The Democratic National Committee projected messages onto Trump Tower in New York City ahead of the first and only vice presidential debate of 2024. The messages included a tweet from Senator JD Vance calling former President Donald Trump an “idiot.” The projections were also aimed at Trump for refusing to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, with one message calling him a “chicken.” The DNC continued to taunt Trump and Vance for their unwillingness to engage in further debates and displayed similar messages on billboards near a Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
The projections on Trump Tower are part of a larger Democratic effort to highlight the differences between the Republican and Democratic candidates. Senator Kamala Harris expressed support for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is facing off against Vance in the debate. Despite this being the last scheduled debate of the election cycle, Harris emphasized that it should not be the final word in the campaign. The DNC projections also emphasized Walz’s background as a social studies teacher and football coach, labeling Trump Tower as “Project 2025 HQ” and tying Vance to Trump’s conservative agenda.
As the debate between Vance and Walz approaches, the DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman stated that the projections serve as a reminder that Trump and Vance are looking out for themselves and are avoiding accountability. The projections on Trump Tower, while potentially illegal without a permit, are designed to capture the attention of voters and highlight the Democratic message. David Schwartz, a trial attorney in New York City, noted that projecting digital signs without a permit could result in a fine, but the DNC assured that they are complying with the law by rotating through individual messages.
The DNC’s efforts to troll Trump and Vance come as they continue to push their message to voters ahead of the election. With the only vice presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday evening, the focus remains on highlighting the differences between the two parties and their candidates. The projections on Trump Tower and other locations aim to draw attention to Trump’s refusal to debate again and to tie Vance to the former president’s policies. Ultimately, the projections serve as a reminder to voters as they prepare to head to the polls in the 2024 election.
