At a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Trump, drawing connections between his agenda and that of the conservative Project 2025 initiative. This led to chants of “lock him up,” reminiscent of the 2016 White House race, as the crowd reacted to clips of Trump warning of dangers from “the enemy within.” Harris highlighted Trump’s view of anyone who doesn’t support him as an enemy of the country, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue. She also mentioned Trump’s willingness to use the military against groups that criticize him, calling her opponent “increasingly unstable and unhinged.”
In response, the Trump campaign rejected Harris’ warnings, accusing the Harris-Biden administration of weaponizing the justice system against Trump with trumped-up charges to silence political rivals. Harris’ comments about the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling in Trump’s favor led to chants of “lock him up” from the crowd. Harris advised the crowd to make their voices heard at the ballot box instead of endorsing such expressions, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election in shaping the future of the country.
Prior to the rally, Harris visited a local business in Erie, where she was greeted by Democratic Mayor Joe Schember and State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro. Sen. John Fetterman gave the warm-up speech before Harris was introduced by Karen Kalivoda, a retired civil servant and Erie native. On the other side of Pennsylvania, Trump participated in a town hall hosted by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. The contrasting events highlighted the divide between the two candidates and their respective messages to voters in the swing state.
Both Harris and Trump addressed the issue of internal enemies, with Trump referring to Democrats like Adam Schiff as “lunatics.” Harris warned that voting for Trump would be a “huge risk for America” due to his alleged threats to use the military against critics. The Trump campaign defended the former president, accusing Harris of unchecked abuse of power and challenging her claims of Trump’s instability. The election in November will ultimately decide which vision for the country prevails, with both sides rallying their supporters in key swing states like Pennsylvania.
Harris’ criticisms of Trump’s agenda and his rhetoric towards critics resonated with the crowd in Erie, leading to chants reminiscent of the 2016 race. Despite the pushback from the Trump campaign, Harris continued to highlight the dangers she believed Trump posed to the country if re-elected. The contrasting events in Pennsylvania underscored the stakes of the election and the differing visions each candidate offered for the future of the nation. Ultimately, it will be up to the voters to decide which path America will take in the aftermath of the divisive 2020 election.
