July 25th 2024.
Donald Trump recently spoke at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, his first public campaign event since Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election and Kamala Harris became the Democrats' likely nominee. Trump wasted no time in launching a barrage of attack lines against Harris, whom he referred to as his "new victim to defeat." He accused her of deceiving the public about Biden's ability to run for a second term and labeled her as "lyin' Kamala Harris," the "most incompetent and far-left vice president in American history."
During his speech, Trump also took aim at Harris' positions on abortion and immigration, calling her a "radical left lunatic" and "crazy." He even repeatedly mispronounced her first name, a disrespectful gesture towards the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to lead a major party's presidential ticket.
Trump's speech signaled a potentially brutal and personal next stage for the campaign, with some GOP leaders warning against using overtly racist and sexist attacks against Harris. Trump made it clear that he holds Harris responsible for what he portrays as the failures of the Biden administration, particularly regarding security along the US-Mexico border.
Before Trump took the stage, other speakers at the rally also attacked Harris' record, highlighting her role in a White House effort to tackle migration issues. Her name was met with boos from the crowd several times throughout the event. Brandon Judd, former president of the National Border Patrol Council, even went as far as to say that Harris was "assigned that task" and "failed" in her duties.
Trump continued to criticize Harris, calling her "the same as Biden but much more radical" and blaming her for the record high number of illegal crossing arrests at the US-Mexico border. He also reiterated his promise to conduct mass deportations with the help of local police.
Meanwhile, Harris spent the day in Indiana, speaking to members of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta and asking for their help in electing her as president in November. She characterized the upcoming election as a choice between "two different visions for our nation."
After Trump's speech, Harris' campaign released a statement describing it as "unhinged, weird and rambling." Her campaign spokesperson, Ammar Moussa, stated that "unity is over for Donald Trump," referring to the unity pledges made during the Republican National Convention.
Harris is expected to make abortion a key part of her campaign, positioning herself as a fighter against abortion restrictions. She has already stated her trust in women to make decisions about their own bodies. On the other hand, Trump has been hesitant about debating Harris, first saying he wanted Fox News to host the matchup instead of ABC. He later stated that he would like to debate Harris "more than once" but did not commit to appearing at the debate currently scheduled with Biden.
Some Republicans have expressed concern about the substitution of Harris for Biden, as it nullifies a portion of their party's argument in favor of Trump's vitality and vigor. At 81, Biden would have been the oldest presidential nominee, but now, the 78-year-old Trump holds that title.
Harris, at 59, has launched a campaign that is generating interest among younger voters, who could be crucial in deciding a close general election. Trump's visit to North Carolina shows that he is concerned about keeping the state in his column in November, despite his team's efforts to win traditionally Democratic-leaning states like Minnesota.
During his previous campaigns, Trump narrowly won North Carolina, and he has been heavily stumping in the state, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, Biden largely avoided the physical campaign trail and did not personally visit the state in the last 16 days of the election. This year, Trump had planned to hold his first rally since the start of his hush money trial in Fayetteville, but it was canceled due to inclement weather. However, he still called in from his private plane to address his supporters.
The Democrats are also actively trying to win North Carolina, where the party has not seen a presidential win since Barack Obama's victory in 2008, despite recent Republican dominance. Biden held a campaign event in Raleigh the day after his disastrous June debate with Trump, where he was much more forceful than he was on the debate stage. However, it did little to ease concerns from members of his party about his ability to win the White House again.
The rally in Charlotte was Trump's second since an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13. He then went on to accept the GOP presidential nomination and give a speech at the Republican National Convention, where his injured ear from the shooting was bandaged. Like the previous rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this event was held indoors, and it's unclear if the campaign will continue to hold outdoor rallies due to security concerns.
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