November 3rd 2024.
At a campaign rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania, the Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President, Donald Trump, reached out to touch the protective glass surrounding him. Despite the fatigue in his voice, Trump passionately addressed his supporters, expressing regret for leaving the White House after the 2020 election.
He ranted about recent polls showing him losing to Kamala Harris and even made a controversial statement about not minding if members of the press were shot at. In his rambling speech, Trump brought up his past grievances and claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him by "demonic" Democrats. He also lamented the ongoing legal issues surrounding his attempts to overturn his defeat four years ago.
"We had the safest border in the history of our country the day that I left," Trump exclaimed. "I shouldn't have left, I mean honestly, we did so well, we had such a great..." He trailed off mid-sentence, clearly emotional about the topic.
The rally continued with Trump pointing out the bulletproof glass installed in front of him, following an assassination attempt in July. He even went as far as to mention potential weaknesses in the protection. "But all we have really over here is the fake news," Trump said, gesturing to the crowd. "And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don't mind that so much."
This was not the first time Trump had made comments about violence towards his perceived enemies. He previously suggested that former Rep. Liz Cheney would not support foreign wars if she had "nine barrels shooting at her." Despite his advisors' attempts to steer him away from the topic, Trump found it difficult to stop talking about his electoral loss in 2020.
He went on a lengthy tirade, spouting debunked conspiracy theories and claiming that the election was "stolen" from him. He also accused the Democrats of hacking voting machines and alleged that efforts to extend polling hours in Pennsylvania amounted to electoral fraud. "I'm the only one that talks about it because everyone is afraid to damn talk about it," Trump declared. "And then they accuse you of being a conspiracy theorist."
In the midst of his impassioned speech, Trump's voice sounded tired and hoarse. He continued to voice his frustrations with the electoral system and those who he believed were responsible for his loss. "It's a terrible thing that's happened to our country," Trump stated, emphasizing the impact of the alleged fraud.
Some of Trump's allies, including former chief strategist Steve Bannon, had encouraged him to prematurely declare victory on election night, even if the results were not yet final. This was the same strategy he had used four years ago, leading to the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Despite this, Trump's campaign had initially been relatively disciplined, focusing on key issues and voters. However, in recent weeks, that discipline had begun to falter.
Trump's remarks about shooting members of the "fake news media" sparked controversy. His spokesperson later clarified that the statement was not about harming the media but rather "looking out for their welfare." However, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi saw it as further evidence of Trump's "cognitive decline" and expressed concern about his ability to serve as president for another four years. "His brain is clearly deteriorating at a rapid rate," she stated during an interview on MSNBC.
As the election drew closer, Trump continued to embark on a series of last-minute rallies in swing states. Despite his team's efforts to maintain a disciplined campaign, Trump's controversial statements and behavior became increasingly frequent. His comments about shooting the media and his divisive remarks about minority groups dominated the headlines, leading many to question his mental state and fitness for office.
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