Kamala Harris took aim at Donald Trump’s energy level as both candidates race through the battleground state of Michigan as Election Day approaches. Referring to reports that the former president was “exhausted,” Harris said, “Being president of the United States is probably one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and we really need to ask… Is he the right person to do the job?”
Questions about Trump’s energy level have been raised after he declined some interviews with mainstream media, including 60 Minutes and CNBC. But before the rally in Detroit, the Republican candidate fired back: “I’ve been non-stop for 48 days now…I’m not even tired. I’m really excited.”
With both candidates in Michigan, the focus has shifted to the Midwestern state that promises 15 electoral votes to the winner. According to polls, Trump won the state by a narrow margin of 11,000 votes in 2016, but Joe Biden defeated him by 155,000 votes in 2020.
Here’s what else happened Friday.
Donald Trump Presidential Election News and Updates
President Trump had returned to Detroit, Michigan’s largest city, for a rally, but it got off to a rocky start when the former president’s microphone stopped working. After the audio started working, he said, “I’m not going to pay the bill to some stupid company that lent me this crap.”
In an interview on Fox & Friends the same day, President Trump complained about Fox’s negative TV ads and said he would ask Rupert Murdoch to prevent them from airing until Election Day.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, President Trump said he would impose additional tariffs on China if it “expands into Taiwan.” “If I were to go to Taiwan, I would say I’m sorry for doing this, and I’m going to impose a 150% to 200% tax on them,” the former president reportedly said. When asked if he intended to use military force to counter China’s blockade of Taiwan, President Trump said he had no intention of doing so because Chinese President Xi Jinping respects him.
In the six months since Mr. Trump directly demanded $1 billion from oil company executives and then promised to pay them, fossil fuel funding has soared, with more money than at this stage of any U.S. presidential campaign so far. Funding comes from the oil and gas industry. If elected, he would repeal environmental regulations. Although the Republican candidate has yet to reach the $1 billion mark, he has received $14.1 million from the oil and gas industry in the period ending Aug. 31, according to donation filings.
Kamala Harris Election News and Updates
Harris campaigned in Grand Rapids, the heart of more conservative West Michigan. She is reportedly changing her whirlwind campaign strategy to win the support of more Republicans and men of all races.
In Oakland County, Harris welcomed members of the Arab American community to a rally touting prospects for peace following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Some prominent Lebanese-Americans supported Harris, writing in a letter that the United States has provided “unrelenting support” to Lebanon under the Biden administration. Many Arab Americans and Muslims have left the Democratic Party because of the regime’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas.
Elsewhere in the campaign
A new poll reveals more than a third of Americans agree with President Trump’s warning that illegal immigrants are “tainting the blood” of America. Robert Jones, founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute, said: “It’s a truly alarming situation to see this type of rhetoric and this type of support from either of our country’s two major political parties.” ” he said.
At a campaign event in Arizona, former President Barack Obama said: “I understand why people would want to shake things up… What I don’t understand is why anyone would think Donald Trump would shake things up in a way that would be good for them.”
Barack and Michelle Obama will join Harris on the campaign trail for the first time next week, aiming to give her a strong late-election boost. Harris is scheduled to appear with the former president in Georgia on October 24th, and in Michigan with Michelle Obama on October 26th.
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