Oct. 26 election highlights: Harris rallies with Beyoncé in Houston

Trump tells Rogan he plans to use tariffs to encourage chip making

Trump criticized federal subsidies aiming to significantly boost U.S. semiconduction manufacturing, one of Biden’s signature achievements. Chipmakers have credited the legislation for enabling billions of dollars in new factories, including in battleground state Arizona.

Tariffs would be a better way to encourage domestic chip making, he said, drawing on a tax policy he has suggested to solve a variety of societal challenges.

“You know, Taiwan, they stole our chip business,” Trump told Rogan. “Okay. They want us to protect and they want protection. They don’t pay us money for the protection, you know? The mob makes you pay money, right?”

Trump has wrapped his rally in Traverse City, Michigan

The former president started hours late, causing many rallygoers to leave before he took the stage. The temperature dropped at the outdoor venue as he spoke, causing even more people to walk out early.

Trump spent the rally repeatedly decrying Harris and the Democrats, but offered a message geared more toward unity as he was wrapping up. “We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God,” Trump said.

WATCH: Beyoncé campaigns for Kamala Harris in Houston

“I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother.” Beyoncé appeared at a Kamala Harris rally in the battleground state of Texas Friday, urging Americans to elect the former vice president in November.

Trump and Rogan talk aliens

In his podcast interview with Joe Rogan, Trump said he’s “never been a believer” in theories about extraterrestrial life visiting Earth.

He said he is asked constantly about what the U.S. government knows about “the people coming from space,” and that, as president, he was told “a lot.”

But he dodged Rogan’s entreaties to discuss alien life in detail.

“There’s no reason not to think that Mars and all these planets don’t have life,” Trump said. Rogan told him probes and rovers from Earth have shown there’s no life there.

“It’s not been a big thing for me,” Trump replied.

Another Trump rally briefly became an impromptu concert session

The former president was interrupted more than once by audience members needing medical attention. After an extended delay where he stopped speaking and urged emergency personnel, “Take your time,” Trump suggested that organizers play a song while the crowd waited.

He ordered up “Ave Maria,” which began blaring out of the venue’s speakers.

It was reminiscent of a recent Trump town hall in Pennsylvania when medical attention required in the audience caused Trump to stop talking. He then swayed to “Ave Maria” and other songs for nearly 40 minutes. This time, after “Ave Maria” played, Trump resumed his speech.
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump on stage at a campaign event Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Trump suggests his campaign advisors have urged him not to repeat his past statements about being women’s ‘protector’

The former president mimicked advice he said he was getting: “‘Sir, Please don’t say you’re going to protect women.’” But, he said, he plans to keep saying it. “I mean, that’s our job.”

Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices during his first term that overturned the Roe v. Wade decision constitutionally guaranteeing a woman’s right to an abortion. He now says that, if he wins in November, women will feel protected and won’t have to think about abortion again.
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

More from Trump’s Rogan interview

Trump again seemed to entertain the idea of eliminating federal income taxes, telling Rogan “Yeah, sure. Why not?” when asked by the podcast host if he was serious about it.

The former president has been calling for the elimination of various taxes as he seeks the White House again, calling for the end of a tax on tips, social security and overtime pay. He’s also floated the idea of replacing some federal income taxes with tariffs, but he has not offered specifics.

Trump is again suggesting the election is being rigged

The remarks came as he was poking fun at his opponent’s large rally in Houston with Beyoncè.

“Why the hell would she be celebrating when you’re down?” Trump asked of Harris.
He added: “Maybe she knows something we don’t. But were not going to let it happen. Can’t let it happen.”

Trump has suggested repeatedly that the election results may be fixed so that he can’t win. He’s suggested he’ll only accept the results if the election is “fair,” suggesting he may not accept them unless he wins.

Trump offers a response — though an indirect one — to Harris calling him a fascist

“I guess in the 1930s or something, some guy who was inclined toward the Nazis said something, and she said, ‘It’s just like the 1930s,’” Trump said during his rally. “No, no it’s not. It’s called Make America Great Again, that’s all it’s called.”
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Cherry Capital Airport, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Harris wraps Texas rally

Harris has wrapped her remarks in Houston after about 30 minutes.

“Do we trust women? Do we believe in reproductive freedom? Do we believe in the promise of America, and are we ready to fight for it? And when we fight, we win,” she said, before going to greet some in the crowd.

Yet again, the strains of Beyoncé’s “Freedom” could be heard in the arena.
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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on stage before speaking at a rally in Houston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Harris shouts out Gen-Z at rally

The competition for young voters this cycle has been fierce, and Harris is addressing Gen Z directly.

“Where you at Gen Z? I’m counting on you, because the thing I love about you is, you are impatient for change. You know it ain’t right,” Harris said, to cheers from the crowd. “I see you, and I see your power.”
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Attendees at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)

Remaining Trump supporters stuck around in cold to see the former president

Among those who stuck around at Trump’s rally were John and Cheryl Sowash, who live in Traverse City, and arrived at the airport at 4 p.m.

“We’ve been waiting a LONG time!” said Cheryl, 65, a retired teacher, who was wearing pink gloves and jumping up and down, but said it wasn’t all that cold — while eating from a pint of coffee ice cream, the only food she said was available in the hanger.

The couple left at one point, boarding a bus to leave the venue after they heard he would be hours late, but chose to come back.

“We said, ‘Let’s go home.’ We got in the bus and then we looked at each other,” said Cheryl — and changed their mind.

“Maybe we’ll get a better seat,” said John, 69, who works in renewable energy.

But the two weren’t upset by the delay. They didn’t know why Trump had been held up (they thought it had been because of a plane crash) but said they weren’t angry.

“Things happen,” said John.

Indeed, Cheryl said she was worried about Trump — since she said the crowd was down to about half its original size.

“He’s gonna be disappointed,” she said.

Supporters are starting to leave as Harris is still speaking

Supporters are starting to leave the rally after seeing Harris and Beyoncé. Harris is still delivering her speech.

Trump takes swipe at Harris as Michigan rally gets underway

Harris listed off downstream effects she sees from various bans, such as “women having fewer options, fewer medical students choosing to specialize in women’s health.”

A video then played, starting with remarks from heralding his hand in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, then playing stories of women discussing their own obstacles to obtaining maternal health care.

Harris lists off the effects of state abortion restrictions

Harris listed off downstream effects she sees from various bans, such as “women having fewer options, fewer medical students choosing to specialize in women’s health.”

A video then played, starting with remarks from heralding his hand in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, then playing stories of women discussing their own obstacles to obtaining maternal health care.
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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at a rally in Houston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

“We must speak her name,” Harris says, of Amber Nicole Thurman, a Georgia woman who waited more than 20 hours at the hospital for a routine medical procedure known as a D&C to clear out remaining tissue after taking abortion pills. She developed sepsis and died.

“To those women, I say, and I think I speak on behalf of all of us: we see you, and we are here with you,” she added, of “an untold number of women and the people who love them, who are silently suffering.”

“How dare he?” Harris asked of Trump’s expressions of pride in his work to undo Roe.

Harris also specifically included men in her argument for abortion protections.

“Men across America do not want to see their daughters and wives and sisters and mothers put at risk because their rights have been taken,” she said.

Trump apologizes to crowd in Michigan
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump on stage before speaking at a campaign rally at Cherry Capital Airport, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump is taking the stage at 10:30 p.m. — exactly three hours after he was supposed to begin his rally in Traverse City, Michigan.

He’s apologizing to the crowd for keeping them waiting while he taped a marathon interview with Joe Rogan.

Trump is apologizing for arriving hours late to his Michigan rally, telling the crowd “we got tied up” and adding “but we’re trying to win.”
He said he gave one of the longest interviews of his life with podcast host Joe Rogan.

Social media showed streams of people leaving before the rally because of the long delay. But the crowd was still large and raucous as Trump began speaking.

Trump’s three-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan has been released

The nation’s most listened-to podcaster pressed the former president on whether he’s “completely committed” to bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., into his administration.

“Oh, I completely am,” Trump responded. “But the only thing I want to be a little careful about with him is the environmental. Because he doesn’t like oil, I love oil and gas.”

He said he’ll tell Kennedy to “focus on health, do whatever you want.” Trump said he’s faced pressure not to work with Kennedy, citing “big Pharma” as one example.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the New York State Capitol, May 14, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)

Kennedy has been instrumental in spreading skepticism about vaccines, rejecting the overwhelming consensus among scientists that the benefits of inoculations outweigh the rare risk of side effects.

He also claims pharmaceutical companies conspire to prevent health improvements because they make so much money selling drugs to people with chronic illnesses.

Rogan also is skeptical of vaccines. Trump noted that “they’ve come up with some amazing things” such as the polio vaccine.

Outbursts briefly disrupt Harris rally

About 10 minutes into her remarks, there have been at least four outbursts that have briefly stalled Harris’ speech.

“You know what, the beauty of our campaign is we’re fighting for democracy,” Harris said, following one of the protesters, who was shouted down by her crowd.

“Many of these bans are causing care to be denied until a woman is at death’s door,” Harris said, talking about various anti-abortion policies she said had been spear-headed by “extremist leaders.”

Disturbance leads to person being escorted out of Harris rally

With the packed arena crowd remaining noisy as she speaks, more disturbances have broken out, leaving Harris trying to keep command of her event.

“I love that there is so much enthusiasm, but let’s talk about the work that we have to do, because we’ve got 11 days to see this through, and we will win,” she said.

A few moments later, a man was escorted out by security.

In Michigan, Trump finally takes stage

Moments after Harris took the stage at her rally, Trump finally took the stage in Traverse City, Michigan, wearing a Black and Gold “Make America Great Again” baseball cap. It was nearly three hours after he’d been scheduled to start.
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Cherry Capital Airport, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump is entering the venue to a booming and dramatic score that includes the sound of a clock striking.

The crowd erupted into cheers as video screens showed Trump walking off his plane and down the steps.

People here have been waiting for hours for the former president to speak.

Kamala takes the stage

After embracing Beyoncé and Rowland, Harris took her spot at the mic, as the crowd cheered her name.

“It’s good to be back in Texas,” she said.

Harris started speaking at 10:20p ET, nearly an hour later than scheduled.
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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, greeting musical artists Beyonce, center, and Kelly Rowland, right, on stage at a campaign event in Houston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

‘We must vote, and we need you,’ Beyonce says

In her hometown of Houston, Beyoncé gave the city’s neighborhoods shoutouts, to raucous cheers from the crowd.

“We are all part of something much bigger,” she said. “We must vote, and we need you.”

“Our moment right now. it’s time for America to sing a new song. Our voices sing a chorus of unity,” she said, casting her remarks forward, and introducing Harris. “Are y’all ready to add your voice to the new American song? So let’s do this, ladies and gentlemen.”

‘I’m here as a mother,’ Beyoncé says

“I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” Beyoncé said in her speech. “Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations.”

Harris’ presidential campaign has taken on Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom,” a cut from her 2016 landmark album, “Lemonade,” as its anthem.

Harris first used the song in July during her first official public appearance as a presidential candidate at her campaign headquarters in Delaware. That same month, Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles, publicly endorsed Harris for president.

Beyoncé gave permission to Harris to use the song, a campaign official confirmed to The Associated Press who was granted anonymity to discuss private campaign operations.

Trump crowd cheers as his plane lands

The crowd at Trump’s Traverse City rally burst into cheers as the screens played footage of his private plane touching down.

They’ve been waiting here for hours in the cold after Trump was delayed.
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Attendee holds up a sign as they wait for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump to arrive at a campaign rally at Cherry Capital Airport, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Traverse City, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Beyonce and Kelly Rowland — both Texas natives — take stage at Harris rally
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Musical artists Beyonce, right, and Kelly Rowland, left, on stage at a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Houston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Beyoncé has taken the stage in Houston, along with Kelly Rowland, her former bandmate in Destiny’s Child.

Rowland spoke first, telling attendees she was glad to be with them on “this remarkable, this joyous day.”

Saying she voted “two days ago,” Rowland said this election marked “a moment when we grab back the pen from those who are trying to write an American story of misogyny and racism.”

Harris rally features a young woman who was given ‘no options’ under Texas’ abortion law

There was a hard stop to the music at Harris’ rally as a video featuring Ondrea Cummings, who was 16 pregnant weeks and also suffered sepsis, played on video screens.

Cummings took the stage, speaking through emotion and sharing the story of her pregnancy, which she learned was not viable. Citing Texas’ law, Cummings said she “was given no options, despite being at a high risk for infection.”

“My baby girl … was born 5 days after my water broke,” Cummings said. “She lived only for a few minutes, but I hold my baby close to my heart” as they sang her to sleep.

Saying this “is the first time I’m sharing my story,” Cummings recounted three months of around-the-clock care after she was discharged from the hospital following a six-hour emergency surgery and a collapsed lung.

“Texas’ abortion bans unleashed by Donald Trump almost cost me my life and have left me with physical and emotional scars,” she said. “I never thought I would have this type of personal experience. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

No Beyoncé in sight — yet

There hasn’t been a Beyoncé sighting yet at Harris’ rally, but the crowd got a little flavor of her music in a snippet from a song by Destiny’s Child, her former girl group.

The DJ has kept the crowd on its feet, with a rollicking playlist with hits by others including Chaka Khan, Usher, GloRilla, Shaboozey, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus. Over the tracks, he’s been making shoutouts to supporting both Harris and “reproductive freedom,” the theme of the evening’s event.
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Supporters reacting as they wait for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris to speaks at a rally in Houston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Attendees sticking around for Trump’s delayed rally are trying to stay warm

Attendees who haven’t left Trump’s rally in Traverse City are bundling up, some covered by blankets, as they wait for him to land.

The crowd sounds tired and looks disengaged as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon kill time on stage.

Trump has been scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. but is running several hours late after spending three hours taping an episode with podcast host Joe Rogan.

Harris has been briefed on Israeli strikes against Iran

Harris has been briefed on Israel’s ongoing strikes against Iran, according to a White House official as she waits to take the stage at a massive campaign rally in Houston. The official said Harris was closely monitoring the situation and would be updated.

Allred takes stage at rally

Allred thanked Harris for “coming to Texas and shining a light on what’s happening to Texas families and Texas women.”

The crowd broke out in cheers of “beat Ted Cruz” after the Democratic congressman said that, “with y’all’s help and God’s grace, we’re gonna beat Ted Cruz.”

“Do you hear that, Ted?” Allred asked.
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Democratic Rep. Colin Allred speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Houston, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Allred likened both his opponent and Trump to being too “small” to be effective leaders.

“Everything is bigger in Texas, but Ted Cruz is too small for Texas,” Allred said, eliciting cheers and laughter from the crowd.

Allred also remembered being at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when he said he “was going to defend the House floor from that mob,” while “Ted Cruz was hiding in a supply closet.

“I went to public school in Texas,” the former football linebacker sa