Heated Exchange in Battleground State Nevada... Trump "Worst Vice President" vs Harris "We Will Win"

[US Election 2024]

"Is it better now than it was 4 years ago? Harris is the worst vice president in our country's history. You're fired!"

"Don't doubt it. We will win. We are here to fight for democracy."

On the afternoon of the 31st of last month (local time), five days before the presidential election, former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, faced off in the battleground state of Nevada. Nevada, one of the seven swing states that will decide this year's election, has the fewest electoral votes among swing states with six, but currently, both candidates are tied in support there.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Trump: "Harris is worse than the con artist Hillary"

Former President Trump attended a rally in Henderson, Nevada that afternoon and said, "I want to start with a very simple question," then asked, "Is it better now than it was 4 years ago?" Among his supporters, shouts of "No" followed.

This is one of the most frequently used phrases by former President Trump when starting his recent rallies. He also asked this question early in his recent speech at Madison Square Garden in New York. It is a phrase that echoes former President Ronald Reagan's statement during the final debate before the 1980 election. At that time, the question resonated strongly with voters facing economic difficulties and is considered to have played a key role in Reagan's election victory. Former President Trump is interpreted as trying to highlight voters' dissatisfaction with the current situation in the United States by asking the same question.

Former President Trump immediately shifted the topic to criticize his competitor, Vice President Harris. He raised his voice, saying, "She (Harris) is the worst vice president in our country's history," and "Kamala, you're fired! Get out." He continued, "She lies about everything," and claimed, "She is worse than con artist Hillary (former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who competed against Trump in the 2016 election)."

Additionally, he launched familiar attacks accusing Vice President Harris of violating her oath by importing gangs and criminals from prisons and mental hospitals worldwide, including Venezuela. At the scene, videos related to victims killed by illegal immigrants were shown. The Guardian reported that some Trump supporters were wearing work vests similar to the one Trump wore the day before. The former president attracted attention by appearing in Wisconsin the previous day wearing the vest while riding a garbage truck in front of reporters. This was a rebuttal performance following controversy over Democratic President Joe Biden allegedly comparing Trump supporters to "trash."

With only five days left until the U.S. presidential election, which is still unfolding in a razor-thin race, former President Trump is focusing his final week of campaigning on rallies in swing states. That night, he planned to move to Glendale, Arizona, another battleground state, for a rally. On the same day, he also visited New Mexico, a Democratic stronghold where Democratic candidates have continuously won since 2008. There, he claimed, "I am the only person who can solve the border issue," and "During Kamala's tenure, over 10,000 convicted criminals and numerous illegal foreign gangs crossed the border into New Mexico."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Harris: "A new generation of leadership is needed"

At around the same time, Vice President Harris visited Reno, Nevada. On stage, she emphasized, "America needs a new generation of leadership," and "I am ready for it." Turning 60 on her birthday ahead of the election, Vice President Harris is 18 years younger than her competitor, former President Trump (78). The age-related risk attack, which was previously directed at President Joe Biden leading to his withdrawal from the candidacy, has now shifted to former President Trump.

At this event, Vice President Harris defined former President Trump as a "threat to democracy" and emphasized her stance to be "the president for all Americans."

She said, "We are here to fight for democracy," and added, "The right for people to express their opinions without going to jail just because they speak their minds." When a supporter shouted, "We will protect you," she responded, "And I will protect you."

Furthermore, Vice President Harris highlighted her difference from former President Trump by promising common-sense solutions, finding common ground, and listening to experts and those who disagree with her. She repeated her usual line that while former President Trump wants to imprison those who disagree with him, she wants to bring them to the negotiating table. She concluded her speech with the words, "When we fight, we win."

However, during her speech, protesters opposing the Biden administration's Middle East policy interrupted several times. The Guardian reported that the speech was disrupted at least three times, with at least one person shouting about Gaza.

Vice President Harris immediately moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend another rally and concert. Pop singer Jennifer Lopez and Mexican band Man? were scheduled to perform at the concert. On the same day, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, LA Lakers basketball player LeBron James, and The Economist officially declared their support for Vice President Harris.

Before Nevada, Vice President Harris visited Arizona, a southern battleground state, where she emphasized the crisis of democracy and encouraged voting. She said, "One of the most important elections of our lives is 5 days away," and criticized, "Trump is unstable, obsessed with revenge, full of grievances, and craves unchecked power. His rallies are filled with hate and division." She also claimed, "Trump does not believe women should have the right and autonomy to make decisions about their own bodies." Earlier that day, at a press conference in Wisconsin, she referred to former President Trump's statement, "Like him or not, I will protect women," and criticized it as "very insulting in terms of not understanding women's autonomy, authority, rights, and self-determination."