Trump Reflects on 2020 Defeat and Critiques Media at Pennsylvania Rally Ahead of Election

 

As the presidential election approaches in just two days, former President Donald Trump took to the stage in Lititz, Pennsylvania, expressing regret over his departure from the White House following his 2020 loss. During the rally, Trump revisited a multitude of grievances, particularly focusing on the media and his unrelenting claims regarding the election outcome.

Trump's remarks at the rally were reminiscent of the themes from his previous campaigns, particularly his disdain for the news media and his efforts to contest the legitimacy of the 2020 election. He lamented the current state of affairs, stating, “We had the safest border in the history of our country the day that I left. I shouldn’t have left; I mean honestly, we did so well,” before abruptly cutting himself off, revealing the deep-seated frustrations he has held onto since the election.

At times, Trump seemed to stray from his intended message, allowing his grievances to overshadow his campaign's attack lines against his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. He revived discredited conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, suggesting that voting machines could be hacked and casting doubt on efforts to extend polling hours in Pennsylvania, which his own team had supported. These comments reflect an ongoing fixation on the past that his aides had hoped he would downplay.

Amidst his grievances, Trump took aim at recent polling data, specifically a Des Moines Register poll that showed him trailing Harris by four points in Iowa. While Harris is not widely expected to secure a victory in Iowa, the poll could indicate growing momentum for her campaign. Trump labeled the polling results as suppression tactics, stating, “You really do inflict damage, like you do with this person in Iowa. It is called suppression. They suppress. And it actually should be illegal.”

Despite expressing these concerns, Trump’s campaign team remains optimistic about their prospects, claiming to have internal polls that suggest he may win five out of seven critical battleground states. Nevertheless, uncertainty looms over how pivotal states like Pennsylvania will ultimately vote on Election Day.

As he continued his address, Trump’s comments took a darker turn as he criticized the news media. He suggested that he would not be concerned if reporters were shot at during a hypothetical assassination attempt against him, remarking, “To get to me, somebody would have to shoot through fake news, and I don’t mind that much.” This remark elicited laughter and jeers from some supporters in the crowd, though it raised eyebrows among others.

Later, as Trump traveled to his next campaign stop in Kinston, North Carolina, his communications director, Steven Cheung, attempted to clarify his comments. Cheung stated that Trump was referring to two assassination attempts on his life and meant to highlight the dangers faced by the media in covering him. “President Trump was stating that the media was in danger, in that they were protecting him and, therefore, were in great danger themselves,” he explained.

The rally in Pennsylvania served not only as a platform for Trump to air his long-standing grievances but also as a reminder of the polarizing nature of his campaign. As the election draws near, Trump’s reflections on the past and his confrontational rhetoric continue to shape the narrative leading up to what could be a contentious election outcome.