "A half a point is not going to help those families a whole lot. It’s better than nothing."

Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Christopher Waller, who voted for the half-point cut, were appointed by trump, and Michelle Bowman, who was the sole member of the Fed to vote for a quarter-point cut, is also a trump appointee.

A spokesperson for Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders today defended her comments last night that appeared to criticize Harris for not having biological children.

“Vice President Harris, without winning any votes, and after driving up prices by 20% and allowing nearly ten million illegal border crossings, is claiming she alone can solve America’s problems," the spokesperson, Sam Dubke, said in a statement. "That’s the lack of humility Governor Sanders was referencing.”

During a trump town hall that Huckabee Sanders moderated last night, she said her children keep her humble before adding that Harris "doesn't have anything keeping her humble." The vice president is a stepmom to two adult children from first gentleman Doug Emhoff’s previous marriage.

The Teamsters union today announced it is not endorsing a candidate in the presidential election. In the past, the Teamsters have endorsed Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business," Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. "We sought commitments from both trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries—and to honor our members’ right to strike—but were unable to secure those pledges.”

Read the full story here.

The Federal Reserve today said it was lowering its key interest rate by half a percentage point, an unusually aggressive move designed to cushion the economy from a further slowdown.

In announcing the rate cut, the central bank noted job gains had slowed while inflation had made further progress toward its 2% goal.

Markets reacted positively to the cut, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 stock indexes both hitting all-time highs.

Read the full story here.

trump supporters who attended his Flint, Michigan, town hall last night had mixed views on whether he can be held responsible for the high temperature around political discourse. One supporter, Marshall Dunn, said both sides are to blame for damaging rhetoric.

"trump is also kind of fiery on stuff. I think both sides need to cool it down a little bit," he said.

June Duthler, a supporter from Imlay City, agreed that both parties bear responsibility. Duthler pointed to Democrats' saying trump should never be president again but added, "I love trump and I love his policies, but sometimes he could just keep his mouth shut."

While addressing the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute conference this afternoon, Harris brought up a ProPublica report on a Georgia woman who died from abortion complications and criticized the GOP for pushing for abortion bans. NBC News has not confirmed ProPublica's reporting.

"Many of these trump abortion bans that make no exception for rape or incest, it's immoral," she said.

trump, who has touted his role in appointing a conservative-majority Supreme Court, leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, has said abortion should be decided at the state level. He also has said he would not sign a federal abortion ban, although he refused to answer recently when asked if he would veto such legislation. 

Here is NBC News' list of states where abortion is legal, banned or restricted.

In remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s annual leadership conference this afternoon, Harris jabbed at trump’s remarks during their debate last week as she warned that the former president intends to end the Affordable Care Act if he is re-elected.

“So on that point about the Affordable Care Act, all based on concepts. So we planned concepts,” Harris said as she laughed and drew cheers from the crowd. “Concepts, concepts.”

Harris’ comments appeared to poke fun at trump’s answer during the debate this month when asked about whether he has a plan for health care reform. The former president replied, “I have concepts of a plan.”

Vance will address a meeting of the Business Roundtable tomorrow morning in Washington, a Vance spokesperson confirms to NBC News.

trump will also be in the nation’s capital tomorrow for two evening campaign events. trump addressed the same gathering of business executives in a closed-door gathering earlier this year during a visit to Capitol Hill. 

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder confirmed to NBC News that there's a heightened posture on the ground at trump's rally following the apparent assassination attempt on him Sunday.

“That’s a big game,” he said. “That steps up for us.” 

Ryder said he is "one hundred percent" confident in the security at the rally today.

The commissioner added that there had been a false report of a bomb being found outside the Nassau County Coliseum, saying a man had claimed he saw somebody with a bomb running through the woods.

A vote on a stopgap funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown is expected to fail in Congress, a consequence that does not sit well with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. NBC News’ Julie Tsirkin explains why House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing criticism from his own party over his resolutions.

A bipartisan group of Wisconsin business leaders launched a new ad urging moderate voters in the state to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket, saying that a trump presidency could have detrimental effects on the economy.

The ad, which is part of the Project Democracy political action committee’s “Business Case Against trump” ad campaign, showcases a bipartisan group of five prominent Wisconsin business leaders who argue that democratic stability and economic prosperity go hand in hand, and that trump poses threats to both.

“As a lifelong Republican and Wisconsin business leader, I believe it’s important for voters to carefully consider how crucial stability and rational decision-making are to our economic performance,” Anoop Prakash, a Wisconsin manufacturing executive who is featured in the ad, said in a statement. “I’m confident Vice President Harris will be a steady hand and shepherd our economy and democracy with integrity, while Donald trump will be an unpredictable and volatile influence on growth and investment.”  

House Republicans today are expected to derail their own plan to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month, with the party divided over the length of a short-term funding bill and what, if anything, should be attached to it.

Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan calls for extending funding at current spending levels for six months, through March 2025, and linking it with the SAVE Act, trump-backed legislation requiring that people show proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The funding package is on track to fail given Republicans’ razor-thin 220-211 majority and the fact that a number of GOP lawmakers — a mix of fiscal conservatives and defense hawks — have vowed to tank it.

Democrats want a “clean” three-month funding patch with nothing attached and nearly all plan to vote no. Many oppose the SAVE Act, noting that it is already illegal, and rare, for noncitizens to vote.

Read the full story here.

The Harris campaign released ads today targeting Asian American voters and highlighting its commitment to reproductive freedom.

The ad titled “My Mother,” is aimed at mobilizing Asian American voters and is set to air in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The 60-second ad features Harris’ remarks at the Democratic National Convention last month paying tribute to her late mother, breast cancer researcher Shyamala Gopalan.

Another ad, titled “Monster,” to air on national TV during large viewership moments, features Hadley Duvall, a Kentucky woman who became pregnant after her stepfather raped her at age 12 after years of sexual abuse. In the ad, Duvall says that while she “had options” after she became pregnant, other women have lost the ability to have abortions following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Montana's Senate race will include Green Party candidate Robert Barb on the November ballot, the state's Supreme Court ruled yesterday.

The Montana Democratic Party had sought to remove Barb from the ballot, arguing that the Green Party did not properly nominate him after the winner of its primary ended his campaign.

The court's decision could be a blow to Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, as Barb has the potential to pull liberal-leaning voters away from the incumbent in a state trump won by 16 points in 2020.

Tester is facing a hotly contested race against Republican Tim Sheehy that could determine which party controls the Senate. Libertarian candidate Sid Daoud is also expected to appear on the ballot.

At the Aspen Institute's cybersecurity summit, FBI Director Christopher Wray made his first public remarks on his agency's investigation into the apparent assassination attempt on trump on Sunday.

"For the second time in just over two months, we’ve witnessed what appears to be an attempt to attack our democracy and our democratic process, and I’m relieved that former President trump is safe, and I want the American people to know that the men and women of the FBI are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened," he said.

Wray said that the work is "very much ongoing" and that the FBI is limited in what it can share with the public, adding, "we're working around the clock to investigate this" and "have dedicated the full force of the FBI to this investigation."

A group of more than 100 Republican former national security and policy officials who served in the Reagan, both Bushes and trump administrations and in Congress announced their endorsement of Harris’ presidential campaign.

The former officials said Harris is the kind of “principled, serious" and “steady leader” the country needs, who has “demonstrated that she can engage in orderly national security decision-making, without the constant drama and Cabinet turnover of the trump Administration.”

“We believe that she possesses the essential qualities to serve as President and Donald trump does not,” the coalition of Republicans said in a statement. “We therefore support her election to be President.”

trump supporters and Democrats are scheduled to hold competing events on Long Island ahead of trump’s rally tonight in Uniondale, New York.

Nassau County Democrats will hold an anti-trump rally in Uniondale at 12 p.m.

Suffolk police will hold a pre-rally and tailgate in support of trump in Garden City at 2 p.m.

There will also be a rally in Uniondale to support the Haitian immigrant community and denounce the false claims directed at them, which trump and Vance have amplified, at 3 p.m.

The president of Wittenberg University, a liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio, condemned the false claims pushed by trump and Vance saying Haitian immigrants in the city have eaten cats and dogs.

“They’re falsehoods, and I don’t know that there’s anything I could say or anybody could say to change their opinion,” Michael Frandsen said during an interview on CNN’s “The Situation Room” yesterday.

Wittenberg University received bomb threats by email seemingly "from the same source" after the baseless claims, Frandsen said, which prompted the school to cancel in-person classes and hold them virtually. He said the school has shared those emails with the city police department and the FBI.

He said some of the threats "actually named students by name. We have had threats of physical violence, of bombing and of shooting, so lots of different sorts of threats.

Members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus last night elected Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., as its new chairman after Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., the only other candidate, dropped out of the race, according to two GOP sources familiar with the matter.

The election was called after Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., resigned as the group's chairman last week in the middle of his term following his primary loss this summer to a trump-backed challenger, GOP state Sen. John McGuire. 

Good had originally endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential primary, dividing the Freedom Caucus.

Harris is a staunch trump ally. His term will only run through early January 2025. Freedom Caucus members, who frequently clash with and create headaches for GOP leadership, will select a new chairman for the next Congress, though Harris will have an opportunity to run for a full-two-year term at that time.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will be in upper Manhattan today and then Brooklyn to deliver remarks at a pair of campaign receptions.

Vance will deliver remarks at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, at 3 p.m. ET.

In the evening, he will attend a reception and dinner fundraiser in Washington, D.C.

trump will speak at an indoor rally in Uniondale, New York, at 7 p.m.

It will be trump's first campaign rally since the apparent attempt on his life Sunday.

NBC New York reported that heightened security measures will be in place.

"This will be the safest place in the country on that day, Wednesday," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder told NBC New York.

Harris spoke at a discussion hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia yesterday, weeks after trump questioned her racial identity at a separate event with NABJ members. During the interview, Harris rebuked false claims spread by trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about Haitian immigrants abusing pets in Springfield, Ohio. NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez has more.

Harris will deliver remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's annual leadership conference in Washington, D.C., at 12:15 p.m. ET.

The vice president will then participate in a virtual campaign event, at 3:45 p.m.

Voters in the key battleground of Pennsylvania may notice their ballots look different this year, as the state prepares to deploy a new design in the general election for the first time this year that aims to reduce the number of rejected votes.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt officially certified the state’s ballot for this fall’s presidential election Monday after the state Supreme Court upheld a ruling that rejected third-party candidate Cornel West’s effort to appear on it, which was the final outstanding legal issue for the ballot.

That cleared the way for counties to start preparing, printing and distributing mail ballots to those who request them. Once they’re available, voters will be able to head to their local election offices and request and cast mail ballots in person.

Read the full story here.