US President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced rare criticism of two of his most steadfast aides, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Bill Barr, less than a month before elections.

Fuming in a telephone interview with Fox News, Trump, who has been forced off the campaign trail by a Covid-19 diagnosis, demanded that both cabinet members take action concerning the previous administration of Barack Obama.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-us-presidential-debate-to-be-virtual-trump-says-wont-participate-333504">Also read|&nbsp;Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate'</a>

Trump said Pompeo should find a way to release emails from Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, a longstanding cause for Republican activists who attack her use of a private server while secretary of state.

"They're in the State Department but Mike Pompeo has been unable to get them out, which is very sad, actually," Trump said.

"I'm not happy about him for that reason," Trump said. "He's running the State Department -- you get them out."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/internet-goes-berserk-after-errant-housefly-on-pences-head-photobombs-vp-debate-333508">Also read|&nbsp;Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate</a>

Pompeo has until now been one of the few aides never to cross the mercurial Trump, who has ruthlessly criticized both Pompeo's and Barr's predecessors after firing them.

Ironically, Pompeo rose to political prominence for his fiery tone in questioning Clinton when he was a congressman looking into the deadly attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Trump -- who is trailing in polls to former vice president Joe Biden -- has been urging Barr to prosecute members of the Obama administration for investigating his campaign's relationship with Russia.

"To be honest, Bill Barr is either going to go down as the greatest attorney general in the history of the country or he's going to go down as a very sad situation," Trump said.

"I mean, I'll be honest with you, he's got all the information he needs," Trump said of indictments.

Trump has pushed a conspiracy theory that the Obama administration worked to thwart him through actions including the probe of the Russia "hoax."

An investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller found that Russia sought to boost the Trump campaign.

Mueller provided significant evidence that Trump associates coordinated with, cooperated with, encouraged or gave support to Russia's interference. But the investigator said he didn't have enough to charge any campaign member with conspiracy.&nbsp;

Trump's first national security advisor, Michael Flynn, admitted he lied to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador.

Barr, while seeing no grounds to indict Obama officials over the Russia probe, has been a vocal defender of the president.

Barr was a key figure in the forcible June 1 dispersal of anti-racism protesters outside the White House before Trump posed for pictures outside a nearby church.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced rare criticism of two of his most steadfast aides, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Bill Barr, less than a month before elections.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced rare criticism of two of his most steadfast aides, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Bill Barr, less than a month before elections. Fuming in a telephone interview with Fox News, Trump, who has been forced off the campaign trail by a Covid-19 diagnosis, demanded that both cabinet members take action concerning the previous administration of Barack Obama. Also read| Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' Trump said Pompeo should find a way to release emails from Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, a longstanding cause for Republican activists who attack her use of a private server while secretary of state. "They're in the State Department but Mike Pompeo has been unable to get them out, which is very sad, actually," Trump said. "I'm not happy about him for that reason," Trump said. "He's running the State Department -- you get them out." Also read| Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate Pompeo has until now been one of the few aides never to cross the mercurial Trump, who has ruthlessly criticized both Pompeo's and Barr's predecessors after firing them. Ironically, Pompeo rose to political prominence for his fiery tone in questioning Clinton when he was a congressman looking into the deadly attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya. Trump -- who is trailing in polls to former vice president Joe Biden -- has been urging Barr to prosecute members of the Obama administration for investigating his campaign's relationship with Russia. "To be honest, Bill Barr is either going to go down as the greatest attorney general in the history of the country or he's going to go down as a very sad situation," Trump said. "I mean, I'll be honest with you, he's got all the information he needs," Trump said of indictments. Trump has pushed a conspiracy theory that the Obama administration worked to thwart him through actions including the probe of the Russia "hoax." An investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller found that Russia sought to boost the Trump campaign. Mueller provided significant evidence that Trump associates coordinated with, cooperated with, encouraged or gave support to Russia's interference. But the investigator said he didn't have enough to charge any campaign member with conspiracy. Trump's first national security advisor, Michael Flynn, admitted he lied to the FBI about conversations with the Russian ambassador. Barr, while seeing no grounds to indict Obama officials over the Russia probe, has been a vocal defender of the president. Barr was a key figure in the forcible June 1 dispersal of anti-racism protesters outside the White House before Trump posed for pictures outside a nearby church.

Trump launches rare attack on loyal aides Pompeo, Barr

&nbsp;

The social media giant Facebook has decided to stop all political and social ad campaigns after the US polls close on November 03.

Facebook had earlier declared that the platform will not be entertaining or allowing any political ad campaigns near the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US elections</a>. However, a fixed timeline was not revealed at that time.

Now, the decision has been announced explaining that in addition to the political campaigns, all ads created to social issues will also face the ban.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/world/six-takeaways-from-the-vice-presidential-debate-333402">Also read:&nbsp;Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate</a>

In addition to this, if any political party claims victory or predicts results before the the administration or main media houses release the result, Facebook will be adding additional notices around those posts.

"If a candidate or party declares premature victory before a race is called by major media outlets, we will add more specific information in the notifications that counting is still in progress and no winner has been determined," said vice president of integrity Guy Rosen.

The decision has been taken as an extension of the careful approach that various social media platforms such as Twitter and&nbsp;Facebook have adopted for the past few months in respect to the misinformation being spread about the US elections.

Facebook's decision to suspend all such posts is&nbsp;being read as an effort to curb President Trump's warning of not coooperating during the transition of power if he loses the elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-us-presidential-debate-to-be-virtual-trump-says-wont-participate-333504">Also read:&nbsp;Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate'</a>

"We will remove statements of intent or advocacy to go to an election site with military language," the&nbsp;vice president of content policy Monika Bickert.

"We will also remove calls to go to polls to monitor if it involves exerting control or showing power."

This decision has come after Facebook actively banned the posts that urged citizens to head out and cast their votes, as the social media platform said it sends out a wrong message with respect to the existing COVID-19 guidelines of staying indoors.

Facebook has also revealed that the platform has removed nearly 120,000 posts on Facebook and Instagram that were spreading the wrong information and and has added warning labels on more than 150 million posts on Facebook.

The platform is also redirecting people to voting information centre that has been set up by facebook and has, till now, helped nearly 2.5 million people register to vote.

The experts at Facebook are also prepared to spot, identify and kill the posts and content that can go viral and result in acivil unrest.

Nick Clegg, a former deputy British prime minister who is Facebook's head of global affairs, said recently that the social platform could take exceptional steps to "restrict the circulation of content" in case of turmoil.

"There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances," Clegg said,

The social media giant Facebook has decided to stop all political and social ad campaigns after the US polls close on November 03. Facebook had earlier declared that the platform will not be entertaining or allowing any political ad campaigns near the upcoming US elections.

The social media giant Facebook has decided to stop all political and social ad campaigns after the US polls close on November 03. Facebook had earlier declared that the platform will not be entertaining or allowing any political ad campaigns near the upcoming US elections. However, a fixed timeline was not revealed at that time. Now, the decision has been announced explaining that in addition to the political campaigns, all ads created to social issues will also face the ban. Also read: Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate In addition to this, if any political party claims victory or predicts results before the the administration or main media houses release the result, Facebook will be adding additional notices around those posts. "If a candidate or party declares premature victory before a race is called by major media outlets, we will add more specific information in the notifications that counting is still in progress and no winner has been determined," said vice president of integrity Guy Rosen. The decision has been taken as an extension of the careful approach that various social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have adopted for the past few months in respect to the misinformation being spread about the US elections. Facebook's decision to suspend all such posts is being read as an effort to curb President Trump's warning of not coooperating during the transition of power if he loses the elections. Also read: Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' "We will remove statements of intent or advocacy to go to an election site with military language," the vice president of content policy Monika Bickert. "We will also remove calls to go to polls to monitor if it involves exerting control or showing power." This decision has come after Facebook actively banned the posts that urged citizens to head out and cast their votes, as the social media platform said it sends out a wrong message with respect to the existing COVID-19 guidelines of staying indoors. Facebook has also revealed that the platform has removed nearly 120,000 posts on Facebook and Instagram that were spreading the wrong information and and has added warning labels on more than 150 million posts on Facebook. The platform is also redirecting people to voting information centre that has been set up by facebook and has, till now, helped nearly 2.5 million people register to vote. The experts at Facebook are also prepared to spot, identify and kill the posts and content that can go viral and result in acivil unrest. Nick Clegg, a former deputy British prime minister who is Facebook's head of global affairs, said recently that the social platform could take exceptional steps to "restrict the circulation of content" in case of turmoil. "There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances," Clegg said,

Facebook to ban political ads after US election poll ends to curb fake news

Calling Iran, China and Russia as "leading influencers", White House in Wednesday expressed its concerns over the hacking of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">2020 presidential election </a>in the United States

"My biggest concern on something that can happen on the Election Day - hackers hacking to the Secretary of State website to change vote totals," White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said, as quoted by Sputnik News.&nbsp;

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="US Vice-Presidential debate: Kamala Harris blasts Trump govt for 'greatest failure' over COVID-19 pandemic">US Vice-Presidential debate: Kamala Harris blasts Trump govt for 'greatest failure' over COVID-19 pandemic</a>

He also described Russia, China and Iran as "leading influencers" on the presidential election.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-china-will-pay-big-price-for-coronavirus-outbreak-333368">Donald Trump says China will pay 'big price' for coronavirus outbreak</a>

In early September, Microsoft unveiled a report which accused Russia, China and Iran of causing cyberattacks to target individuals and organisations who are related to the US election.&nbsp;

"In recent weeks, Microsoft has detected cyberattacks targeting people and organisations involved in the upcoming presidential election, including unsuccessful attacks on people associated with both the Trump and Biden campaigns," said Microsoft's corporate vice president Tom Burt.

The tech giant also said staff from the campaigns of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Democratic nominee <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>have also been targetted.&nbsp;

"The activity we are announcing today makes clear that foreign activity groups have stepped up their efforts targeting the 2020 election as had been anticipated, and is consistent with what the US government and others have reported," Burt added.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Calling Iran, China and Russia as "leading influencers", White House in Wednesday expressed its concerns over the hacking of 2020 presidential election in the United States "My biggest concern on something that can happen on the Election Day - hackers hacking to the Secretary of State website to change vote totals," White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said, as quoted by Sputnik News.

Calling Iran, China and Russia as "leading influencers", White House in Wednesday expressed its concerns over the hacking of 2020 presidential election in the United States "My biggest concern on something that can happen on the Election Day - hackers hacking to the Secretary of State website to change vote totals," White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said, as quoted by Sputnik News. Also read | US Vice-Presidential debate: Kamala Harris blasts Trump govt for 'greatest failure' over COVID-19 pandemic He also described Russia, China and Iran as "leading influencers" on the presidential election. Also read | Donald Trump says China will pay 'big price' for coronavirus outbreak In early September, Microsoft unveiled a report which accused Russia, China and Iran of causing cyberattacks to target individuals and organisations who are related to the US election. "In recent weeks, Microsoft has detected cyberattacks targeting people and organisations involved in the upcoming presidential election, including unsuccessful attacks on people associated with both the Trump and Biden campaigns," said Microsoft's corporate vice president Tom Burt. The tech giant also said staff from the campaigns of President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have also been targetted. "The activity we are announcing today makes clear that foreign activity groups have stepped up their efforts targeting the 2020 election as had been anticipated, and is consistent with what the US government and others have reported," Burt added.

US election 2020: White House official expresses concern over hacking on day of voting

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris sat a dozen feet apart Wednesday, separated by Plexiglas and an ideological chasm, for a 90-minute debate that for all the hype seems unlikely to affect the trajectory of presidential campaign.

Harris wanted to talk about President Donald Trump. Pence wanted to talk about Joe Biden. And neither had much interest in answering any of the questions posed by the moderator — or by the other candidate — leading to a mostly staid series of two-minute set pieces.

It was civil. It was conventional. It was not especially scintillating or revealing. But that was still a vast improvement over the unruly shout-out that Americans suffered through last week in the first presidential debate. It even felt normal — minus the Plexiglas plates erected onstage — as neither candidate focused on the most compelling news development in the nation: Trump’s contracting of the coronavirus, his hospitalization and return to the White House amid unanswered questions about the full nature of his medical status.

By the end of the night, the debate seemed a news cycle or a presidential tweet away from being forgotten, and for a Biden ticket that is ahead in the polls, that is welcome news. That is the first of six takeaways from the lone vice-presidential debate, with 27 days left until Election Day:

The race was not upended.&nbsp;

It was telling that a fly that landed on Pence’s head partway through the debate was among the biggest buzz generators of the night.

For all the high Democratic expectations around Harris and her past debate performances, she did not eviscerate Pence. As for Pence, he turned in an effective, dutiful, conservative case for Trump, the likes of which the president rarely articulates himself.

“There are things the campaigns can use from this,” said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. “But the trajectory of the race is in the same place it was 24 hours ago.”

And that trajectory is not good for Trump.

“Mike Pence threw snacks to his base but offered nothing substantive to gain ground,” said Jess O’Connell, a Democratic strategist.

Given the age of Biden, 77, and the fact that this would be a 74-year-old Trump’s final term, it is quite possible that clips from the debate could have a bigger impact on the 2024 race than on 2020.&nbsp;

Harris tried to keep 2020 as a referendum on Trump.&nbsp;

It is not often that the first lines of a debate will be among the most important, but the opening answer from Harris amounted to a succinct summary not just of her strategy for the next 90 minutes, but of the Democratic plan for the final four weeks of the race: “The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.”

She was talking about the coronavirus. And looking straight into the camera, she delivered a devastating critique of the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic, ticking off a series of blunt and brutal statistics: 210,000 dead, 7 million cases, one in five businesses closed and more than 30 million filing for unemployment.

Harris navigated the potentially tricky waters of attacking the administration without personalizing matters around a president still recovering from the virus.

She accused the administration of muzzling the truth (“They knew, and they covered it up”) and not having a clear path forward (“They still don’t have a plan. They still don’t have a plan”).

And that was just in her first two minutes, which she ended with an exclamation point: “This administration has forfeited their right to reelection.”

Pence had few strong answers, acknowledging the “very challenging time” the nation had been through while trying to focus on some of Trump’s early actions, like suspending travel from China. But his final thought in his first scripted answer was a swipe at Biden, saying that the Democratic plan for COVID-19 of looked “a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about."

It was a sign that …

… Pence wanted to make the election an ideological choice.

Pence was most comfortable on the economy and the traditional Republican message of cutting taxes and regulations, pitching the specifics of the Trump tax cuts in more granular and understandable detail than Trump managed in his own debate performance.

“The American economy — the American comeback is on the ballot,” Pence said.

Over and over, he redirected — sometimes smoothly and sometimes not — questions back to the Biden agenda. When Harris said that Biden would repeal the full Trump tax bill, he pounced, saying that doing so would hike taxes for many Americans ( Harris clarified with Biden’s pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 per year).

The point was not the specifics. It was to frame the election as a choice between competing visions, even if Pence intentionally sought to blur the differences between Harris’ own positions during the primary, such as embracing the Green New Deal and opposing fracking, with those of Biden, who has not taken those same positions.

When in doubt, Pence returned to economics. Such as when he was asked if climate change was an existential threat. Mr. Pence paused, dodged and pivoted to the safe space: “Once again, Sen. Harris is denying the fact that they’re going to raise taxes."

Sara Fagen, a Republican strategist and a former senior official in the George W. Bush White House, praised Pence’s economic focus. “He needed to make the case on the economy, and he’s effectively drawing a contrast between two economic visions for America,” she said.

&nbsp; 
Pence’s interruptions revealed the stage’s gender dynamics.

In the early stretches of the debate, Harris took an extended opportunity not just to defend Biden’s credentials but, step by step, to walk through her own: a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator (“only the second Black woman”) and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“Women always have overcompensate on résumé,” said Alexis Grenell, a Democratic strategist. “Men are evaluated based on potential, and women have to come with receipts. You can hear that in Kamala’s answer.”

There were other gender dynamics at play, including Pence’s regular interruptions.

“I’m speaking,” Harris pushed back at one point. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” she said at another. “He interrupted me, and I’d like to just finish, please,” she said a third time.

It was hard not to see the interjections and pushback refracted through the lens of gender in a contest where the outsize support of women is lifting the Democratic ticket.

Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist, said that Harris “clearly came prepared with strategies for Pence interrupting, talking over her and running over time.”

“She was no doubt aware of the various dynamics and need to thread the needle on balancing being assertive and letting certain attacks go at points so as not to be seen as 'angry’ or ‘overly aggressive,’ which are common sexist racist tropes about women.” said Finney, who was an adviser on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.

Pence, it should be noted, was the only man on the stage Wednesday, with Harris across from him and Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief of USA Today, serving as moderator.

Harris got tangled up on the courts

The weakest moment of the night for Harris came on the courts, when Pence challenged her directly to answer whether she and Biden would endorse expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee for the current vacancy, Amy Coney Barrett, was seated.

Harris dodged. Pence called her out. And Harris dodged some more.

Pence declared at the end of a squirm-worthy segment: “You gave a non-answer. Joe Biden gave a non-answer. The straight answer is, they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election.”

The Biden campaign has clearly decreed that not answering this question — the former vice president has evaded it himself — is more politically palatable than any actual answer it might give. And on Wednesday night, that put Harris in a bind.

“She will be in media trainings as an example of what not to do when avoiding a question,” said Gorman, the Republican strategist.

With four weeks until the election — and upcoming Supreme Court confirming hearings — it is not clear how long the dodge will remain more tenable than an answer.

Harris eventually returned to familiar and safer ground when it comes to the courts: the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to unwind the Affordable Care Act. She turned to the camera to accuse Trump of trying to gut it “literally in the midst of a public health pandemic.”

Pence and Harris spar on race and racial justice.

Harris’ mere presence onstage — the first woman of color on a major party ticket — was a statement in and of itself, an accomplishment Pence acknowledged directly by congratulating her on the “the historic nature of your nomination.”

Still, Pence sought to undercut Harris’ credentials and appeal to Black voters, accusing her of prosecuting more African Americans than whites and saying she did not “lift a finger” for a criminal justice bill that Trump eventually signed.

He elided the inconsistencies of making that argument moments after he had said that it would be an “great insult” to say America was “systemically racist” or that law enforcement officers have an “implicit bias.”

Harris forcefully defended her record. “I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country,” she said.

The two candidates also differed on whether there had been justice for Breonna Taylor, the Black woman who was killed in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, during a police raid. “I don’t believe so,” Harris said. “I trust our justice system,” Pence said of a grand jury decision not to press further charges.

It was a disagreement — but, like much of the night, an expected and uneventful one.

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris sat a dozen feet apart Wednesday, separated by Plexiglas and an ideological chasm, for a 90-minute debate that for all the hype seems unlikely to affect the trajectory of presidential campaign.

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris sat a dozen feet apart Wednesday, separated by Plexiglas and an ideological chasm, for a 90-minute debate that for all the hype seems unlikely to affect the trajectory of presidential campaign. Harris wanted to talk about President Donald Trump. Pence wanted to talk about Joe Biden. And neither had much interest in answering any of the questions posed by the moderator — or by the other candidate — leading to a mostly staid series of two-minute set pieces. It was civil. It was conventional. It was not especially scintillating or revealing. But that was still a vast improvement over the unruly shout-out that Americans suffered through last week in the first presidential debate. It even felt normal — minus the Plexiglas plates erected onstage — as neither candidate focused on the most compelling news development in the nation: Trump’s contracting of the coronavirus, his hospitalization and return to the White House amid unanswered questions about the full nature of his medical status. By the end of the night, the debate seemed a news cycle or a presidential tweet away from being forgotten, and for a Biden ticket that is ahead in the polls, that is welcome news. That is the first of six takeaways from the lone vice-presidential debate, with 27 days left until Election Day: The race was not upended. It was telling that a fly that landed on Pence’s head partway through the debate was among the biggest buzz generators of the night. For all the high Democratic expectations around Harris and her past debate performances, she did not eviscerate Pence. As for Pence, he turned in an effective, dutiful, conservative case for Trump, the likes of which the president rarely articulates himself. “There are things the campaigns can use from this,” said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. “But the trajectory of the race is in the same place it was 24 hours ago.” And that trajectory is not good for Trump. “Mike Pence threw snacks to his base but offered nothing substantive to gain ground,” said Jess O’Connell, a Democratic strategist. Given the age of Biden, 77, and the fact that this would be a 74-year-old Trump’s final term, it is quite possible that clips from the debate could have a bigger impact on the 2024 race than on 2020. Harris tried to keep 2020 as a referendum on Trump. It is not often that the first lines of a debate will be among the most important, but the opening answer from Harris amounted to a succinct summary not just of her strategy for the next 90 minutes, but of the Democratic plan for the final four weeks of the race: “The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.” She was talking about the coronavirus. And looking straight into the camera, she delivered a devastating critique of the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic, ticking off a series of blunt and brutal statistics: 210,000 dead, 7 million cases, one in five businesses closed and more than 30 million filing for unemployment. Harris navigated the potentially tricky waters of attacking the administration without personalizing matters around a president still recovering from the virus. She accused the administration of muzzling the truth (“They knew, and they covered it up”) and not having a clear path forward (“They still don’t have a plan. They still don’t have a plan”). And that was just in her first two minutes, which she ended with an exclamation point: “This administration has forfeited their right to reelection.” Pence had few strong answers, acknowledging the “very challenging time” the nation had been through while trying to focus on some of Trump’s early actions, like suspending travel from China. But his final thought in his first scripted answer was a swipe at Biden, saying that the Democratic plan for COVID-19 of looked “a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about." It was a sign that … … Pence wanted to make the election an ideological choice. Pence was most comfortable on the economy and the traditional Republican message of cutting taxes and regulations, pitching the specifics of the Trump tax cuts in more granular and understandable detail than Trump managed in his own debate performance. “The American economy — the American comeback is on the ballot,” Pence said. Over and over, he redirected — sometimes smoothly and sometimes not — questions back to the Biden agenda. When Harris said that Biden would repeal the full Trump tax bill, he pounced, saying that doing so would hike taxes for many Americans ( Harris clarified with Biden’s pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 per year). The point was not the specifics. It was to frame the election as a choice between competing visions, even if Pence intentionally sought to blur the differences between Harris’ own positions during the primary, such as embracing the Green New Deal and opposing fracking, with those of Biden, who has not taken those same positions. When in doubt, Pence returned to economics. Such as when he was asked if climate change was an existential threat. Mr. Pence paused, dodged and pivoted to the safe space: “Once again, Sen. Harris is denying the fact that they’re going to raise taxes." Sara Fagen, a Republican strategist and a former senior official in the George W. Bush White House, praised Pence’s economic focus. “He needed to make the case on the economy, and he’s effectively drawing a contrast between two economic visions for America,” she said. Pence’s interruptions revealed the stage’s gender dynamics. In the early stretches of the debate, Harris took an extended opportunity not just to defend Biden’s credentials but, step by step, to walk through her own: a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator (“only the second Black woman”) and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Women always have overcompensate on résumé,” said Alexis Grenell, a Democratic strategist. “Men are evaluated based on potential, and women have to come with receipts. You can hear that in Kamala’s answer.” There were other gender dynamics at play, including Pence’s regular interruptions. “I’m speaking,” Harris pushed back at one point. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” she said at another. “He interrupted me, and I’d like to just finish, please,” she said a third time. It was hard not to see the interjections and pushback refracted through the lens of gender in a contest where the outsize support of women is lifting the Democratic ticket. Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist, said that Harris “clearly came prepared with strategies for Pence interrupting, talking over her and running over time.” “She was no doubt aware of the various dynamics and need to thread the needle on balancing being assertive and letting certain attacks go at points so as not to be seen as 'angry’ or ‘overly aggressive,’ which are common sexist racist tropes about women.” said Finney, who was an adviser on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Pence, it should be noted, was the only man on the stage Wednesday, with Harris across from him and Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief of USA Today, serving as moderator. Harris got tangled up on the courts The weakest moment of the night for Harris came on the courts, when Pence challenged her directly to answer whether she and Biden would endorse expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee for the current vacancy, Amy Coney Barrett, was seated. Harris dodged. Pence called her out. And Harris dodged some more. Pence declared at the end of a squirm-worthy segment: “You gave a non-answer. Joe Biden gave a non-answer. The straight answer is, they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election.” The Biden campaign has clearly decreed that not answering this question — the former vice president has evaded it himself — is more politically palatable than any actual answer it might give. And on Wednesday night, that put Harris in a bind. “She will be in media trainings as an example of what not to do when avoiding a question,” said Gorman, the Republican strategist. With four weeks until the election — and upcoming Supreme Court confirming hearings — it is not clear how long the dodge will remain more tenable than an answer. Harris eventually returned to familiar and safer ground when it comes to the courts: the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to unwind the Affordable Care Act. She turned to the camera to accuse Trump of trying to gut it “literally in the midst of a public health pandemic.” Pence and Harris spar on race and racial justice. Harris’ mere presence onstage — the first woman of color on a major party ticket — was a statement in and of itself, an accomplishment Pence acknowledged directly by congratulating her on the “the historic nature of your nomination.” Still, Pence sought to undercut Harris’ credentials and appeal to Black voters, accusing her of prosecuting more African Americans than whites and saying she did not “lift a finger” for a criminal justice bill that Trump eventually signed. He elided the inconsistencies of making that argument moments after he had said that it would be an “great insult” to say America was “systemically racist” or that law enforcement officers have an “implicit bias.” Harris forcefully defended her record. “I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country,” she said. The two candidates also differed on whether there had been justice for Breonna Taylor, the Black woman who was killed in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, during a police raid. “I don’t believe so,” Harris said. “I trust our justice system,” Pence said of a grand jury decision not to press further charges. It was a disagreement — but, like much of the night, an expected and uneventful one.

Six takeaways from the vice-presidential debate

President Donald Trump on Tuesday called an abrupt end to negotiations with Democrats over additional COVID-19 relief

US President Donald Trump halts COVID-19 relief talks

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, when Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced off against Mike Pence at the vice-presidential debate, the encounter put two drastically different debate styles on display: Pence came across as mild-mannered and more formal while Kaine, a litigator by training, was more of an attack dog, with a tendency to interrupt and talk over Pence. Even as Pence made little effort to directly rebut attacks against Donald Trump, Kaine tried at nearly every turn to offer praise for his running mate, Hillary Clinton.

Ahead of this year’s vice-presidential debate Wednesday between Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Pence, The New York Times spoke to Kaine about what Harris should expect, how the news of Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis might affect the vice president and whether Kaine is offering Harris any advice.

The following is an edited and condensed version of the conversation, which was conducted Friday, after Trump announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus but before he was hospitalized.

Q: How does Harris prepare for a debate now in this environment, with the news that Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus?

A: Does it make the debate more important? Does it make the debate less important because people won’t be thinking about the vice-presidential debate? It’s hard to say.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-and-mike-pence-debate-what-to-watch-for-333064">Also read|&nbsp;Kamala Harris and Mike Pence debate: What to watch for</a>

The 2016 debate, there was no incumbent. So both tickets were basically Hillary and Donald Trump wanting to be president and each ticket making the case, “If we succeed, here’s what we want to do, here’s why you should elect us.”

When you have an incumbent, the debate is heavily about, “OK, well, you had a chance, what did you do?” It’s the Ronald Reagan question of Jimmy Carter in 1980, where he looks the American public in the face: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”

So that makes this debate different — both the presidential and vice-presidential debates. It’s not just about, ‘Well, here’s what we’re going to do.’ The Trump-Pence administration has a record. And one of the most top-of-mind pieces of the record is 210,000 people dead and millions having lost their jobs under the Trump administration. And he (Trump) asked Mike Pence on Feb. 26: “Be the head of our coronavirus task force. Lead this effort for the United States.” I would venture to say that that role is the most important role that Pence has ever had in his life, even more than the title of vice president.

So Trump, and the administration more generally, having downplayed this — “it’s a hoax, it’s going to go away soon, we have it under control, any American can get a test” — undercutting scientists like Dr. Fauci over and over and over again, the catastrophic failure of the United States relative to other nations and dealing with both the health crisis and then the economic devastation that resulted from it, that is really square. And it was squarely on the table in the presidential debate, and it’s going to be squarely on the table in the vice-presidential debate because it’s top of mind for everybody, because Pence was asked to assume a leadership role. And now because the president, who undermined all the science all the way along and said it was a hoax or wasn’t a big problem, has now been diagnosed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-a-disco-dancing-teenager-yearned-for-home-in-canada-332767">Also read|&nbsp;Kamala Harris, a disco-dancing teenager, yearned for home in Canada</a>

Q: What is it like debating Pence? What advice are you going to give to Harris?

A: I’ll answer the first question, not the second one because we’re in conversation about advice, but why would I make that public?

Pence is a professional communicator. He was a radio talk show host before he was in politics, so he can deliver a line. And, I think it’s frustrating when you’re onstage with somebody who’s delivering a line that’s false. But he does it — he can do it very, very well.

Now, Kamala’s good. She’s a prosecutor, and she has evidence to argue. When she was in court back in the day, she would have to argue the evidence. She’s got a lot of evidence to argue. But the vice president is a trained communicator who can look in a camera and basically say anything, even if it’s contrary to the facts, and say it as if he believes it.

Q: I know you aren’t going to discuss the advice you are giving, but has Harris called you for advice or have you spoken about ——

A: Yes.

Q: Multiple times? Or how often?

A: We have communicated — and I’ll just use that phrase more broadly — communicated one-on-one. And our staffs have talked a number of times, and we’re not done.

Q: Given that, as you said, Pence is a professional communicator, does this kind of huge news — in your experience — does he get rattled by it? Is he going to stay the course? What do you think this does for him?

A: My prediction is — he has done nothing but be a wonderful salesman for Donald Trump and then talk about how great Donald Trump is going to be; he’s going to do that same thing. At the debate, he will be praising his boss over and over again. He stands next to Donald Trump and smiles and nods and talks about how fantastic he is, and he’ll do that at the debate. The challenge for him is, how can you do that without it going in a completely discordant way with Americans who are suffering?

Q: One more question and this one is not about the debate. What do you think Joe Biden and the campaign should do at this point, in terms of their schedule? How do you campaign in this environment?

A: They need to do what they’ve already done, which is be smart about being safe, keeping their staff safe and keeping voters safe. But they also need to be aggressive in getting around the country, following good safety rules. And I suspect that they’re going to do that.

This is not a hiatus of the campaign. No. We’re in the closing stretch of the campaign, and they’ve got to be aggressively campaigning. But the good news is, they will only do it in a way that is mindful of their own safety and the safety of everybody around them.

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, when Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced off against Mike Pence at the vice-presidential debate, the encounter put two drastically different debate styles on display: Pence came across as mild-mannered and more formal while Kaine, a litigator by training, was more of an attack dog, with a tendency to interrupt and talk over Pence.

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, when Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia faced off against Mike Pence at the vice-presidential debate, the encounter put two drastically different debate styles on display: Pence came across as mild-mannered and more formal while Kaine, a litigator by training, was more of an attack dog, with a tendency to interrupt and talk over Pence. Even as Pence made little effort to directly rebut attacks against Donald Trump, Kaine tried at nearly every turn to offer praise for his running mate, Hillary Clinton. Ahead of this year’s vice-presidential debate Wednesday between Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Pence, The New York Times spoke to Kaine about what Harris should expect, how the news of Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis might affect the vice president and whether Kaine is offering Harris any advice. The following is an edited and condensed version of the conversation, which was conducted Friday, after Trump announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus but before he was hospitalized. Q: How does Harris prepare for a debate now in this environment, with the news that Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus? A: Does it make the debate more important? Does it make the debate less important because people won’t be thinking about the vice-presidential debate? It’s hard to say. Also read| Kamala Harris and Mike Pence debate: What to watch for The 2016 debate, there was no incumbent. So both tickets were basically Hillary and Donald Trump wanting to be president and each ticket making the case, “If we succeed, here’s what we want to do, here’s why you should elect us.” When you have an incumbent, the debate is heavily about, “OK, well, you had a chance, what did you do?” It’s the Ronald Reagan question of Jimmy Carter in 1980, where he looks the American public in the face: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” So that makes this debate different — both the presidential and vice-presidential debates. It’s not just about, ‘Well, here’s what we’re going to do.’ The Trump-Pence administration has a record. And one of the most top-of-mind pieces of the record is 210,000 people dead and millions having lost their jobs under the Trump administration. And he (Trump) asked Mike Pence on Feb. 26: “Be the head of our coronavirus task force. Lead this effort for the United States.” I would venture to say that that role is the most important role that Pence has ever had in his life, even more than the title of vice president. So Trump, and the administration more generally, having downplayed this — “it’s a hoax, it’s going to go away soon, we have it under control, any American can get a test” — undercutting scientists like Dr. Fauci over and over and over again, the catastrophic failure of the United States relative to other nations and dealing with both the health crisis and then the economic devastation that resulted from it, that is really square. And it was squarely on the table in the presidential debate, and it’s going to be squarely on the table in the vice-presidential debate because it’s top of mind for everybody, because Pence was asked to assume a leadership role. And now because the president, who undermined all the science all the way along and said it was a hoax or wasn’t a big problem, has now been diagnosed. Also read| Kamala Harris, a disco-dancing teenager, yearned for home in Canada Q: What is it like debating Pence? What advice are you going to give to Harris? A: I’ll answer the first question, not the second one because we’re in conversation about advice, but why would I make that public? Pence is a professional communicator. He was a radio talk show host before he was in politics, so he can deliver a line. And, I think it’s frustrating when you’re onstage with somebody who’s delivering a line that’s false. But he does it — he can do it very, very well. Now, Kamala’s good. She’s a prosecutor, and she has evidence to argue. When she was in court back in the day, she would have to argue the evidence. She’s got a lot of evidence to argue. But the vice president is a trained communicator who can look in a camera and basically say anything, even if it’s contrary to the facts, and say it as if he believes it. Q: I know you aren’t going to discuss the advice you are giving, but has Harris called you for advice or have you spoken about —— A: Yes. Q: Multiple times? Or how often? A: We have communicated — and I’ll just use that phrase more broadly — communicated one-on-one. And our staffs have talked a number of times, and we’re not done. Q: Given that, as you said, Pence is a professional communicator, does this kind of huge news — in your experience — does he get rattled by it? Is he going to stay the course? What do you think this does for him? A: My prediction is — he has done nothing but be a wonderful salesman for Donald Trump and then talk about how great Donald Trump is going to be; he’s going to do that same thing. At the debate, he will be praising his boss over and over again. He stands next to Donald Trump and smiles and nods and talks about how fantastic he is, and he’ll do that at the debate. The challenge for him is, how can you do that without it going in a completely discordant way with Americans who are suffering? Q: One more question and this one is not about the debate. What do you think Joe Biden and the campaign should do at this point, in terms of their schedule? How do you campaign in this environment? A: They need to do what they’ve already done, which is be smart about being safe, keeping their staff safe and keeping voters safe. But they also need to be aggressive in getting around the country, following good safety rules. And I suspect that they’re going to do that. This is not a hiatus of the campaign. No. We’re in the closing stretch of the campaign, and they’ve got to be aggressively campaigning. But the good news is, they will only do it in a way that is mindful of their own safety and the safety of everybody around them.

Tim Kaine on what it's like to debate Mike Pence

The polls showed the former vice president ahead by 5 percentage points in Pennsylvania, matching the poll’s credibility interval.

US Election 2020: Reuters, Ipsos poll shows Biden leading in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

Michelle Obama is going after President Donald Trump in a scathing new video that accuses him of “willful mismanagement” of the coronavirus crisis and of racism.

Michelle Obama slams Donald Trump over willful mismanagement of Covid-19 crisis

Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden appears to lead President Donald Trump in certain swing states, in opinion poll conducted by Reuters and IPSOS, just less than a month ahead of voting.

US Election 2020: 'Joe Biden appears to lead President Donald Trump in certain swing states'

Nearly four million people have voted in the US so far from the postal ballot system, a number that indicates that record voting can take place in the country.&nbsp;

Amid the pandemic that has worst hit the US, Americans are heavily relying on mail-in voting for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">presidential election</a> to avoid the risk of contracting the virus by going to the polling station.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-still-have-to-make-america-great-again-trump-promises-to-return-soon-to-start-us-election-campaign-332338">'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign</a>

The US Elections Project, which makes data of early voting said that over 3.8 million people have cast their ballot so far, which greatly surpasses the nearly 75,000-mark that was touched during this time in 2016.

Michael McDonald of the University of Florida, who administers this project, believes that this massive rise in mail-in voting is because it's a safe process in view of coronavirus outbreak and since several people have decided <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a> fate.&nbsp;

"We've never seen this many people voting so far ahead of an election," he said, as quoted by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

"People cast their ballots when they make up their minds, and we know that many people made up their minds long ago and already have a judgment about Trump."

McDonald predicted that this spike in early voting could lead to an overall turnout of nearly 150 million, a record number since 1908.

He said these figures have arrived from the 31 US states out of the 50 that have started mail-in voting and added that the early voting will rise further after more states will start allowing it in the upcoming weeks.&nbsp;

Nearly four million people have voted in the US so far from the postal ballot system, a number that indicates that record voting can take place in the country. Amid the pandemic that has worst hit the US, Americans are heavily relying on mail-in voting for the presidential election to avoid the risk of contracting the virus by going to the polling station.

Nearly four million people have voted in the US so far from the postal ballot system, a number that indicates that record voting can take place in the country. Amid the pandemic that has worst hit the US, Americans are heavily relying on mail-in voting for the presidential election to avoid the risk of contracting the virus by going to the polling station. Also read | 'We still have to make America great again': Trump promises to return soon to start US election campaign The US Elections Project, which makes data of early voting said that over 3.8 million people have cast their ballot so far, which greatly surpasses the nearly 75,000-mark that was touched during this time in 2016. Michael McDonald of the University of Florida, who administers this project, believes that this massive rise in mail-in voting is because it's a safe process in view of coronavirus outbreak and since several people have decided Donald Trump's fate. "We've never seen this many people voting so far ahead of an election," he said, as quoted by news agency Reuters. "People cast their ballots when they make up their minds, and we know that many people made up their minds long ago and already have a judgment about Trump." McDonald predicted that this spike in early voting could lead to an overall turnout of nearly 150 million, a record number since 1908. He said these figures have arrived from the 31 US states out of the 50 that have started mail-in voting and added that the early voting will rise further after more states will start allowing it in the upcoming weeks.

US Election 2020: About 4 million people already voted; record turnout likely

The Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, is preparing in Utah for the October 7 debate with Vice President Mike Pence at the University of Utah. Watch report

Mike Pence and Kamala Harris preparing for a face-off in salt lake city

US unemployment crisis is making news in the country during this time of election. Initial claims of jobless benefits stabilise below 900,000. Watch the report to know more.

US unemployment crisis: Jobless rate falls to 7.9% in September

President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus upended the presidential race in an instant, leaving both sides to confront a wrenching set of strategic choices and unexpected questions that will help shape the final month before Election Day.

As the president boarded Marine One to fly to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment, his aides announced that they were suspending his campaign events and those of his family members, who are his most ubiquitous surrogates. Privately, his top advisers expressed shock at the turn of events and hoped that Trump’s symptoms would remain mild and he could at least begin appearing on television next week.

At the same time, Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic rival, disclosed that he had tested negative for the virus and continued to campaign, beginning with a previously scheduled campaign trip Friday to Michigan.

With Biden already leading in the polls, and Trump’s electoral prospects dependent on his ability to campaign, the president has little time to change the trajectory of the race. The fate of his reelection bid increasingly seemed to hinge on his own health — and whether he would be able to overcome the disease and persuade voters to give him another four years.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-having-trouble-breathing-at-hospital-report-332269">Trump having 'trouble breathing' at hospital: Report</a>

The split-screen between the candidates Friday represented a striking reversal from the last few months, during which Trump pushed on with his rallies and belittled Biden for adhering to health protocols and running a “basement campaign.”

The former vice president was careful to avoid anything that could be perceived as exploiting the situation Friday; at an appearance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he did not criticize Trump for his handling of the virus and closed his remarks by calling on God to “protect the first family, and every family that is dealing with this virus.”

Biden’s campaign also moved to take down negative television commercials Friday that lashed Trump for his handling of the virus, according to a Democratic official familiar with the ad traffic. And Biden’s campaign manager, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, emailed the entire campaign urging its members to “refrain from posting about the situation on social media.”

Biden’s aides said he had no plans to step away from his travels — at least for now.

The president’s illness is certain to keep the coronavirus pandemic front and center in the remaining weeks before the election, a development that would appear to favor Biden, whose campaign message is focused on criticism of Trump’s stewardship of the deadly disease.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-several-days-and-events-the-virus-swirled-around-trump-332306">Over several days and events, the virus swirled around Trump</a>

In the White House, advisers to the president acknowledged that the positive test would remind voters of how dismissive Trump had been about the virus, not only with the neglect of his own safety but also in his overly rosy assessments about a pandemic that has killed more than 208,000 Americans. Trump’s recklessness, one adviser acknowledged, amounted to a political “disaster.”

As it became clear late Friday that a number of attendees at last week’s Rose Garden announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination had also tested positive, the White House was also confronting accusations it had hosted a so-called “super spreader” event.

For all the drama 2020 has delivered, the presidential race has been largely impervious to even momentous events, whether it was impeachment, the virus, unrest over racism and severe economic distress. Biden has enjoyed a steady lead in the polls since effectively claiming the nomination in April.

But an incumbent president testing positive for a potentially deadly disease is of a greater order of magnitude.

Republicans worried Friday that Trump would have to remain in the hospital for a significant period of time, imagery they fear would be damaging at a moment when millions of Americans are already voting.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/internet-explodes-with-memes-after-trump-who-called-covid-19-a-hoax-tests-positive-331985">Internet explodes with memes after Trump, who called COVID-19 a 'hoax', tests positive</a>

GOP officials were also concerned that a race with very few undecided voters would freeze in place. Multiple party strategists said their polling in the two nights after the presidential debate had revealed substantial slippage, and not just at the top of the ticket.

“This limits Trump’s opportunity to turn this thing around and drive a winning message,” said Terry Sullivan, a Republican consultant. “He’s lost any ability to control the narrative.”

Should the final weeks of the campaign be dominated by the coronavirus, Trump’s challenge will be intensified by his casual approach to the disease and its deadliness.

The president spent months disregarding and mocking the basic precautions, such as wearing a mask, that his health advisers were urging Americans to take to protect themselves.

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Still, few Democrats had any degree of confidence on how the final weeks of the race would play out.

Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada said Biden should proceed. “I don’t see why he should quit campaigning unless something really bad happens,” Titus said. “And then all bets are off.”

What some Democrats feared, and Republicans hoped, is that there would be a rallying around Trump and he would garner sympathy from voters. Yet even the most optimistic Republican allowed that those sentiments wouldn’t automatically translate into votes.

At the very least, Republicans said they hoped Trump’s illness would prompt him to refrain from the inflammatory rhetoric that has alienated many voters and make the election less of a referendum on his behavior.

“Peace and calm helps him,” said Alex Castellanos, a longtime Republican strategist. “He is the polarizing element, not the direction he would like to take the country.”

Trump’s political fortunes will depend in large part on the severity of his illness. Other world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, have been sickened by the virus and returned to lead their countries.

The 74-year-old president is older than his counterparts who have contracted COVID-19, however, and they were not on the ballot when they tested positive.

In any event, the effect of even seemingly cataclysmic events on the race are hard to predict. After all, when the “Access Hollywood” video emerged just weeks before the election in 2016, it was widely thought that Trump’s boast of grabbing women’s genitals would effectively end his chances of winning.

Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged Biden to remain on the campaign trail and tailor his remarks to reflect the seriousness of the moment.

“It’s proof that we need to be vigilant and we need mature leadership,” said Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio. “He doesn’t even need to bring up Trump by name, just say it’s very serious, even the president can get it.”

While Biden aides are being careful not to appear publicly insensitive, they suspect that Trump had already contracted the virus by the time of his caustic performance in Tuesday’s debate, a campaign official said Friday. And they are angry that members of Trump’s family refused to wear masks in the debate hall and appeared to rebuff the efforts of an employee of the Cleveland Clinic to get them to wear one, the official said.

It is almost certain that the remaining two debates between Trump and Biden will be affected. The next one is scheduled for less than two weeks from now, on Oct. 15, and the president may be isolated until then.

The nature of the campaign will be disrupted as well. And after having gone forward with the large rallies he craves, despite rules against large gatherings in many states, Trump will not be able to leave Washington during a final, crucial stretch of the campaign.

Moreover, one of his central arguments against Biden, that the 77-year-old former vice president is enfeebled and unfit to lead the country, has now been undermined by questions about the president’s own health.

“Trump is now in the position of becoming exhibit No. 1 for the failure of his leadership on coronavirus, and he runs the risk that his supporters will feel misled by his dismissiveness of the virus and the need for precautions,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster.

The president was already lagging in the polls in part because of his difficulties with older voters, a constituency that leans Republican but is also at the highest risk from the virus.

Some of Trump’s aides began the day Friday discussing ways for him to be seen by the public. But it became clear by the afternoon that was not possible, and they released a statement from his doctor acknowledging he was fatigued and was taking an experimental antibody drug combination.

In private conversations, members of his staff were also candid that the president had some underlying conditions that could make him more susceptible to a severe bout of the virus.

No modern president has publicly endured a health crisis this close to a reelection attempt. Ronald Reagan was shot and convalesced in 1981, just over two months after he was first sworn in. And Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while in office, but it was more than a year before he faced the voters for a second time.

Some Republicans hoped his ill-fated June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he couldn’t come close to filling the arena and some of his own staff members got the virus, would serve as a wake-up call.

But while the event put an end to his rallies for a period, it did not make Trump more sober about the threat of the virus.

The president restarted the rallies during the Democratic convention in August. The events have been mostly, but not always, outdoors, often in hangars at smaller airfields. Yet his supporters, journalists, White House staff members, security workers and others are around one another for hours at the rallies. And many of those who attend, including Trump and members of his staff, have not worn masks.

President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus upended the presidential race in an instant, leaving both sides to confront a wrenching set of strategic choices and unexpected questions that will help shape the final month before Election Day.

President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he had contracted the coronavirus upended the presidential race in an instant, leaving both sides to confront a wrenching set of strategic choices and unexpected questions that will help shape the final month before Election Day. As the president boarded Marine One to fly to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment, his aides announced that they were suspending his campaign events and those of his family members, who are his most ubiquitous surrogates. Privately, his top advisers expressed shock at the turn of events and hoped that Trump’s symptoms would remain mild and he could at least begin appearing on television next week. At the same time, Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic rival, disclosed that he had tested negative for the virus and continued to campaign, beginning with a previously scheduled campaign trip Friday to Michigan. With Biden already leading in the polls, and Trump’s electoral prospects dependent on his ability to campaign, the president has little time to change the trajectory of the race. The fate of his reelection bid increasingly seemed to hinge on his own health — and whether he would be able to overcome the disease and persuade voters to give him another four years. Also Read | Trump having 'trouble breathing' at hospital: Report The split-screen between the candidates Friday represented a striking reversal from the last few months, during which Trump pushed on with his rallies and belittled Biden for adhering to health protocols and running a “basement campaign.” The former vice president was careful to avoid anything that could be perceived as exploiting the situation Friday; at an appearance in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he did not criticize Trump for his handling of the virus and closed his remarks by calling on God to “protect the first family, and every family that is dealing with this virus.” Biden’s campaign also moved to take down negative television commercials Friday that lashed Trump for his handling of the virus, according to a Democratic official familiar with the ad traffic. And Biden’s campaign manager, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, emailed the entire campaign urging its members to “refrain from posting about the situation on social media.” Biden’s aides said he had no plans to step away from his travels — at least for now. The president’s illness is certain to keep the coronavirus pandemic front and center in the remaining weeks before the election, a development that would appear to favor Biden, whose campaign message is focused on criticism of Trump’s stewardship of the deadly disease. Also Read | Over several days and events, the virus swirled around Trump In the White House, advisers to the president acknowledged that the positive test would remind voters of how dismissive Trump had been about the virus, not only with the neglect of his own safety but also in his overly rosy assessments about a pandemic that has killed more than 208,000 Americans. Trump’s recklessness, one adviser acknowledged, amounted to a political “disaster.” As it became clear late Friday that a number of attendees at last week’s Rose Garden announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination had also tested positive, the White House was also confronting accusations it had hosted a so-called “super spreader” event. For all the drama 2020 has delivered, the presidential race has been largely impervious to even momentous events, whether it was impeachment, the virus, unrest over racism and severe economic distress. Biden has enjoyed a steady lead in the polls since effectively claiming the nomination in April. But an incumbent president testing positive for a potentially deadly disease is of a greater order of magnitude. Republicans worried Friday that Trump would have to remain in the hospital for a significant period of time, imagery they fear would be damaging at a moment when millions of Americans are already voting. Also Read | Internet explodes with memes after Trump, who called COVID-19 a 'hoax', tests positive GOP officials were also concerned that a race with very few undecided voters would freeze in place. Multiple party strategists said their polling in the two nights after the presidential debate had revealed substantial slippage, and not just at the top of the ticket. “This limits Trump’s opportunity to turn this thing around and drive a winning message,” said Terry Sullivan, a Republican consultant. “He’s lost any ability to control the narrative.” Should the final weeks of the campaign be dominated by the coronavirus, Trump’s challenge will be intensified by his casual approach to the disease and its deadliness. The president spent months disregarding and mocking the basic precautions, such as wearing a mask, that his health advisers were urging Americans to take to protect themselves. × Still, few Democrats had any degree of confidence on how the final weeks of the race would play out. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada said Biden should proceed. “I don’t see why he should quit campaigning unless something really bad happens,” Titus said. “And then all bets are off.” What some Democrats feared, and Republicans hoped, is that there would be a rallying around Trump and he would garner sympathy from voters. Yet even the most optimistic Republican allowed that those sentiments wouldn’t automatically translate into votes. At the very least, Republicans said they hoped Trump’s illness would prompt him to refrain from the inflammatory rhetoric that has alienated many voters and make the election less of a referendum on his behavior. “Peace and calm helps him,” said Alex Castellanos, a longtime Republican strategist. “He is the polarizing element, not the direction he would like to take the country.” Trump’s political fortunes will depend in large part on the severity of his illness. Other world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, have been sickened by the virus and returned to lead their countries. The 74-year-old president is older than his counterparts who have contracted COVID-19, however, and they were not on the ballot when they tested positive. In any event, the effect of even seemingly cataclysmic events on the race are hard to predict. After all, when the “Access Hollywood” video emerged just weeks before the election in 2016, it was widely thought that Trump’s boast of grabbing women’s genitals would effectively end his chances of winning. Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged Biden to remain on the campaign trail and tailor his remarks to reflect the seriousness of the moment. “It’s proof that we need to be vigilant and we need mature leadership,” said Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio. “He doesn’t even need to bring up Trump by name, just say it’s very serious, even the president can get it.” While Biden aides are being careful not to appear publicly insensitive, they suspect that Trump had already contracted the virus by the time of his caustic performance in Tuesday’s debate, a campaign official said Friday. And they are angry that members of Trump’s family refused to wear masks in the debate hall and appeared to rebuff the efforts of an employee of the Cleveland Clinic to get them to wear one, the official said. It is almost certain that the remaining two debates between Trump and Biden will be affected. The next one is scheduled for less than two weeks from now, on Oct. 15, and the president may be isolated until then. The nature of the campaign will be disrupted as well. And after having gone forward with the large rallies he craves, despite rules against large gatherings in many states, Trump will not be able to leave Washington during a final, crucial stretch of the campaign. Moreover, one of his central arguments against Biden, that the 77-year-old former vice president is enfeebled and unfit to lead the country, has now been undermined by questions about the president’s own health. “Trump is now in the position of becoming exhibit No. 1 for the failure of his leadership on coronavirus, and he runs the risk that his supporters will feel misled by his dismissiveness of the virus and the need for precautions,” said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster. The president was already lagging in the polls in part because of his difficulties with older voters, a constituency that leans Republican but is also at the highest risk from the virus. Some of Trump’s aides began the day Friday discussing ways for him to be seen by the public. But it became clear by the afternoon that was not possible, and they released a statement from his doctor acknowledging he was fatigued and was taking an experimental antibody drug combination. In private conversations, members of his staff were also candid that the president had some underlying conditions that could make him more susceptible to a severe bout of the virus. No modern president has publicly endured a health crisis this close to a reelection attempt. Ronald Reagan was shot and convalesced in 1981, just over two months after he was first sworn in. And Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while in office, but it was more than a year before he faced the voters for a second time. Some Republicans hoped his ill-fated June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he couldn’t come close to filling the arena and some of his own staff members got the virus, would serve as a wake-up call. But while the event put an end to his rallies for a period, it did not make Trump more sober about the threat of the virus. The president restarted the rallies during the Democratic convention in August. The events have been mostly, but not always, outdoors, often in hangars at smaller airfields. Yet his supporters, journalists, White House staff members, security workers and others are around one another for hours at the rallies. And many of those who attend, including Trump and members of his staff, have not worn masks.

Trump’s positive coronavirus test upends campaign in final stretch

The US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday and had been in quarantine since then.

However, now, in order to make sure the President's health remains steady, he has been airlifted to a military hospital outside Washington on Friday.

Trump&nbsp;will be staying at the hospital for the "next few days" and will undergo treatment for COVID-19, the White House reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-the-coronavirus-what-risks-does-he-face-332026">Also read:&nbsp;Trump has the coronavirus. What risks does he face?</a>

The move to the Walter Reed Hospital has been declared as just a precautionary step.&nbsp;"At the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the president will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

He&nbsp;was now spotted wearing a mask&nbsp;and did not take any questions from the journalists. However, the onlookers and the local media confirmed that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was able to walk unassisted.

Trump&nbsp;also issued a video message on his Twitter account&nbsp;where he thanked everyone for their support and assured that he is doing very well.&nbsp;"I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support," he said.

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<a href="https://t.co/B4H105KVSs">pic.twitter.com/B4H105KVSs</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1312158400352972800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I am going to Walter Reed hospital. I think I am doing very well. But we are going to make sure that things work out," Trump said.

"The First Lady is doing very well," he added.

Trump&nbsp;will be carrying out his presidential duties from the&nbsp;presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days now.&nbsp;

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Thank you for the love you are sending our way. I have mild symptoms but overall feeling good. I am looking forward to a speedy recovery.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1312046490077061121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, his close ades Mike pence and Mike Pompeo have tested negative. His&nbsp;emocratic rival&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his running mate Kamala Harris, too, have tested negative for the novel coronavirus. Once mocked by&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for staying indoors,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;is the only <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US election</a>&nbsp;candidate who is still able to campaign now.

A lot of questions are being raised on whether or not the next two presidential debates willtake place, considering&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;health — second debate is scheduled for&nbsp;October 15 in Miami, and the third is set for October 22 in Nashville.

As per the statement issued by the White House physician Sean Conley, not everything seems to be "great". For now, Conley has given&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;a single dose of Regeneron's antibody cocktail, a treatment undergoing clinical trials but not yet approved by regulators.

"He's being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we'll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps," Conley wrote.

The US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday and had been in quarantine since then. However, now, in order to make sure the President's health remains steady, he has been airlifted to a military hospital outside Washington on Friday.

The US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday and had been in quarantine since then. However, now, in order to make sure the President's health remains steady, he has been airlifted to a military hospital outside Washington on Friday. Trump will be staying at the hospital for the "next few days" and will undergo treatment for COVID-19, the White House reported. Also read: Trump has the coronavirus. What risks does he face? The move to the Walter Reed Hospital has been declared as just a precautionary step. "At the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the president will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said. He was now spotted wearing a mask and did not take any questions from the journalists. However, the onlookers and the local media confirmed that Trump was able to walk unassisted. Trump also issued a video message on his Twitter account where he thanked everyone for their support and assured that he is doing very well. "I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support," he said. pic.twitter.com/B4H105KVSs — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020 × "I am going to Walter Reed hospital. I think I am doing very well. But we are going to make sure that things work out," Trump said. "The First Lady is doing very well," he added. Trump will be carrying out his presidential duties from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days now. Thank you for the love you are sending our way. I have mild symptoms but overall feeling good. I am looking forward to a speedy recovery. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020 × Meanwhile, his close ades Mike pence and Mike Pompeo have tested negative. His emocratic rival Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, too, have tested negative for the novel coronavirus. Once mocked by Trump for staying indoors, Biden is the only US election candidate who is still able to campaign now. A lot of questions are being raised on whether or not the next two presidential debates willtake place, considering Trump's health — second debate is scheduled for October 15 in Miami, and the third is set for October 22 in Nashville. As per the statement issued by the White House physician Sean Conley, not everything seems to be "great". For now, Conley has given Trump a single dose of Regeneron's antibody cocktail, a treatment undergoing clinical trials but not yet approved by regulators. "He's being evaluated by a team of experts, and together we'll be making recommendations to the President and First Lady in regards to next best steps," Conley wrote.

Trump airlifted to military hospital for COVID treatment; releases video message

The Mexican&nbsp;President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado has ordered for the national army to be deployed along its southern border to put a stop to the incoming migrant caravan.

This decision was announced as&nbsp;thousands of mostly Honduran migrants were traveling through Guatemala, heading for the United States via Mexico.

Obrado has balmed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US election</a>&nbsp;for this sudden movement.&nbsp;"It seems very strange to us. It's very strange that this caravan leaves on the eve of the election in the United States," he told reporters.

"It has to do with the election in the United States. I don't have all the elements but I think there are indications that it was put together for this purpose," Lopez Obrador added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-us-bound-migrants-surge-into-guatemala-331883">Also read:&nbsp;Thousands of US-bound migrants surge into Guatemala</a>

These migrants were mainly young men and were seen across the border from Honduras into Guatemala. The area is under strict regulations right now due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Majority&nbsp;of these migrants were spotted without a face mask.

Asking the migrants to "respect the immigration law",&nbsp;Francisco Garduno, the head of the Mexican migration authority, told reporters that the migrants are "not going to cross". However, he also assured that the government wants to avoid any confrontation and solve the mater peacefully.

Hundreds of military and immigration personnel have been deployed across the border on an emergency basis.

Some migrants returned to their country after the Guatemalan government ordered them to be detained and deported.

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The surge in migrants travelling across the border came after the&nbsp;US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;threatened steep tariffs on Mexico if it fails to restrict the flow of undocumented migrants travelling into the US. Mexico, however, deployed nearly 26,000 troops across the border as a response to the threat.

Trump's administration on Thursday announced the US will admit a record low of 15,000 refugees in the coming year.

The Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado has ordered for the national army to be deployed along its southern border to put a stop to the incoming migrant caravan.

The Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado has ordered for the national army to be deployed along its southern border to put a stop to the incoming migrant caravan. This decision was announced as thousands of mostly Honduran migrants were traveling through Guatemala, heading for the United States via Mexico. Obrado has balmed the US election for this sudden movement. "It seems very strange to us. It's very strange that this caravan leaves on the eve of the election in the United States," he told reporters. "It has to do with the election in the United States. I don't have all the elements but I think there are indications that it was put together for this purpose," Lopez Obrador added. Also read: Thousands of US-bound migrants surge into Guatemala These migrants were mainly young men and were seen across the border from Honduras into Guatemala. The area is under strict regulations right now due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Majority of these migrants were spotted without a face mask. Asking the migrants to "respect the immigration law", Francisco Garduno, the head of the Mexican migration authority, told reporters that the migrants are "not going to cross". However, he also assured that the government wants to avoid any confrontation and solve the mater peacefully. Hundreds of military and immigration personnel have been deployed across the border on an emergency basis. Some migrants returned to their country after the Guatemalan government ordered them to be detained and deported. × The surge in migrants travelling across the border came after the US President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on Mexico if it fails to restrict the flow of undocumented migrants travelling into the US. Mexico, however, deployed nearly 26,000 troops across the border as a response to the threat. Trump's administration on Thursday announced the US will admit a record low of 15,000 refugees in the coming year.

Mexico deploys military to block migrant caravan; blames US election

As US President Donald <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-to-remove-content-that-wishes-trumps-death-by-covid-reports-332183">Trump</a>,74, was admitted in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday after getting infected with coronavirus, reports said the president was having "trouble breathing".

Watch:

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According to American TV news network CNN, Trump is having "trouble breathing". CNN in its report said the president is feeling "very, very fatigued", according to a campaign source.

"I think I'm doing very well, but we're going to make sure that things work out," Trump had said earlier in a &nbsp;video message on Twitter. There are other members in the White House who have also contacted the virus after Trump infected on Friday including former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and Republican Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-airlifted-to-military-hospital-for-covid-treatment-releases-video-message-332132">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump airlifted to military hospital for COVID treatment; releases video message</a>

Meanwhile, According to Global Times, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to the US President and First Lady Melania Trump on Saturday in which he and his wife Peng Liyuan hoped the presidential couple make an early recovery from COVID-19.

Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had said that Trump "will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days" even as White House physician Sean Conley said that the president was "fatigued but in good spirits".

McEnany said the US President was receiving anti-viral drug remdesivir after consultation with specialists. The president was "not requiring any supplemental oxygen," she added in a statement.

According to the US health agency CDC, as a 74-year-old man, Trump is "at higher risk for severe illness".

As US President Donald Trump,74, was admitted in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday after getting infected with coronavirus, reports said the president was having "trouble breathing".

As US President Donald Trump,74, was admitted in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday after getting infected with coronavirus, reports said the president was having "trouble breathing". Watch: According to American TV news network CNN, Trump is having "trouble breathing". CNN in its report said the president is feeling "very, very fatigued", according to a campaign source. "I think I'm doing very well, but we're going to make sure that things work out," Trump had said earlier in a video message on Twitter. There are other members in the White House who have also contacted the virus after Trump infected on Friday including former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and Republican Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis. Also Read: Trump airlifted to military hospital for COVID treatment; releases video message Meanwhile, According to Global Times, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to the US President and First Lady Melania Trump on Saturday in which he and his wife Peng Liyuan hoped the presidential couple make an early recovery from COVID-19. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany had said that Trump "will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days" even as White House physician Sean Conley said that the president was "fatigued but in good spirits". McEnany said the US President was receiving anti-viral drug remdesivir after consultation with specialists. The president was "not requiring any supplemental oxygen," she added in a statement. According to the US health agency CDC, as a 74-year-old man, Trump is "at higher risk for severe illness".

Trump having 'trouble breathing' at hospital: Report

A famous Youtuber&nbsp;David Dobrik decided to use his status of internet influencer for the right reasons and took it upon himself to urge Amercans to register to vote in the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/us-election">US election</a>.

Dobrik has more than 5.5 million followers on Twitter, 14.3 million followers on Instagram and nearly 8.06 million YouTube subscribers. He is known for heading several giveaways of big and famous brands.

This time, he decided to start a Tesla giveaway for a cause. He posted a video on his TikTok account and uploaded a post on Instagram as well as Twitter where he promised to give Tesla cars to the people who register to vote in the upcoming&nbsp;US elections.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFu4_mKMYYm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Hi!! HeadCount and I are giving away 5 Teslas to you guys!! All you have to do is share this to your story, tag a friend in the comments and make sure you’re good to vote at my link in bio!! Winners will be announced Monday. Good luck!! @headcountorg No purchase or reg necessary. Exclusions apply. Terms and conditions here:http://bit.ly/345p93f #join2020vote #GoodToVote</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/daviddobrik/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> DAVID DOBRIK</a> (@daviddobrik) on <time datetime="2020-09-29T19:45:31+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Sep 29, 2020 at 12:45pm PDT</time>
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He started the campaign with HeadCount organisation. Dobrik's posts blew up on the internet and people started registering to vote with the help of the details provided. As a result of this wild spread of the post, within 24 hours, over 100,000 Americans had registered to vote, and counting as&nbsp;the contest is open till Sunday.

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In 24 hours, over 100,000 Americans have registered to vote through our Tesla giveaway led by YouTube creator <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidDobrik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidDobrik</a>. It's extra inspiring to know that David is a "Dreamer" (DACA recipient) who can't vote in the U.S, but has used his platform to help others. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoodToVote?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoodToVote</a> <a href="https://t.co/1g9OXiYtlY">pic.twitter.com/1g9OXiYtlY</a>
— HeadCount (@HeadCountOrg) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeadCountOrg/status/1311706873150799872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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To win the Tesla cars, his followers had to like the Instagram post, share it on their story and tag a friend’s handle in the comments section and make sure they register to vote through HeadCount organisation.

The interesting thing about this specific campaign is that Dobrick, himself, is not registered to vote. The influencer was&nbsp;born in Slovakia and was brought over to the US in his early childhood. This makes him a DACA recipient, or Dreamer.

The US elections are scheduled for November 03 with the&nbsp;US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;re-running for the post against Democratic rival&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

A famous Youtuber David Dobrik decided to use his status of internet influencer for the right reasons and took it upon himself to urge Amercans to register to vote in the upcoming US election.

A famous Youtuber David Dobrik decided to use his status of internet influencer for the right reasons and took it upon himself to urge Amercans to register to vote in the upcoming US election. Dobrik has more than 5.5 million followers on Twitter, 14.3 million followers on Instagram and nearly 8.06 million YouTube subscribers. He is known for heading several giveaways of big and famous brands. This time, he decided to start a Tesla giveaway for a cause. He posted a video on his TikTok account and uploaded a post on Instagram as well as Twitter where he promised to give Tesla cars to the people who register to vote in the upcoming US elections. View this post on Instagram Hi!! HeadCount and I are giving away 5 Teslas to you guys!! All you have to do is share this to your story, tag a friend in the comments and make sure you’re good to vote at my link in bio!! Winners will be announced Monday. Good luck!! @headcountorg No purchase or reg necessary. Exclusions apply. Terms and conditions here:http://bit.ly/345p93f #join2020vote #GoodToVote A post shared by DAVID DOBRIK (@daviddobrik) on Sep 29, 2020 at 12:45pm PDT × He started the campaign with HeadCount organisation. Dobrik's posts blew up on the internet and people started registering to vote with the help of the details provided. As a result of this wild spread of the post, within 24 hours, over 100,000 Americans had registered to vote, and counting as the contest is open till Sunday. In 24 hours, over 100,000 Americans have registered to vote through our Tesla giveaway led by YouTube creator @DavidDobrik. It's extra inspiring to know that David is a "Dreamer" (DACA recipient) who can't vote in the U.S, but has used his platform to help others. #GoodToVote pic.twitter.com/1g9OXiYtlY — HeadCount (@HeadCountOrg) October 1, 2020 × To win the Tesla cars, his followers had to like the Instagram post, share it on their story and tag a friend’s handle in the comments section and make sure they register to vote through HeadCount organisation. The interesting thing about this specific campaign is that Dobrick, himself, is not registered to vote. The influencer was born in Slovakia and was brought over to the US in his early childhood. This makes him a DACA recipient, or Dreamer. The US elections are scheduled for November 03 with the US President Donald Trump re-running for the post against Democratic rival Joe Biden.

US election 2020: Youtuber helps register 100,000 American voters by Tesla giveaway

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Facebook Inc said on Thursday it would start promoting content from public Facebook Groups in users' news feeds and in search engine results, defying calls by watchdog groups to limit algorithmic recommendations ahead of US&nbsp;elections next month.

In a blog post, Facebook app chief Fidji Simo said the company would surface recommendations in news feeds by showing "related discussions" from public groups next to a link or post. Facebook Groups are communities that form around shared interests, and public groups' posts can be viewed by any user.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/big-tech-companies-may-be-handling-data-of-hong-kong-users-to-china-331385">Also read:&nbsp;Big tech companies may be handling data of Hong Kong users to China</a>

Simo said Facebook would also start showing conversations from public groups outside the app, such as in web searches.

Facebook declined to specify when the changes would be rolled out, with a spokesman saying only that US tests would begin "in a very limited capacity" in the coming weeks.

The company, which made groups a strategic priority last year, also said it was adding new moderation tools for the more than 70 million people running those communities to help them reject posts, lead discussions and arrange paid sponsorships.

According to an internal memo seen by The Verge, the groups push this year has been a success for engagement on the Facebook app, with posts up 31.9% year over year as of August.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/expansive-study-finds-consistent-facebook-usage-linked-to-ill-being-330948">Also read:&nbsp;Expansive study finds consistent Facebook usage linked to ill-being</a>

At the same time, the company has faced a series of scandals over extremist activity within groups, including the spread of thousands of Boogaloo, QAnon and militia groups and communities promoting health misinformation.

Facebook has gradually removed some such groups and limited recommendations to others.

Its new groups push comes days after Accountable Tech and a dozen other advocacy organisations called on Facebook to pause its use of group recommendations altogether until the results of the November&nbsp;3 elections are formally certified.

The coalition accused Facebook of prioritising groups despite red flags from researchers, warning the tools have become "hidden breeding grounds for disinformation campaigns and organizing platforms for extremists."

Adam Conner, a former Facebook executive who now leads technology policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said the company's decision risked accelerating those dynamics.

"Giving content from those groups wider distribution and easier discovery is a dangerous choice right before a contentious election during a pandemic," said Conner.

Facebook Inc said on Thursday it would start promoting content from public Facebook Groups in users' news feeds and in search engine results, defying calls by watchdog groups to limit algorithmic recommendations ahead of US elections next month.

Facebook Inc said on Thursday it would start promoting content from public Facebook Groups in users' news feeds and in search engine results, defying calls by watchdog groups to limit algorithmic recommendations ahead of US elections next month. In a blog post, Facebook app chief Fidji Simo said the company would surface recommendations in news feeds by showing "related discussions" from public groups next to a link or post. Facebook Groups are communities that form around shared interests, and public groups' posts can be viewed by any user. Also read: Big tech companies may be handling data of Hong Kong users to China Simo said Facebook would also start showing conversations from public groups outside the app, such as in web searches. Facebook declined to specify when the changes would be rolled out, with a spokesman saying only that US tests would begin "in a very limited capacity" in the coming weeks. The company, which made groups a strategic priority last year, also said it was adding new moderation tools for the more than 70 million people running those communities to help them reject posts, lead discussions and arrange paid sponsorships. According to an internal memo seen by The Verge, the groups push this year has been a success for engagement on the Facebook app, with posts up 31.9% year over year as of August. Also read: Expansive study finds consistent Facebook usage linked to ill-being At the same time, the company has faced a series of scandals over extremist activity within groups, including the spread of thousands of Boogaloo, QAnon and militia groups and communities promoting health misinformation. Facebook has gradually removed some such groups and limited recommendations to others. Its new groups push comes days after Accountable Tech and a dozen other advocacy organisations called on Facebook to pause its use of group recommendations altogether until the results of the November 3 elections are formally certified. The coalition accused Facebook of prioritising groups despite red flags from researchers, warning the tools have become "hidden breeding grounds for disinformation campaigns and organizing platforms for extremists." Adam Conner, a former Facebook executive who now leads technology policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said the company's decision risked accelerating those dynamics. "Giving content from those groups wider distribution and easier discovery is a dangerous choice right before a contentious election during a pandemic," said Conner.

Facebook steps up promotion of groups content in feeds, around the web

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