Former President Donald Trump's final week in the race against Vice President Kamala Harris has been hampered by a series of controversial remarks and unforced errors that threaten to mute his closing argument to voters amid a deluge of Democratic attacks and legal backlash.
Throughout the week, Trump's campaign aired thousands of ads focused on his policy platform: universal tariffs, deeper tax cuts and sweeping immigrant deportations. But what garnered the most attention were a comedian's insults of Puerto Rico, Trump's violent rhetoric about a political opponent, and a comment about women.
Last Sunday, the Republican presidential nominee kicked off his final week on the campaign trail with a buzzy rally at New York's Madison Square Garden. The event was billed as an economic pitch to New Yorkers, but that message was drowned out by a circus of crude and at times, flat-out racist, remarks from some of the introductory speakers.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's opening set drew the loudest backlash after he called Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean."
Hinchcliffe's comments triggered a wave of criticism from Puerto Rican celebrities like musician Bad Bunny, as well as from elected officials and voters.
"It's not hitting well, I think people are pretty irritated," Allentown, Pennsylvania Mayor Matt Tuerk told NBC News on Tuesday. "Enraged is a word that I've heard a few people say."
Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state with 19 electoral votes, has a significant Puerto Rican population, heightening the political damage of Hinchcliffe's offensive comments.
Trump campaign officials spent the following hours and days of the MSG rally doing clean-up and trying to distance their candidate from the controversy.
"This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign," Trump campaign senior advisor Danielle Alvarez said last Sunday night.
Democrats and the Harris campaign seized on the controversy.
"We saw what happened in New York City at Madison Square Garden as another attempt to divide us," Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, said at a local campaign stop in Pennsylvania on Thursday. "The disrespect given to our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico was not just unnecessary, it was incredibly hurtful."
"She's a radical war hawk. Let's put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her," Trump said Thursday at an Arizona event with conservative media personality Tucker Carlson. "Okay, let's see how she feels about it. You know when the guns are trained on her face."
On Friday, the Arizona Attorney General announced that it was investigating whether Trump's violent remarks qualified as a death threat and a violation of state law.
The Harris campaign has spun Trump's comment into a contrast to back its bipartisan case for the Democratic presidential nominee.
"You have Donald Trump who is talking about sending a prominent Republican to the firing squad and you have Vice President Harris talking about sending one to her Cabinet," Harris campaign senior advisor Ian Sams said Friday on MSNBC .
Trump's off-handed remark about Cheney again forced him and his campaign to spend the remaining days of the presidential race on damage control.
"All I'm saying is she was a nutty war hawk," Trump said Saturday on "Fox & Friends." He added, "I said, 'Put a gun in her hand and let her go out and let her face the enemy with a gun in her hand.'"
"See, I weave," he said during a Saturday rally in Virginia. "Nobody else can do the weave like Trump."
With polls showing the presidential race neck and neck across the pivotal swing states in the final weekend, Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson warned of a disconnect emerging.
"His message on air is one that says, 'if you want the economy to be back on track, and you want the world to not be on fire, vote for me.' That's a good message," Anderson said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.
"It's unfortunately for him, different than sometimes what he's saying on the stump," she said. "And I think that disconnect, if he loses will be part of why."
On Wednesday, Trump said at a rally in Wisconsin that he would "protect" American women "whether the women like it or not." The comment gave the Harris campaign another opening to argue that Trump and Republicans by extension seek to impose their beliefs about women's lives, over the objections of women themselves.
This argument is central to the Democratic party's opposition to abortion restrictions imposed in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision — an issue that polls show is driving massive support for Harris among women.
Former Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said on CNN Sunday that he was closely watching how the race was closing, and Harris is "closing well."
"She's on a message. She's been very disciplined. Trump has not, and I think that is meaningful."
Trump's Closing Message Drowned Out by Controversial Remarks
In the final days of the 2024 presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump's closing message has been overshadowed by a series of controversial remarks, including a joke about shooting journalists and an off-handed comment about women.
At a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump made comments suggesting that he wouldn't mind if members of the press were killed. "To get me, someone would have to shoot through the fake news," Trump said. "And I don’t mind that so much." He then joked that such a shooting could break out "any minute now."
The Trump campaign, however, attempted to downplay Trump's comments, claiming that he was actually expressing concern for the safety of the media by pointing out that the reporters were acting as a “protective shield” for him and were therefore in danger themselves. This explanation was quickly dismissed by media observers and critics alike, noting that in both footage and official transcripts from the event, it is evident that Trump explicitly stated he would not "mind that so much" if reporters were shot, and laughed as his supporters cheered at his remark.
Trump's Violent Rhetoric Continues
Trump's violent rhetoric towards journalists is not new. During his first term as President, Trump frequently attacked the media, labeling them as "the enemy of the people." This has led to a hostile environment for journalists, who are increasingly facing threats and harassment.
Trump's comments about shooting journalists are particularly troubling given the recent rise in violence against the media. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there were 11 journalists killed in the United States between 2012 and 2022. While the vast majority of these killings were not related to the victims’ reporting, the trend of violence against journalists is cause for concern.
The Media's Role in Covering Trump
Trump's attack on the media is part of a broader trend of authoritarian leaders undermining democratic institutions and norms. By labeling the media as "the enemy of the people," Trump seeks to discredit legitimate criticism of his actions and policies. This strategy is often employed by authoritarian leaders to stifle dissent and consolidate power.
The media plays a crucial role in a democratic society by holding government accountable and informing the public. In a time of political polarization and misinformation, it is more important than ever for the media to uphold its role as a watchdog. However, the increasing hostility towards journalists from figures like Trump makes it more difficult for the media to do its job.
Trump's Controversial Comments on Women
In addition to his remarks about journalists, Trump's campaign has been plagued by controversial comments about women. At a rally in Wisconsin, Trump stated that he would "protect" American women "whether the women like it or not."
The Harris campaign seized on this comment, arguing that Trump and Republicans by extension seek to impose their beliefs about women's lives, over the objections of women themselves. This argument is central to the Democratic party's opposition to abortion restrictions imposed in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision — an issue that polls show is driving massive support for Harris among women.
Trump's comments about women have been a source of controversy throughout his political career. He has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women, and he has made a number of offensive remarks about women in the past. His comments have led many to question whether he is fit to be president.
Trump's Campaign in Its Final Days
As the 2024 presidential election draws to a close, Trump's campaign is facing a number of challenges. He has been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, his economic policies, and his divisive rhetoric. His supporters, however, remain loyal and are energized by his populist message. It remains to be seen whether Trump's controversial comments and policies will ultimately cost him the election.
The Future of Democracy in America
The 2024 election is a crucial moment for American democracy. The country is deeply divided, and the two main political parties are increasingly polarized. The outcome of the election will have a significant impact on the future of American politics. It will determine whether the country moves forward on a path of unity and progress, or whether it continues down a road of division and decline.
The media has a vital role to play in this election and beyond. It must continue to hold government accountable, inform the public, and protect the right to free speech. In a time of political polarization and misinformation, the media is a vital bulwark against authoritarianism and a defender of democracy.
