Trump to rally in Florida amid growing outcry over Ramaswamy attack ad
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. Donald Trump is heading to Florida today for another rally as midterm election day approaches.
The president will support gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. Whether Donalds views this as beneficial is uncertain, given that he has taken down mentions of the president from his website and has scarcely mentioned him during the governor’s race.
My colleague Richard Luscombe has more on that race:
Last night, Trump stirred up more controversy regarding an attack ad by Vivek Ramaswamy, which features the mother of his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton – telling supporters at a rally that he personally advised the Republican candidate for Ohio governor to continue airing the ad.
Acton’s mother lost custody of her daughter when she was 12 because her husband was charged with raping the young girl. Trump told the crowd in Iowa: “I said, ‘You’ve got to ride with it.’”
Trump seems increasingly out of touch with his own party concerning the ad after yet another Republican criticized it on Thursday. Iowa Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson distanced herself from the president by denouncing the attack ad, stating: “I think it’s absolutely terrible, and I think they should take the ad down.”
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Updated at 07.47 EDT
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Jason Wilson
A data leak from Germany’s far-right German Alternative für Deutschland (Af D) has revealed how much effort the party put into courting Donald Trump and other prominent figures in the Maga movement over more than a decade.
The leaked documents show how keenly Af D leaders sought to connect with Trump, whom they viewed early on as a potential ally. They even agonized over crafting a flattering congratulatory telegram when he won in 2016, which included hopes that his “hopes as a person be fulfilled.”
The Af D became popular among anti-immigration voters after 1.2 million refugees arrived in Germany in 2015 and 2016. It entered Germany’s Bundestag (parliament) in 2017 with 12.6% of votes and secured second place in February 2025 federal elections with 20.8%. It currently leads national polls at around 30%. In September it achieved 43.8% of votes in Saxony-Anhalt and is now trying to form Germany’s first far-right state government since World War II.
Trump celebrated this victory in Saxony-Anhalt on his Truth Social account, ending his post with a German version of Make America Great Again acronym “MGGA!!!”
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency monitors Af D as a suspected right-wing extremist organization; five regional branches are classified as confirmed extremists.
The leaked materials show Af D officials promptly moving towards seeking support from Trump’s White House for policy matters once he won election in 2016.
Others highlight an emerging political relationship between top figures like Af D leader Alice Weidel and key Trump strategist Steve Bannon.
This data set shared with reporters by transparency group Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDo Secrets), includes over 420,000 emails along with documents and personnel records from its founding in 2013 until now, most coming before 2019.
Read the full report here:
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This week saw tensions rise over Ukraine’s access to Starshield – Elon Musk’s modified military-grade version of Starlink satellite service.
Trump had reportedly asked Musk to restore service according to The Wall Street Journal on Thursday; later commenting that he was told by reporters that it’s “back.”
However, when pressed about whether he’d talked directly to Musk about this matter, he declined comment but suggested that ultimately it was up to Musk whether or not restrictions would remain effective: “I guess the bottom line, he put it back,” referring specifically towards Musk.
This follows ongoing issues where Ukraine faced interruptions accessing vital network services essential against Russian strikes.
Despite Trump’s assertions about restored functionality however Ukrainian officials reported Friday morning that speeds remained limited without any sign indicating these constraints were lifted.<|
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|Trump will start off today in Washington before continuing his midterms campaign trail across Florida; remember today marks his fifth consecutive day filled with rallies.<|
|At Fort Myers he’ll speak starting at around 2pm ET.|There’s also considerable attention toward significant gubernatorial contests taking place within Sunshine State where Republican congressman Byron Donald faces off against Democrat David Jolly.|On top if this there exists crucial special Senate elections wherein incumbent Ashley Moody must contend against progressive Democrat Angie Nixon who surprised many when winning her primary earlier this year.|Also noteworthy are various measures being voted upon next month relating abortion rights highlighted throughout numerous states’ ballots including those trying protect such rights versus initiatives aimed returning them instead.|Voters like referendums because they provide direct democracy tools although opinions vary depending locality looking forward passing initiatives might face uphill battles due restrictive environments surrounding such discussions.|As always let us know what you think!|Ashley Hinson’s remarks criticizing followed similar condemnation voiced Ohio Governor Mike De Wine triggering swift pushback coming straight from Donald Trump himself.|In conversation held ABC News Hinson remarked “It’s terrible I think about it as mom & you think your kids surviving childhood sexual abuse having relive trauma TV again.”|She additionally critiqued vice-president JD Vance saying he’d struck “absolutely wrong tone” claiming Republicans complaining weren’t justified based just their criticisms alone!|”Iowans want – probably Ohioans want – someone who’ll empathize effectively while leading,” she emphasized stressing poor messaging sent via current only undermines respective parties involved further speaking candidly about challenging dynamics present between herself & opponent describing situations needing care not force individuals revisit painful experiences anew!
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