Former U.S. President Donald Trump sought to revitalize his campaign with a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday as recent polls indicate Kamala Harris is gaining ground in crucial swing states.
Despite starting with a prepared speech focusing on economic issues, Trump quickly diverted to personal attacks on Harris, accusing her of promoting both communist and fascist agendas and criticizing her demeanor.
Trump's written speech, delivered to a near-capacity crowd of 8,000 at an indoor arena in Wilkes-Barre, primarily addressed economic policy. However, some attendees left before he finished. Republican strategists had hoped Trump would regain momentum by addressing key voter concerns such as inflation, where he traditionally polls stronger than Democrats.
During his speech, Trump blamed Harris, as part of the Biden administration, for rising prices, dubbing the increased household costs as “the Kamala Harris inflation tax.” He also accused her of implementing Soviet-style economic policies in her recent pledge to reduce grocery, housing, and prescription drug costs.
“In her speech yesterday, Kamala went full communist,” Trump said. “Comrade Kamala announced that she wants to institute socialist price controls. You saw that never worked before … It will cause rationing, hunger and skyrocketing prices.”
Trump urged voters to compare their current situation under the Biden-Harris administration to their lives during his presidency, a question he believes would favor him among Pennsylvanians.
However, Trump frequently strayed from his prepared remarks, discussing various topics from immigration to China and transgender issues, often making unsubstantiated claims. At one point, he acknowledged his tendency to diverge from the script.
“They’ll say he was rambling. I don’t ramble. I’m a really smart guy, you know, really smart. I don’t ramble. But the other day, anytime I hit too hard, they say he was rambling, rambling,” he said.
Supporters, some wearing T-shirts that read “I’m voting for a convicted felon” and chanting “Fight, fight, fight” in reference to Trump's rhetoric following an assassination attempt, encouraged him throughout his speech.
When he returned to his prepared remarks, Trump criticized Harris for her stance against fracking, a significant industry in Pennsylvania. However, his comments about cutting infrastructure spending may not have resonated well in the Rust Belt, where such projects have created jobs.
Trump also questioned Harris’s legitimacy as the Democratic presidential candidate, suggesting her selection was a “coup” against President Biden. He went further, claiming antisemitism was behind Harris’s decision to overlook Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate, citing his Jewish faith and support for Israel.
“They turned him down because he’s Jewish. That’s why they turned him down. Now, we can be politically correct and not say that. I could say, well, they turned him down for various reasons. No, no, they turned him down because he’s Jewish,” said Trump. “And I’ll tell you this, any Jewish person that votes for her or a Democrat has to go out and have their head examined.”
Throughout his speech, Trump repeatedly attacked Harris personally, particularly her laugh, a mannerism that has gained popularity among younger voters.
“Have you heard her laugh? That is the laugh of a crazy person. That is the laugh of a crazy, the laugh of a lunatic,” he said.
The rally showcased Trump’s characteristic style of mixing policy discussion with personal jabs, leaving voters to decide if his approach will resonate in the crucial battleground of Pennsylvania.
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