2024 election updates: Trump slams Biden over 'garbage' comments, calls opponents 'lowlifes'

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Last updated: Thursday, October 31, 2024 12:35AM GMT
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Six days until Election Day, much of the political debate is about "garbage."

First, the backlash over a comedian's racist comments about Puerto Rico that former President Donald Trump has not apologized for -- and now President Joe Biden appearing to call Trump's supporters "garbage" and stepping on Vice President Kamala Harris' message of unity aimed at attracting disaffected Republicans.

Oct 30, 2024, 9:58 PM

More than 57 million Americans have voted earl

As of 5:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, more than 57 million Americans have voted early, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Of the total number of early votes, 30,233,685 were cast in person and 27,179,332 were returned by mail.

Voters wait to cast their ballots at the Rutherford County Annex Building on the first day of early voting, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Rutherfordton, N.C.
Voters wait to cast their ballots at the Rutherford County Annex Building on the first day of early voting, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Rutherfordton, N.C.
ByKelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Soorin Kim ABCNews logo
Oct 30, 2024, 10:35 PM GMT

Trump slams Biden over 'garbage' comments, calls opponents 'lowlifes'

Trump again responded to President Joe Biden's Tuesday comments in which he appeared to refer to Trump supporters as "garbage."

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he sits in a garbage truck Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he sits in a garbage truck Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis.

During his rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Wednesday, the former president claimed, "Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them 'garbage.' And they mean it."

"Frankly, they've treated you like garbage," Trump added.

Although Biden later clarified his comments, in which he was responding to the derogatory comments about Puerto Rico made during Trump's New York rally on Sunday, Trump labeled his opponents as "lowlifes" and claimed the current administration has "virtually destroyed" America.

"Kamala Harris, a low-IQ individual, is running a campaign of hate, anger and retribution. See, I'm very nice to them. They're not nice," he said.

Trump responded to a supporter who shouted, "She's an idiot!" referring to Harris, sarcastically saying, "I didn't say it. I didn't say it. In fact, I'd like to admonish you, sir. You should not say that, please."

Although Trump disavowed the supporter, his body language told a different story as he stood on stage laughing.

ByMike Levine ABCNews logo
Oct 30, 2024, 10:29 PM GMT

Michigan authorities charge 'non-US citizen' with illegal voting

Authorities in Michigan charged an unidentified non-U.S. citizen with allegedly illegally registering to vote and casting a ballot.

FILE - Voters fill out their ballots for the Michigan primary election, Feb. 27, 2024, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
FILE - Voters fill out their ballots for the Michigan primary election, Feb. 27, 2024, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

The case was referred to law enforcement by a clerk, according to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.

"We are grateful for the swift action of the clerk in this case, who took the appropriate steps and referred the case to law enforcement. We are also grateful to law enforcement for swiftly and thoroughly investigating this case," they said in a joint statement.

"Noncitizen voting is an extremely isolated and rare event. Investigations in multiple states and nationwide have found no evidence of large numbers of noncitizens registering to vote. Even less common is a noncitizen actually casting a ballot," they added.

ByDevin Dwyer ABCNews logo
Oct 30, 2024, 10:13 PM GMT

Voters, Dems ask Supreme Court to reject RNC appeal of Pennsylvania ballot case

Two Pennsylvania voters and the state's Democratic Party asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to reject a Republican request to block counting of provisional in-person ballots cast by people whose mail-in ballots were not put into a required security envelope.

People wait in line outside the Bucks County government building to apply for an on-demand mail ballot on the last day to request one in Doylestown, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
People wait in line outside the Bucks County government building to apply for an on-demand mail ballot on the last day to request one in Doylestown, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

The Democrats argued the Pennsylvania Supreme Court delivered a "straightforward" decision that state law permits voters whose mail ballots were not counted to "exercise their statutory right to vote provisionally rather than be disenfranchised altogether."

The party contends that the RNC has no standing to bring a challenge in the case because it involves two ballots from the 2024 Democratic primary in which the Republican Party could not have been "injured."

A judge has granted a request from the Trump campaign to extend the deadline to apply for mail-in or absentee ballots in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

They also argued that the so-called Purcell principle -- of nonintervention by courts close to a voting period -- does not apply to state courts.

The Democrats also said the Republicans' request for segregation and non-counting of provisional ballots would be a "sweeping" intervention and imposition on county boards of election which are not even parties to the case.

ByOlivia Rubin WPVI logo
Oct 30, 2024, 7:57 PM GMT

Philly DA asks for more security for Elon Musk hearing

The Philadelphia district attorney who is bringing a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk's $1 million voter giveaway asked the judge overseeing the case Wednesday to "enhance its security" for an upcoming hearing in the matter.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner takes part in a news conference in Philadelphia, Monday, March 11, 2024.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner takes part in a news conference in Philadelphia, Monday, March 11, 2024.

DA Larry Krasner said in a new court filing Musk's post about the case on X has "triggered an avalanche of posts." including "antisemitic attacks" against the prosecutor.

One account was "inviting political violence" and posted Krasner's home address, according to the filing.

"These posts, which unquestionable are criminal.... and remain posted on Musk's X website today," the filing states.

Another post read "Krasner loves visitors. Mask up and leave all cellphones at home," according to the filing.

"The directives to 'mask up' and to 'leave all cellphones at home' are to prevent identification of illegal actors by video, by eyewitnesses, and by cellphone geolocation," the filing states.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to ABC News for comment.

The hearing in the case is set for Friday at 10am.