Kamala Harris attacks Trump in punchy first speech on campaign trail in Wisconsin

US Vice President Kamala Harris held her first presidential campaign rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday, launching a scathing attack on Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Accusing Trump of trying to “take the country backward”, she asked: “Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear and hate?”

While the Democratic campaign appears re-energised after Joe Biden pulled out of the race on Sunday, Trump has ramped up his criticism of the new challenger, characterising Harris as “the same as Biden but much more radical”.

The Vice President has already secured support from more than 64 per cent of Democratic delegates to become the party’s nominee for president in place of Biden, who threw his support behind her moments after withdrawing from the 2024 race for the White House amid longstanding questions about his age and health.

So far, no major Democratic rivals have emerged to challenge Harris while the party raised a record-breaking $81m in the 24 hours after Biden announced he was stepping aside.

The president will address the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening on his plans for finishing out his term.