Kamala Harris told Americans on Tuesday that Donald Trump’s efforts to sow division and fear are “not who we are,” calling the former Republican president the leader of the Capitol riot in 2021. He emphasized his camp’s closing argument by speaking from the same place he had incited it.
A week after Election Day, the vice president, in a speech from the grassy Ellipse near the White House, argued that his Republican opponents were in it only for him, while also calling for better lives. He promised the American people that he would do his best.
Harris said Trump “spent 10 years trying to keep Americans divided and scared of each other. That’s Trump,” Harris said. “But America, I came here tonight. The reason is to say, “That’s not who we are.”
January 6, 2021, where President Trump spewed falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election, which led to a mob marching to the Capitol and a failed attempt to block the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. From there, Harris gave her capstone speech, reminding voters of President Trump. Taking on this role about four years ago, he focused on self-interest.
“Look, we know who Donald Trump is. He stood in this very spot almost four years ago, leading an armed mob to storm the U.S. Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election.” He is the one who sent the ,” she said.
However, Harris did not submit a paper on democracy. It was the centerpiece of President Joe Biden’s own attempt to draw a contrast with President Trump. Instead, she made a broader case for why voters should reject Trump and consider what he has to offer, while also introducing herself to voters still looking for more information. The aim was to encourage crowds to imagine their own divergent futures on voting day.
“He has an enemy list of people he plans to prosecute,” Harris said. “He says one of his top priorities is to free the violent extremists who assaulted law enforcement officers on January 6th.” “We intend to use the U.S. military against” people he calls “the enemy from within.” This is not a presidential candidate thinking about how to make his life better. ”
Her speech drew huge crowds to Washington, with an overflow crowd spilling out beneath the Washington Monument on the National Mall. More importantly, her campaign hopes the setup will help capture the attention of voters in battleground states who are wondering who to vote for, or whether to vote at all.
Ahead of Ms. Harris’ remarks, her campaign said it wanted to make sure that ordinary Americans, rather than the star power that has featured in recent events or the parade of elected officials who frequently appear on programs at Washington events, said Organized the speaker list. Among them are Amanda Zulawski, a woman who nearly died of sepsis after being denied treatment under Texas’ strict abortion ban, and Brian Thicke, a Capitol police officer who died after the Jan. 6 attack. Nick’s younger brother Craig Sicknick is also included.
Ruth Chiari, 78, of Charlottesville, Virginia, attended the rally with her husband to “support democracy.”
“I think everyone understands what’s on the ballot,” she said as she waited in line near the Treasury building to get into the event. “We either have a dictatorship or we have freedom.”
Kathleen Nicholas, 36, a government official in Washington, remembers Jan. 6 and loved the contrast in the crowd and atmosphere that day. “I love that she chose this location to close,” she said. “We needed to have something that was the opposite of what we had that day.”
With time running out and the race close, both Harris and Trump are looking for a big moment to change the momentum.
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump concluded Tuesday’s debate with different messages about the future of the United States in their closing statements.
The speech, in which Harris appeared alongside megastar Beyoncé, came as she traveled to Texas, a reliably Republican state, to highlight the impact on women after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It took place a few days later. This, too, was a speech intended to register voters in far-flung battleground states.
The vice president’s latest speech has been under consideration for several weeks. But aides say her message will have more impact after speakers hurled cruel and racist insults at President Trump’s rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday. I was expecting. Harris said the event “reinforced the points I have been making throughout this campaign.”
“He is focused and indeed obsessed with his grievances, himself and dividing this country,” she said.
Harris has sought to lay out a realistic, forward-looking plan for the country, reminding voters of her economic proposals and pledging to work for access to reproductive health care, including abortion. I tried.
“Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are my enemies,” Harris said. “He wants to put them in prison. I want them to sit at my table. And I vow to be a president for all Americans. Always before the party, before myself.” It is also about prioritizing the country.”
Also central to her message is positioning herself as a “new generation” of leaders to follow in the footsteps of Trump and, by extension, her current boss, Biden.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Harris said. It’s time to turn the page on drama, conflict, and confusion. ”
“Many of you are still finding out who I am,” she acknowledged, catering to voters’ curiosity after Biden suddenly rose to the top of the Democratic field after he withdrew from the race in July. He used his own words for this purpose.
“We recognize this is not a typical campaign,” Harris said, adding that she is “not afraid of a tough fight against bad actors and powerful interests.”
“To be honest, I’m not perfect,” she said. “I make mistakes. But what I promise you is that even if you didn’t vote for me, I will always listen to you. Even if it’s hard to hear.” , I will always speak the truth. I will strive every day to build consensus and reach compromises to get things done. And if you will give me a chance to fight for you. , nothing in this world can stand in my way.”
Ahead of Harris’ speech, Trump told reporters Tuesday morning at Mar-a-Lago club in Florida that he concluded his message with a message that did not address the daily struggles of Americans or the food on the table. denounced. Concerns.
He said that Harris “keeps talking about Hitler and the Nazis because of her terrible record,” and that Trump’s former chief of staff had made comments praising Nazi leaders while he was in office. He noted that Harris amplified the warning.
Many of Ms. Harris’ aides also advised Mr. Biden’s campaign before he left office, but it is clear that who Mr. Trump is and how he is different will be at the center of the campaign. I still believe that this will be the biggest message to the voters.
“She has already made her case and presented evidence. She intends to present her summation tonight and has faith in the wisdom of the jury,” said campaign communications director Michael Tyler.
Biden told reporters Tuesday that he will not attend Harris’ speech because it is “for her,” but plans to watch it on television. Prior to Harris’ remarks, Biden responded to a cartoon at Trump’s rally last weekend calling Puerto Rico trash, saying, “The only trash floating there is his supporters.”
