SCRANTON, Pa. — Former President Donald Trump unleashed a series of jabs aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris and other women during a recent rally, expressing his unwillingness to temper his remarks despite concerns about their potential impact on female voters. This occurred as Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, bringing with it heavy rain, tornadoes, and strong winds.
“I’m not interested in being nice,” Trump declared at the first of two rallies held in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. “People say I should be more gentle because women won’t like it, but I simply don’t care.”
Despite surveys indicating that Trump has a lower favorability rating among women than men, he maintained that women are primarily concerned with the nation’s recovery. “Women want to see our country bounce back,” he asserted, dismissing concerns over his rhetoric.
As the hurricane threatened to overshadow the election campaign and raised fears of significant destruction in Florida, Harris traveled to Nevada for her own campaigning. Before heading off, she participated in a briefing addressing the federal response to the storm alongside President Joe Biden at the White House.
While speaking in Scranton, Trump directed harsh criticism at Harris, labeling her as “grossly incompetent” and “totally unfit to serve as President of the United States.” He even insulted Sunny Hostin, a co-host of the ABC talk show “The View,” after Hostin questioned Harris on whether she would have approached Biden’s decisions differently over the past four years. Trump’s comment about Hostin, who is Black and Latina, was, “She’s dumber than Kamala.”
In reading, Trump pivoted to disparage another “View” host, Whoopi Goldberg, referring to her as “demented” and criticizing her language. “Her speech was filled with filth,” he said, adding, “What a loser she is.” His campaign has seized on Harris’ responses during interviews to characterize her as merely an extension of Biden’s unpopular presidency.
Trump labeled Harris’ remarks as “disqualifying” and listed various crises that unfolded during Biden’s administration, including attacks from Hamas and Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine. He stated emphatically, “People are starting to realize she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. We can’t afford another unqualified leader.”
Turning to the storm, he criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Hurricane Helene as Milton approached Florida, lamenting, “This administration has failed to respond adequately. It’s simply terrible.” He encouraged the audience to pray for Florida residents affected by the storm.
In the meantime, Harris’s campaign mocked Trump for the large number of empty seats at his Reading rally, an issue that seems particularly concerning for Trump, who often emphasizes crowd size. At both rallies, he urged attendees to vote early, insisting that winning Pennsylvania would be pivotal for his overall campaign success. He advised, “When the polls open tomorrow, don’t hesitate to vote. Go immediately.”
With Hurricane Milton making landfall just weeks after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast, Trump’s campaign has faced interruptions — including a postponed healthcare-focused virtual event and a canceled town hall in Miami. Meanwhile, Harris continues her campaigning with plans for an event in Las Vegas and her second visit to both Nevada and Arizona in less than two weeks.
While rallying in Scranton, Trump expressed sympathy for those in the storm’s pathway, saying, “We’re sending our love to everyone in Florida. They’re facing quite the ordeal tonight.” He noted, “I’ve never seen a hurricane of this magnitude; this is a serious situation.”
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, campaigning in Arizona where early voting began, called for unity among Americans in response to the challenges posed by natural disasters, stating, “These individuals are our family, friends, and neighbors. We must come together in an unprecedented show of support.” He emphasized that responding to crises transcends politics and highlights the importance of character and leadership.
As Hurricane Milton approached Florida, the Biden administration took steps to combat the spread of misinformation related to the federal response to Hurricane Helene. Both Biden and Harris criticized the false claims suggesting funding was being mismanaged or diverted away from places in need, directly attributing some of this misinformation to Trump. Biden described the spread of disinformation as “reckless” and emphasized the need for a concerted effort to maintain public confidence in disaster relief operations.
In remarks directed at Florida residents, Harris reassured them of future support for recovery efforts, acknowledging their resilience in facing harsh storms but warning, “This hurricane presents a unique challenge.”
Outside the Reading arena prior to Trump’s address, financial consultant Zimri Rivera commented on the ongoing political campaigning, saying, “I don’t mind candidates being out here while the storm approaches. Both sides are just playing the game.” Meanwhile, local resident Joey Inmon pointed out that managing disaster response “isn’t Trump’s responsibility” amidst various distractions surrounding his campaign.
The ongoing hurricane situation adds a layer of complexity to the electoral landscape, as candidates navigate their campaigns while responding to the pressing needs of communities in crisis.
