Evening Standard View: The Donald Trump-Elon Musk love-in was more of the same

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A truly breaking news story might be if Donald Trump delivered a cogent, policy-heavy response to a series of questions. Instead, the former president has given yet another rambling, incoherent set of answers to Elon Musk in a two-hour “interview” beset by technical difficulties.

The extent to which Trump has been dumbfounded by the promotion of vice-president Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket is difficult to overstate. Trump felt comfortable competing against Joe Biden, a man even older than himself. In comparison with Harris, Trump looks every day of his 78 years.

The interview was also an insight into the growing relationship between Musk, the world’s richest person, and Trump, who could once again be the world’s most powerful person. The mutual admiration was plain for all to see.

Harris now leads in the polls not only nationally, but in the critical swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. With the Democratic National Convention taking place in Chicago next week, she can hope to maintain her momentum. But there is still a long way to go in this race, and Trump retains a chance of achieving what he did in 2016, which is to lose the popular vote by millions but secure an electoral college victory.

Londoners may be delighted — but perhaps surprised — to learn that phone theft is still a crime. Last week, the Standard’s social media editor had her mobile stolen on Charing Cross Road.

This was, in some ways, par for the course. A phone is reported stolen in the capital every six minutes. Yet within 48 hours of reporting it, the Met closed the case with no investigation.

So it is welcome news that Sonny Stringer, London’s most notorious phone snatcher, who used an electric bike to steal 24 items in just a few hours one morning, has been jailed for two years.

Still, locals and tourists alike would be advised to continue to maintain a heavy grip on their phones in public. It’s the London way.

Hundreds of people in Beckenham raised more than £3,000 to send their “dedicated” roadsweeper, Paul Spiers, 63, abroad for a holiday.

Yet his employer refused to allow it, with Veolia stating that its contract with Bromley council “does not permit our staff to accept any monies or incentives outside of agreed pay structures”.

It is not too late for Veolia to change its mind.