Trump Criticizes Kamala Harris at Pennsylvania Rally, Sparks Debate Over 2024 Election

Former President Donald Trump took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a crucial state in the 2024 presidential race. Speaking to a packed crowd at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Trump claimed Harris would be an easier opponent than President Joe Biden, labeling her as “radical” and a “lunatic.”
Trump focused his criticism on Harris’s past policy positions, particularly her stance on fracking, a key industry in Pennsylvania. Although Harris has previously supported a fracking ban, her campaign has recently clarified that she no longer supports such a measure. Trump also attacked Harris on a personal level, making disparaging remarks about her laughter and appearance, which some analysts argue could alienate moderate voters.
In his speech, Trump reiterated debunked claims about the 2020 election being stolen, dismissed climate change concerns, and defended his plan to impose tariffs on foreign goods, despite widespread economic criticism of this approach. The rally, which lasted over 100 minutes, saw a crowd of around 8,000, though attendance dwindled towards the end.
Trump’s comments come as Vice President Harris prepares for a bus tour through western Pennsylvania, starting in Pittsburgh, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Harris’s entry into the race after Biden’s recent exit has shifted the dynamics of the campaign, with her currently leading Trump by over two percentage points in Pennsylvania, according to FiveThirtyEight.
With Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes being a significant prize in the 2024 election, both campaigns are heavily investing in the state. Since Biden’s departure from the race, over $110 million has been spent on advertising in key battleground states, with Pennsylvania receiving $42 million of that total. Democratic and Republican groups have reserved $114 million in ad time in Pennsylvania through the election, outpacing other battleground states.
Polling data from the New York Times shows Harris leading Trump in several key states, including Arizona and North Carolina, while narrowing his leads in Nevada and Georgia. Despite these figures, Trump campaign pollsters argue that the polls underestimate Republican support.
Trump is scheduled to speak about the economy at an event in York, Pennsylvania, on Monday, while his running mate, U.S. Senator JD Vance, will hold an event in Philadelphia on the same day.