The November 5 deadline is getting closer, which does not prevent the American presidential campaign from offering its share of surprises. While Republican candidate Donald Trump multiplies confusing speeches – to the point that the press wonders if he is not too old to be president – he continues his momentum by affirming that the Gaza Strip could be “even better than Monaco”. During this final stretch, the supporters also come out of their hiding places. On the right, Tesla boss Elon Musk only has eyes for Donald Trump; on the left, Barack Obama puts his political aura at the service of Kamala Harris.
Statement of the week: for Trump, Gaza could be “even better than Monaco”
Donald Trump estimated, Monday October 7, that the Gaza Strip, bombarded for a year by the Israeli army, had the potential to be “even better than Monaco” when it was reconstructed. “It could be the most beautiful place, with its weather, the water, everything, the climate could be magnificent,” said the Republican candidate for the White House during an interview given to the first anniversary of October 7. “I think it could be even better than Monaco”, a wealthy principality on the Côte d’Azur, added the former Republican president, without mentioning the humanitarian crisis in the territory or the toll of Palestinian civilian victims.
Question of the week: Is Trump too old?
It is a weapon that he has long used against his former opponent Joe Biden in the presidential race. And today she turns against him. The 78-year-old candidate, who would be the oldest president to take the oath of office if he wins, sees his intellectual faculties called into question in the public debate. While the ex-real estate tycoon continues confusing speeches and swearing during his meetings, the New York Times alerts to some form of cognitive decline, related to age or something else. Note that these last weeks of the campaign have been marked by off-topic anecdotes from Donald Trump on shark attacks and electric boats, or the relaying of a conspiracy theory claiming that Haitian immigrants eat cats and dogs.
History of putting a coin back in the machine about the Republican’s faculties: Kamala Harris published a report on Saturday containing details about his health and medical history. “She possesses the physical and mental resilience to successfully discharge the duties of the presidency, including those of chief executive, head of state and commander in chief,” commented her physician, Dr. Joshua Simmons.
Supporters of the week: Musk all the way, Obama too
This week, the billionaire and boss of SpaceX increased his love for Republican candidate Donald Trump. Elon Musk is not only betting on the return of the ex-president to the White House, but also underlines his lasting desire to influence world decisions. At the beginning of October, the billionaire appeared for the first time at a political meeting, jumping on stage as he joined Trump, and at the same time becoming a new source of memes, these diverted images which abound on his social network, X.
On the Democratic side, it was Barack Obama who used all his oratorical talents on Thursday to sound the charge against Donald Trump. The ex-president delivered a plea for Democrat Kamala Harris. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (north-east), the icon of the American left sharply warned voters of the prospect of a “close election”. In an America still marked by post-Covid inflation, “there are a lot of Americans who are struggling. […] So I understand why people want change,” he agreed. Before insisting: “Kamala Harris is ready to do the job.”
Revelations of the week: when Trump sent anti-Covid tests to Putin
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Donald Trump secretly sent Covid-19 screening tests to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin when he was in the White House, and while the United States lacked them, a new book reveals forthcoming from Bob Woodward, American journalism legend.
A behind-the-scenes chronicler of the White House for half a century with the Washington PostBob Woodward revealed with Carl Bernstein the Watergate scandal which resulted in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. In his new book “War”, to be published on October 15, he also writes that Donald Trump maintained a personal relationship with Vladimir Putin, despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Image of the week: Kamala Harris has a beer live on a TV show
If Kamala Harris wins the American elections, it is certain that beer will make a comeback at the White House. At least that’s what she revealed during a comedy show on Tuesday, October 8, while sharing a beer with the famous presenter Stephen Colbert. The Democratic candidate opened a can of Miller High life, a famous American lager, on the set of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, breaking with the last two tenants of the White House, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, who do not don’t drink.
The figure of the week: a billion dollar donation for Harris
The Democratic candidate has garnered nearly a billion dollars in donations, compared to just over 600 million for her Republican rival. Figures that come from the site Open Secrets and taken up by several American media. A historic record, just 80 days after his official campaign declaration on August 6 and while the race for donations continues while awaiting the presidential election on November 5. The total amount of his September harvest has not yet been disclosed.
The report of the week: the American election seen from the “Dallas” ranch
Our journalist visited the ranch which served as the setting for the legendary series Dallas in the 1980s, and where the population remains fervent supporters of Donald Trump. We are in very rural Collin County, a Republican stronghold located 40 kilometers northeast of Dallas where the Ewing family’s Southfork ranch is located. In 2020, 51.4% of residents gave Trump their confidence over Biden, a drop in support compared to 2016 when 56.2% of them put a ballot in the box for the former billionaire. The question is whether they will mobilize for their candidate a third time.