[US Election 2024]
"It was right here that Trump sent armed rioters to the Capitol." Kamala Harris, the U.S. Democratic vice presidential candidate, launched a fierce attack on former President Donald Trump on the 29th (local time), standing at the site of the January 6 Capitol riot with the Capitol building in the background, just one week before the presidential election. She warned that a second Trump term would bring more chaos and division, and raised her voice for the need for new leadership in America.
Highlighting 'Trump's Election Refusal' with the Capitol as Background... "A Person Who Overturned the People's Will, Obsessed with Revenge"
That evening, at Ellipse Park in front of the White House in Washington D.C., Vice President Harris delivered a speech named the "closing argument," stating, "One week from today, you will make decisions that directly affect your life, your family's life, and the future of the country we love." She defined the upcoming November 5 election as a critical choice between "having a nation rooted in freedom for all Americans" or "a nation ruled by chaos and division."
Speaking before a crowd of over 70,000 people, Vice President Harris said, "We know who Donald Trump is," criticizing him as "the person who sent armed rioters to the Capitol to overturn the will of the people confirmed in a fair election." The Ellipse Park, the location of the speech, is where former President Trump, who lost the last election, incited refusal and is regarded as a symbolic place that triggered the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Vice President Harris reminded the audience that "Americans died in that attack (the Capitol riot)" and recalled that former President Trump responded to rioters saying "I want to kill Vice President Mike Pence" with just two words: "So what?"
She reiterated claims that former President Trump is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed by grievances, and pursuing unchecked power. Vice President Harris said, "Trump has spent 10 years dividing Americans and making them fear each other," adding, "We have suffered from division for too long. We must stop pointing fingers and unite." She continued, "It's time to turn the page," and added, "America needs a new generation of leadership."
These remarks are interpreted as targeting undecided voters and conservatives wary of former President Trump, even one week before the election. By delivering the speech with the Capitol as the backdrop, she reminded why a majority of Americans did not support Trump's re-election four years ago and warned that threats to democracy like the Capitol riot could recur. By defining herself as the "new generation," she also emphasized the age gap (18 years) with the 78-year-old former President Trump, highlighting the risk associated with advanced age.
Contrasting with Trump by Highlighting Prosecutorial Background... "I Will Prioritize the Country Over Myself"
Vice President Harris described Trump as "someone who only thinks about himself," contrasting this with her own record as a former prosecutor protecting vulnerable groups and preventing crime. She emphasized her experience fighting drug cartels in border areas as California's prosecutor and confirmed that she would actively pursue deportation of criminals after taking office. This drew a clear line against former President Trump's framing of Harris regarding border policy failures and the importation of illegal criminals.
However, Vice President Harris also said, "At the same time, we must acknowledge that we are a nation of immigrants." As the child of immigrants, she pointed out that bipartisan border legislation led by former President Trump had stalled and argued that major politicians should stop politicizing immigration issues and work together on systemic reforms. She also reiterated key pledges such as restoring federal abortion rights, tax credits for first-time homebuyers, expanding child tax credits, and policies including Medicare.
Vice President Harris warned, "We know what Trump is thinking," cautioning that a second Trump term would bring more chaos, more division, and policies harmful to everyone except the wealthy. She said, "World leaders think Trump is easy to manipulate through flattery," mentioning that Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un are hoping for Trump's victory in this election. In contrast, she pledged to strengthen America's global leadership, stating, "I will stand with our friends (allies and partners)" reaffirming her alliance-focused stance.
Additionally, Vice President Harris said that while former President Trump enters his office carrying a list of enemies' names, she carries a list of "things to do." This mocked Trump's earlier suggestion that anti-Trump forces are "enemies within" and even hinted at military mobilization. Harris promised her supporters, saying, "I will seek common ground and sensible solutions," and "I will listen to experts, those affected by my decisions, and those who disagree with me." She emphasized that while former President Trump wants to imprison those who disagree with him, she will offer a seat at the negotiating table, pledging, "I will be the president of all Americans and always prioritize the country over my party and myself."
Although the event was initially estimated to attract 20,000 to 30,000 people, it is understood that at least 75,000 attended. Local media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that supporters overflowed beyond Ellipse Park to near the Washington Monument. During the rally, some pro-Palestinian protesters opposing the Biden administration's Middle East policy waved Palestinian flags and staged anti-war demonstrations, but due to the large number of supporters, these did not receive significant attention on site. Vice President Harris made no specific remarks regarding the Gaza Strip that day.
"Harris is Border Czar, Disqualification" Trump Raises Immigration Crime Issue
On the same day, former President Trump visited Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, and launched an offensive on the "immigration issue," considered a weakness of Vice President Harris. He expressed disbelief in poll results showing the economy and inflation as voters' top concerns, stating, "Immigration is the biggest problem. Immigrants are destroying us." He also rebutted remarks made by a speaker at a New York rally who disparaged the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as a "trash island," saying, "No president has done better for Puerto Rico than me."
At a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida that day, former President Trump made similar remarks, saying, "Harris is running a campaign of chaos and destruction." He called Harris the "border czar" of the Biden administration and claimed, "Kamala's cruel and immoral actions at the U.S. border are grounds for disqualification (from running for president)." He also mentioned plans to "join assets of criminal organizations and drug cartels to create a victim fund" to address crime issues caused by illegal immigrants.
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