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It seems I have lost a bet.

In the Rose Garden yesterday afternoon President Joe Biden replied with just one word – “yes” – when I asked him if he would run again.

Many months ago my colleague and I bet on whether or not he’d go for a second term.

My (flawed) logic – that he would not – was based simply on his age.

My assumption was that his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, would counsel him that he’d achieved enough in his first term and that it was time to take a back seat; let someone else complete his work.

After all, he would be 82 at the time of re-election and nearer 90 at the end of the second term.

I have already been accused of ageism for raising this point, but it’s legitimate to discuss the issue, surely?

The American people have already spoken. The latest polling, from our US partner network NBC this past weekend, suggests only one in four Americans believe Biden should run again.

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‘I believe Biden will be re-elected’

Biden has aged and he’s less fluent

I’ve compared speeches he gave just a couple of years ago with those he’s given more recently.

He has aged. He is less fluent. This isn’t a jibe. It’s an observation and there is no suggestion of health issues. He passes the regular White House medicals.

But what about the unmatched intensity of the American election cycle? It’s tested candidates half his age. Is he really ready to do that all over again?

The President said before Christmas that he would consult with family before deciding if he would run again.

So my naive instinct was based on human nature: that his family would tell him: ‘Pop, dad, Joe, you’ve had a good run… support a good successor and stand aside’.

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My colleague’s judgement – that he would run – was, of course, based much more on the cold logic of politics.

This is a man who has lived and breathed politics all his life – he has always wanted to be president.

In his mid-seventies he managed that top office. He’s done one term. He’s hardly likely to want to throw the towel in now.

Who wants to be a one-term president?

His age gives him unmatched political experience. His supporters argue that he has achieved a lot in one term. He’s secured impressive domestic legislative achievements. He’s led the free world against Russian aggression. There’s much more yet to do; there are policy pledges to fulfil.

He has been eyeing competition

“Finish the job…” will be the campaign slogan.

He’s obviously been eyeing the competition too. While it’s true that American politics is hard to predict, it looks likely that Donald Trump will be the Republican candidate.

Biden beat Trump last time around. So, he and the Democrats naturally assume he can do it again.

Remember too that so much has emerged about (the now indicted) Donald Trump since the last election. Could Trump’s support base really have increased since 2020? Surely not, Team Biden is assuming.

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What about other Democratic Party candidates? There must be some?!

Well – not really. The other two main contenders last time around – Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris – were strategically wrapped into Team Biden during this first term. Neither has shone either.

There are a few in the wings who see themselves as post-Biden candidates – like California’s Governor Gavin Newsom – but none prepared to stand in his way now – fearful maybe of being blamed for a Trump ’24 victory?

And so, Biden 2024 seems as good as certain.

The world will reflect on the fact that the best America can offer for 2024 is a likely re-run of the 2020 offering. And I’ve lost a bet.

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Jimmy Kimmel addresses Charlie Kirk comments in first show since being taken off-air

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Jimmy Kimmel addresses Charlie Kirk comments in first show since being taken off-air

Jimmy Kimmel has said it was “never my intention to make light of” Charlie Kirk’s death.

The presenter appeared almost tearful as he opened his first show since being taken off-air last week over comments about the assassination of the conservative influencer.

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” he said as he choked up.

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make”.

Kimmel was accused of being “offensive and insensitive” after using his programme, Jimmy Kimmel Live, to accuse Donald Trump and his allies of capitalising on the killing.

Speaking on Tuesday night’s show, Kimmel said he understood why the remarks “felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both”.

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Kimmel returns – and not everyone’s on same page

‘Not legal’ to take me off-air, says Kimmel

Appearing tearful again, Kimmel praised Kirk’s widow, Erika, for forgiving her husband’s killer at his memorial service, calling it a “selfless act of grace … that touched me deeply”. In contrast, Mr Trump has said he disagreed, telling the service: “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.”

Kimmel went on to criticise the ABC affiliates who took his show off the air, saying: “That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American.”

He also thanked those who supported him, adding: “It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”

Disney announced the return of the show to its ABC network after backlash to his suspension, although two major operators said they still wouldn’t show it.

Read more from Sky News:
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Man found guilty of trying to assassinate US president

Jimmy Kimmel's show returned after less than a week off-air. Pic: Reuters
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Jimmy Kimmel’s show returned after less than a week off-air. Pic: Reuters

Trump threatens further action

In a post on his Truth Social platform before it aired on Tuesday night, Mr Trump said he “can’t believe” ABC gave Kimmel his show back and hinted at further action.

“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” he wrote.

“He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this.”

In his opening monologue, Kimmel mocked Mr Trump for criticising him for bad ratings, saying: “He tried his best to cancel me and instead he forced millions of people to watch this show.”

Mr Trump had welcomed Kimmel’s suspension, saying he had “bad ratings”, but the move was criticised by Hollywood stars and senior Democrats including Barack Obama.

What did Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk?

The comments that saw Kimmel taken off-air were made last week.

The TV presenter said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Speaking about Mr Trump, he added: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend.

“This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

“Many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” he continued.

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Trump disparages Russian military – and backs Ukraine to retake all lost territory

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Trump disparages Russian military - and backs Ukraine to retake all lost territory

US President Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine could retake all its occupied territory and described Russia as a “paper tiger”.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Sky News correspondent Mark Stone it was a “big shift” from his US counterpart.

Mr Trump, speaking to French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations in New York, said his relationship with Vladimir Putin had turned out to be meaningless.

Read more: Why emboldened Trump has changed his stance on Ukraine

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations. Pic: Reuters

Writing on Truth Social, the US president said: “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.

“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.”

Mr Trump wrote that he had gained a greater understanding of the “economic trouble” the war was causing Moscow.

He said Russia had been “fighting aimlessly” for three-and-a-half years and had it been a “real military power” it would have defeated Ukraine in less than a week.

Mr Trump added: “This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger’.”

Mr Trump’s tone contrasted greatly with his red-carpet treatment for the Russian president at a summit in Alaska last month, part of a push to expedite an end to the war in Ukraine.

The US president has previously suggested Ukraine would never be able to reclaim all the territory Russia has occupied since seizing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Mr Zelenskyy later said he was surprised by Mr Trump’s comments, telling Fox News’ Special Report he has a better relationship with the US president than before.

He said the comments were a very positive signal Mr Trump and the US will be with Ukraine until the end of the war.

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Rigby to Trump: Was Putin’s Alaska invite a mistake?

Earlier on Tuesday, while talking to Mr Zelenskyy at the United Nations, Mr Trump was asked by reporters whether he thought NATO should shoot down Russian planes if they entered NATO airspace.

“Yes, I do,” Mr Trump replied.

Asked whether the US would support NATO in shooting down Russian aircraft, Mr Trump said it depended on the circumstances.

On Truth Social, he said the US would continue to supply weapons to NATO and it was for the military alliance to “do what they want with them”.

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Trump attacks UN and London mayor

Ukraine, he said, with the “support of the European Union”, is in a position to “fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form”.

Kyiv would need the “financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO”, he said.

But, given those caveats, he said the “original borders from where this war started is very much an option”.

In a joint statement following the president’s comments, G7 foreign ministers said discussions were ongoing about additional economic sanctions on Russia.

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Mr Trump also suggested the Russian people are not aware of “what is really going on with this war”.

He added: “Most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine. Putin and Russia are in big economic trouble and this is the time for Ukraine to act.”

Ukraine has lost large areas of land in the east of the country. In the Donetsk region, Russia now controls about 70% of the territory. Kyiv’s forces have been pushed back to a string of four cities analysts have dubbed the “fortress belt”.

Moscow has partly annexed three other regions, too: Luhansk in the east, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson further west.

The situation in Ukraine on 19 September
Image:
The situation in Ukraine on 19 September

Meanwhile, Russia appears to be provoking its neighbours to the west. Last week, Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes before Italian NATO jets escorted them away.

The week before, about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to shoot some of them down.

NATO has now beefed up its defence of Europe’s eastern flank.

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Ryan Routh found guilty of trying to assassinate Donald Trump – and attempts to stab himself after verdict

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Ryan Routh found guilty of trying to assassinate Donald Trump - and attempts to stab himself after verdict

A 59-year-old man has been found guilty of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on a golf course.

Ryan Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen shortly after he was convicted on all five charges against him.

Marshals quickly surrounded Routh and he did not hurt himself. They then dragged him out of the courtroom in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh trying to stab himself in the neck with a pen. Pic: AP
Image:
Courtroom sketch shows Ryan Routh trying to stab himself in the neck with a pen. Pic: AP

His daughter Sara Routh screamed: “Dad I love you don’t do anything. I’ll get you out. He didn’t hurt anybody.”

She continued screaming in the courtroom as her father was removed, and she said the case against him was rigged.

He was later brought back into court, wearing a white shirt and no tie. There was no blood visible on his neck.

The judge wanted to make sure Routh understood he was found guilty. Routh will be sentenced on 18 December, the judge announced.

His son Adam said “we love you Dad” and Routh turned around and winked as he was taken away.

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Moment Ryan Routh is arrested

‘Carefully crafted plot’

A jury of five men and seven women decided Routh intended to kill Mr Trump when he pointed a rifle through a fence as the then US presidential candidate was playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September last year.

Routh fled without firing a shot after a Secret Service agent patrolling the course ahead of Mr Trump saw Routh and the rifle and opened fire, according to witness testimony in the case.

At the start of the trial, prosecutor John Shipley said “this plot was carefully crafted and deadly serious”, adding that without the agent intervening, “Donald Trump would not be alive”.

A photograph of what officials said was the SKS rifle in the assassination plot. Pic: Reuters
Image:
A photograph of what officials said was the SKS rifle in the assassination plot. Pic: Reuters

Routh was arrested on 15 September 2024. Pic: Martin County Sheriff's Office
Image:
Routh was arrested on 15 September 2024. Pic: Martin County Sheriff’s Office

The charges against Routh

Routh had been charged with attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The incident occurred weeks after a bullet grazed the president’s ear in another assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

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Routh, who faces the prospect of life in prison, pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him and chose to defend himself in court.

He spent weeks plotting to kill Mr Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as the Republican candidate played golf on 15 September 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club, according to prosecutors.

What did Routh say?

Routh told jurors in his closing argument that he did not intend to kill anyone that day.

“It’s hard for me to believe that a crime occurred if the trigger was never pulled,” Routh said.

He said he could see Mr Trump as he was on the path toward the sixth-hole green and noted he also could have shot a Secret Service agent who confronted him if he had intended to harm anyone.

Trump’s reaction

Following the guilty verdict, the president said on Truth Social that Routh was “an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him”.

He thanked the Secret Service and “the wonderful person who spotted him running from the site of the crime”, and provided authorities with his vehicle registration number.

The guilty verdict “illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence”, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X.

“This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our president, but an affront to our very nation,” Ms Bondi said.

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