Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis delivered to your inbox

Get our free Inside Washington email

Donald Trump held his final rally before the midterm elections on Monday night, his fourth in the past five days, amid feverish speculation that the former president was about to announce his own bid for the White House in 2024. Despite a teaser from that group, Mr Trump did not outline his 2024 bid in his 90-minute speech in Ohio, instead saying he would make a “big announcement” next week, on November 15, in Florida. He held his latest rally to boost Senate candidate JD Vance as the Republican and Democratic candidates held their final debate with voters on Monday. Speaking at the rally, Trump described Joe Biden as cognitively challenged and called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi an “animal” for impeaching him twice “for nothing.” Trump’s trip to Ohio followed a particularly rowdy rally in Florida on Sunday afternoon, where he delivered a rambling speech in which he mocked Pelosi again — leading the crowd to break into a “lock her up!” chant.

Basic points

Show latest update 1667881567

Biden urges voters to “protect democracy” in final push

Joe Biden made his final appeal to voters ahead of Tuesday’s midterms, calling on Democrats to protect democracy by defeating Donald Trump’s Republicans, as polls showed the election could tip the balance of power in Washington. “Today we are facing a turning point. We know in our bones that our democracy is at risk, and we know that this is your moment to defend it,” Mr. Biden told a cheering crowd at Bowie State University, a historically black college outside Washington. “The power is in your hands,” he told Democrats. “So vote, get out the vote.” Nonpartisan election forecasters predict Republicans are likely to pick up about 25 seats in the 435-seat House of Representatives, more than enough to win a majority. Analysts said Republicans could also pick up the one seat they need to win control of the Senate. It comes as Joe Biden’s unpopularity has made him an unwelcome guest in the most competitive races, as many Americans have weighed in on his leadership. Only 39 percent approve of his job performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday. Shweta Sharma November 8, 2022 4:26 am 1667880036

Democrats, Republicans hold urgent final debates as election season winds down

In the final hours of a packed midterm election season, candidates and big-name supporters, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, made their final appeals to voters on Monday. The race is heating up as Republicans remain excited about the prospect of winning back Congress and Biden insists his party would “surprise the living devil out of a lot of people.” “We know in our bones that our democracy is at risk,” Mr. Biden said during an evening rally in Maryland, where Democrats have one of their best chances to reclaim a Republican-held governorship. “I want you to know, we’ll meet right now.” Returning to the White House shortly after, Mr. Biden was more candid, saying: “I think we’re going to win the Senate. I think the Parliament is tougher.” Asked what the reality of governance will be like, he replied: “More difficult.” Democrats argue that Republican victories could profoundly and negatively reshape the country, eliminating abortion rights nationwide and unleashing broad threats to the very future of American democracy. Republicans say the public is tired of Biden’s policies amid high inflation and concerns about crime. Shweta Sharma November 8, 2022 4:00 am 1667877755

Trump ends his rally

As the music peaked, Mr. Trump ended his rally with a rhythmic chant: “We will make America strong again. We will make America rich again. We will make America strong again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And we will make America great again. “Thank you Ohio, thank you. God bless you. JD, go get them. Io Dodds8 November 2022 03:22 1667877338

No Trump 2024 announcement today

There it is. Donald Trump has refused to say whether he will run for president in 2024, promising only a “very big announcement” next Tuesday. “Not to detract from tomorrow’s very important, even critical election … I will be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, November 15, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida,” he told the crowd. , eliciting huge cheers. “We don’t want anything to detract from the importance of tomorrow, do you understand that JD?” follow. Trump teases ‘big announcement’ on November 15th Io Dodds8 November 2022 03:15 1667877221

Trump calls Biden ‘cognitively impaired’

Mr Trump described Joe Biden as cognitively impaired and in no condition to lead, and casually talking about nuclear war with Russia.” He said: “We are a nation where free speech is no longer allowed, where crime is out of control like never before… we are a nation that has become a joke. “We are a nation hostile to liberty, freedom and faith. We are a nation whose economy is collapsing into an abyss … whose supply chain is broken, whose stores are not stocked, whose deliveries are not coming.” “We are a nation where large gangs of sadistic criminals and thieves are encouraged to go into stores and rob them openly, beat up the workers and kill the customers, and make off with guns with goods and no retaliation…” “But,” he concluded, “we are a nation that is not going to allow this horror to continue. Two years ago we were a great nation, and we will be a great nation again.” Io Dodds8 November 2022 03:13 1667877029

“Ukraine would never have happened to me”

Mr. Trump’s line continues: “We are a nation consumed by the Green New Deal of the radical left, yet everyone knows that the Green New Deal will lead to our total destruction…” He attacked electric cars, Chinese minerals, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, claiming: “It could never happen with me as your commander-in-chief, and for four straight years it hasn’t. And China with Taiwan is Next .” Io Dodds8 November 2022 03:10 1667876938

“We are a failed nation”

Mr Trump appears to be wrapping up his speech, judging by the stirring Hollywood-style music in the background. “Now we are a nation in decline. We are a nation that is failing. We are a nation that has the highest inflation in fifty years,” he said, railing against America’s declining stock market and lack of energy independence. “We are a nation that begs Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and many others for oil. “Please, please, help us,” says Joe Biden, when we have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country anywhere in the world…” Io Dodds8 November 2022 03:08 1667876426

Mike Lindell and Marjorie Taylor Green present

Far-right Republican MP Marjorie Taylor Green and election-denying businessman Mike Lindell are seen in the crowd at the rally. Mr Trump personally thanked both figures for coming, saying: “Another warrior, a very shy, very shy person. We’re trying to get her to be a little tougher – Marjorie Taylor Greene.” Of Lindell, who runs the bedding retailer My Pillow, Trump said: “He’s the best in the history of advertising and he’s also a patriot. You know, the FBI raided him. They took his phone. I don’t know what the hell they want to learn about pillows.” Io Dodds8 November 2022 03:00 1667876064

Mr Trump also took the opportunity to plug his social network, Truth Social. “Go out and join the Truth Social,” he told the crowd in Ohio. “It’s great, he’s doing fantastic. It’s better htan twitter, it’s better than all that… it’s hot as a gun.’ Io Dodds8 November 2022 02:54 1667876006

The crowd boos Mike DeWine’s mention

Mr. Trump’s endorsement of Mike DeWine comes after some disagreement between the two men. “You also need to get out and vote to re-elect Gov. Mike DeWine,” he told the Ohio crowd — to mixed cheers and boos — “and your lieutenant governor, John Husted.” He added: “Mike and John were a great team who fought tirelessly to bring jobs and factories back to Ohio. I partnered with him to do that… Mike and John are running against a radical left-wing lunatic, who was a disaster as mayor of Dayton.” Mr. Trump had previously hinted that he disliked Mr. DeWine and stepped up his primary challenge Io Dodds8 November 2022 02:53