Kamala Harris launches presidential campaign

European officials are excited again as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris emerges as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination ahead of crucial elections in the fall.

The U.S. election has “become more interesting,” a senior European Union diplomat told CNBC on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of the topic.

An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added: “(President Joe) Biden is a great man, he has had an impressive life, but he is not the future.” They also dismissed former President Donald Trump, 78, adding that “the United States needs younger leaders.”

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— Silvia Amaro

David Roach, president and global strategist at Quantum Strategies, said Vice President Kamala Harris will likely win the Democratic nomination but still lose the presidential election to Republican opponent Donald Trump.

“I think she will definitely be the (Democratic) nominee because if she is not the Democratic nominee for president, there will be a level of chaos, including influence money, that will mean the Democratic Party will be wiped out,” he told “Street Signs Europe” on Tuesday, noting that the fallout would also affect the party’s position in Congress and the House of Representatives.

Despite predicting Harris will receive the formal endorsement of the Democratic Party and expecting “the competition will be more intense than people think” during the fall elections, Roach stressed, “I don’t think she can beat Trump.”

“My guess is that Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. As the election approaches, the market will start to worry about the costs. The costs in terms of security policies, like NATO and Europe, the costs in terms of Taiwan, the costs in terms of tariffs, all of which are extremely negative for the U.S. economy,” he said, adding that investors are likely to adopt a cautious wait-and-see approach for the time being.

He noted that some people “might even actually be happy to some extent about the possibility of a Trump win because they might see it as a way to get more money.”

— Luksandra Yodash

Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the favorite to clinch the Democratic nomination in the two days since launching her campaign, but she may need to speed up her selection of a running mate, said Syga Thomas, CEO of Ensah Advisory Partners.

“We have to make a choice very quickly,” he told CNBC’s Dan Murphy on Tuesday, noting the decision must come before the Democratic National Committee convention in Chicago, which takes place Aug. 19-22.

Several candidates have been mentioned as potential running mates, including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is a key player, and in this swing state, that could be very important,” Thomas agreed — but said the possibility of a surprise choice should not be ruled out.

“I think it’s important to step back and consider that she could potentially step up and do something completely different,” Thomas said. “So, something that’s not being touted right now. So, she could be an all-female campaign team, certainly with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which would certainly be an interesting way to approach the campaign.”

— Luksandra Yodash

First Lady Jill Biden will lead the presidential delegation to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, scheduled for July 26. According to a White House statement.

It will be the first public appearance for Jill Biden, who has supported her husband, President Joe Biden, since he decided not to run for reelection.

The second delegation will be led by Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and will attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics on August 11.

The names of the other two presidential delegations attending the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games will be announced later.

— Luksandra Yodash

Aaron Anderson, a member of Fisher Investments’ investment policy committee, said Vice President Kamala Harris’s just-launched presidential campaign will create a more intense competition with Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.

“I think the knee-jerk reaction or interpretation of the heated politics we’ve seen in the U.S. is that the race has just gotten more intense, the likelihood of a landslide victory for one party in one direction may have diminished a little bit, so things are back to normal,” he told CNBC’s Dan Murphy on Tuesday, highlighting that this has led to large-cap growth stocks performing well so far this year.

Anderson added: “It does look increasingly likely that Harris will be the Democratic nominee, but it’s not a sure thing yet. But I would say it’s a pretty mild change from the previous slate of candidates.”

He stressed that both Harris and Trump are well-known figures to investors as they both served in senior leadership positions in the White House for four years.

“Here you have two politicians that are well known to the market, and I think it would be hard to be surprised by the outcome of the election if that were to happen,” Anderson noted.

— Luksandra Yodash

S&P 500 Tesla futures fell 0.14% at 08:52 a.m. London time in pre-market trading on Tuesday as investors turned their attention to expected earnings reports from giants including General Motors, Coca-Cola, Alphabet and Tesla.

Traders have been watching the U.S. political backdrop after President Joe Biden abandoned his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, whose rapidly launched campaign has garnered key Democratic pledges and grassroots donations. S&P 500 Monday was its best day since June 5, driven by a rebound in technology stocks.

— Luksandra Yodash

Under pressure to end the war that has brought devastation to the Gaza Strip since last October, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House this week to meet with US President Joe Biden.

Israel insists it is not targeting civilians but only the Palestinian militant group Hamas. However, it has been criticized by the international community for its disproportionate military response in Gaza and the harm it has caused to the Palestinian people.

The United States has steadfastly supported Israel throughout the conflict but has increasingly urged Netanyahu’s government to minimize civilian casualties. Both sides are also seeking the release of dozens of hostages, including American citizens, still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The visit could pave the way for an elusive ceasefire deal with Hamas, which the United States, Qatar and Egypt have been brokering.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu will meet with Biden, who heaped praise on his career after the president decided to abandon his reelection bid. Harris will not be able to moderate Netanyahu’s remarks before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday because of her trip to Indianapolis, her aides said. According to Reuters.

— Luksandra Yodash

Former US President Donald Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’ immigration record. Label her “Border Czar” again in an update to his “Social Media for Truth” platform.

Trump claimed Harris “never visited the border,” a possible reference to the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal crossings are at record highs In the past year.

Republican opponents may further criticize Harris’ immigration policies – The issues that most concern American voters Trump claimed the vice president’s performance “left us with the worst, most dangerous border in the world.”

Back to 2021Harris is tasked with leading a diplomatic mission to address the “root causes of migration from Central America” — but is not responsible for overseeing or enforcing immigration policy or the border itself.

— Luksandra Yodash

US Vice President Kamala Harris has received endorsements from a string of key Democratic figures in her first day of a swift campaign launch. In a statement She is looking forward to receiving the formal nomination from the party.

“When I announced my candidacy for president, I said I intended to go out and win the nomination. Tonight, I’m proud to have garnered the broad support needed to be our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I’m proud that my home state delegation helped bring our campaign to victory. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon,” she said.

Harris also opposed running for candidacy against former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has again secured the Republican nomination.

“This election will offer a clear choice between two different visions. Donald Trump wants to return our country to a time when many people did not have full freedom and equal rights. I believe in a future that strengthens our democracy, protects reproductive freedom, and ensures that everyone has the opportunity not only to survive, but to advance,” she said.

— Luksandra Yodash

Harris has the written or verbal support of a majority of Democratic delegates committed to the convention, according to NBC News estimates.

The delegate threshold is 1,976. NBC estimated that as of 10:30 p.m. ET, Harris had received statements of support from groups representing 1,992 delegates.

The exact date and process for the roll-call vote on the Democratic nomination will be finalized at a Rules Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon.

— Christina Wilkie

Read CNBC’s July 22 blog update on Kamala Harris’ campaign here.