US election latest: Trump says he’s ‘very confident’ as he casts vote in Florida; Obama warns election ‘going to be close’

This campaign has been filled with dramatic moments – from drop-outs to assassination attempts – so let’s take you through some of the key ones. 

Assassination attempt 

The first of two assassination attempts against the life of Donald Trump was caught on camera.

On 13 July, a gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired several shots at the Republican candidate in Butler, Pennsylvania…

Trump defiant at RNC

Amid a swell of support, Mr Trump quashed rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding his marriage by appearing with Melania Trump and his family at the Republican National Convention on 19 July.

He also discussed the recent attempt on his life…

Biden pulls out of race

Days later – after a disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump – senior Democrats’ pressure on Joe Biden finally proved too much for the sitting president.  

On 21 July, he formally pulled out of the race…

‘That’s my dad’

After Kamala Harris and Tim Walz took over the Democrat ticket, the vice presidential pick made an emotional speech at the DNC on 22 August. 

But it was his 17-year-old son Gus who stole the show.

Gus has a non-verbal learning disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as an anxiety disorder, but took the limelight after standing and proclaiming proudly: “That’s my dad!”

Beyonce endorses Harris 

Pop icon Beyoncé formally endorsed and spoke for Kamala Harris at a rally in Houston, Texas, on 26 October…

Biden gaffe threatens to derail Harris late on

Out of the race, but not out of the headlines, Joe Biden dropped a clanger on a public call when he appeared to brand Trump supporters “garbage”. 

Watch that moment here…

‘Floating island of garbage’

However, the president insisted his comments referred to controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who earlier had referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally in New York – risking alienating crucial Latino voters. 

You can watch that clip here…