In a recent rally in Pennsylvania, ex-President Donald J. Trump addressed various issues including economic woes and immigration concerns, while also spending considerable time attacking Vice President Kamala Harris on personal grounds. His criticisms extended to her physical appearance as well as her demeanor. The crowd in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania faced a flurry of statements, accusations, and jibes, some bordering on the bizarre, such as the speculative idea of rising sea levels leading to increased beachfront real estate.
The accusations directed towards Vice President Harris were beyond the pale. In one instance, Trump laid the blame for high costs of essential items squarely on Harris. It was a somewhat ironic claim, especially given her recent comments at a separate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she proposed that Trump’s import tariffs might result in a ‘Trump tax’ on basic necessities. Trump retaliated, labeling this the ‘Kamala Harris inflation tax’, promising his supporters lower prices if he were to take office again.
Trump’s advisers had repeatedly requested that he highlight his economic plans, given that polls indicate more voter confidence in his economic policies compared to those of Harris. However, he repeatedly made personal attacks against Harris, including belittling her intelligence and looks, presenting a stark contrast to his campaign’s economic discussions.
At two events during the same week – one in Asheville, North Carolina and another in Bedminster, New Jersey – Trump, instead of focusing on the economy, resorted to disparaging comments aimed at Harris. In his view, he was warranted in doing so. At the Pennsylvania rally – his last prior to the Democratic National Convention – Trump ostensibly began articulating his views on inflation and the economy but quickly pivoted to attack Vice President Harris.
Trump, peeling away from prepared scripts, candidly expressed his loathing towards Harris, stating that even President Biden despises her. His distaste for Harris was reduced to personal insults, manipulating the crowd with twisted narratives and unfounded claims about Harris ‘crazy laugh’ and his supposed superior physical appeal.
Surprisingly, a significant portion of Trump’s speech was consumed by his obsession with Harris’s supposed shortcomings. His constant disruptions and personal attacks were an attempt to divert attention from his problematic policies. A spokesperson from the Harris campaign, Joseph Costello, suggested that Trump’s tactics – lies, name-calling, and confused speeches – were an effort to hide his problematic agenda.
Trump’s detraction from substantial political arguments took yet another turn with his allegation that Democrats conducted a ‘rigged convention’ due to Harris’s involvement following the withdrawal of President Biden from the race, despite the fact that millions of Americans had voted for Biden. Following Biden’s exit from the race, Harris swiftly moved to consolidate support from delegates, a fact Trump conveniently omitted in his campaign narrative.
Trump shared his pledge to boost oil and gas production during his speech, a political play aimed squarely at Harris’s prior stance on fracking. During her presidential bid in 2020, Harris had advocated for a ban on hydraulic fracturing, a stance she has since distanced herself from. Interestingly, Trump chose to amplify this position despite the ecological risks of fracking.
Pivoting to Pennsylvania’s natural resources, Trump channeled his ‘drill, baby, drill’ mentality, a chant particularly relevant in Wilkes-Barre, a borough shaped historically by anthracite coal mining. However, Trump’s call for increased fracking ignores the risk of air and water pollution it presents, showing his disregard for the ecological implications of such policies.
During his address, Trump falsely reaffirmed the prejudiced narrative that Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, was not considered as Harris’s running mate due to his faith. This is an unsubstantiated allegation, particularly as Shapiro himself has rejected any influence his religion had on this decision.
Trump, while in office, was accused of fostering white supremacy, which only makes his warning about rampant antisemitism in America seem hypocritical. His claim that Jews voting for Democrats ‘should have their head examined’ underlines the rhetoric of division that has characterised much of his political discourse.
The attention from both Trump and Harris towards Pennsylvania is not incidental. The state, known for swaying between political parties, showed a loss for Trump in the 2020 elections after securing a narrow victory in 2016. The potential to determine electoral outcomes prompts both camps to focus on Pennsylvanian voters.
The importance of Pennsylvania in this election is further highlighted by the upcoming tours by both parties. Kamala Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, plan a bus tour across western Pennsylvania, subtly acknowledging the state’s political significance.
On the other hand, Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, have scheduled separate campaign stops in York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Such efforts underscore the keen interest of both parties in securing the favor of the state’s citizens, indicating the high stakes at play.
In conclusion, the Pennsylvania rally was a vivid portrayal of Trump’s tendency to resort to personal attacks and deceptive narratives, often overshadowing any substantive political discourse. This approach, which relied heavily on attacking Vice President Harris, painted a bleak picture of the current state of political communication.