Closing summary
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are set for a rematch in the November election, after Nikki Haley announced the end of her presidential campaign after being soundly defeated in coast-to-coast Super Tuesday contests. Haley declined to immediately endorse the former president as nearly all of his other Republican rivals did, instead challenging Trump to earn the support of her voters.
Joe Biden praised the “courage” he said Haley displayed in seeking the Republican nomination despite knowing it was likely to provoke the wrath of Trump and his most loyal supporters. By contrast, Donald Trump attacked her in a social media post, accusing his rival of drawing support from “Radical Left Democrats” and downplaying her sole win in Vermont.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the US Senate, endorsed Donald Trump for president despite years of acrimony between the pair including Trump calling McConnell a “piece of shit” and using racist invective in attacks against his wife.
Dean Phillips, the Minnesota congressman running against Biden in the Democratic primary dropped out of the race, ending a long-shot bid to stop the US president from winning the nomination.
Joe Biden and Donald Trump largely cruised to easy victories on Super Tuesday. Biden won every contest except American Samoa, while Trump won everything except Vermont, where Haley scored a close surprise victory.
Biden faced his biggest challenge so far from an ongoing protest vote against his stance on the Israel-Gaza war. The “uncommitted” campaign is moving nationally to push Biden on the issue, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest people, said he will not donate money to either Biden or Trump. His statement came after reports that Musk met with Trump in Florida over the weekend.
TheUS supreme court has scheduled argument hearings surrounding Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution in his involvement in the 2020 presidential overturn efforts.
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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has defended his decision to endorse Donald Trump for president despite years of acrimony, including Trump calling McConnell a “piece of shit” and attacking his wife in racist terms.
Asked by a reporter how he reconciles his endorsement with the fact that he said Trump was “practically and morally responsible” for the January 6 insurrection, McConnell replied:
February 25th, 2021, shortly after the attack on the Capitol, I was asked a similar question, and I said I would support the nominee for president even if it were the former president.
Sen. Min. Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), when asked about endorsing Trump despite blaming him for 1/6, Trump insulting him and his wife, and Trump's criminal cases:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 6, 2024
"I said I would support the nominee ... even if it were the former president. ... I don't have anything to add." pic.twitter.com/bjQGfbjBCQ
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