SCRANTON, Pa. — During a rally in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump made headlines with his blunt remarks aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris and other women, declaring he had no intentions of tempering his rhetoric even if it alienates female voters. This occurred on the day Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, bringing torrential rain, tornadoes, and severe winds to the region.
“I don’t want to play nice,” Trump proclaimed at his first of two Pennsylvania rallies. He dismissed advice suggesting he should soften his approach to appeal to women, stating, “I don’t care.” Despite polling data indicating he garners less favorable views from women compared to men, Trump asserted, “The women want to see our country come back. They don’t care.”
As the storm threatened to dominate the news cycle, Trump continued his campaign, which had already been disrupted by previous disasters. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris attended a storm briefing with President Joe Biden before she departed for a campaign trip in Nevada.
At his rally in Scranton, Trump directed scathing insults toward Harris, labeling her “grossly incompetent” and “totally ill-equipped” for presidential duties. He also targeted Sunny Hostin, a host of ABC’s “The View,” whom he referred to as “dumber than Kamala.” He stated, “That is one dumb woman. Sorry. I’m sorry, women, she’s a dummy.” This was a response to Hostin’s inquiry to Harris about her administration’s actions over the past four years, to which Harris replied, “Not a thing comes to mind.”
In Reading later that day, Trump continued his attacks, calling Whoopi Goldberg “demented” and critiquing her language. “She was so filthy dirty, disgusting. What a loser she is,” he said, reflecting his campaign’s strategy to suggest Harris represents an extension of Biden’s unpopularity.
In addition to his critiques of Harris, Trump also condemned the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene as Milton approached Florida. He stated, “This administration has not done a proper job at all. Terrible, terrible,” expressing his hopes for the safety of those affected.
Harris’ campaign quickly seized upon the visible empty seats at Trump’s Reading rally, a source of discomfort for the former president known for his crowd sizes. Both candidates urged their supporters to participate in early voting, with Trump asserting that winning Pennsylvania is key to winning the overall election.
As Hurricane Milton disrupted political activities just weeks after Hurricane Helene affected the Southeast, Trump had to cancel a virtual health-focused event and a town hall in Miami. Harris has a town hall scheduled shortly in Las Vegas, balanced with campaign efforts in Arizona.
While campaigning in Arizona, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz emphasized the need for unity across party lines in response to natural disasters. “It’s not about politics. It’s about basic human decency,” he stated, calling for collective action to support impacted communities.
Following the devastation from Hurricane Helene, which resulted in over 220 fatalities in six states, Biden and Harris addressed the spread of misinformation regarding disaster relief. Biden criticized the unfounded claims suggesting financial assistance was unfairly distributed and ridiculed remarks implying he had control over the weather. “What a ridiculous thing to say,” he remarked, denouncing the deceit that seeks to undermine the credibility of recovery efforts.
Biden ensured that once the hurricane passes, the federal government would assist in rebuilding efforts for those affected. Harris also reassured Florida residents that the government would stand by them in the aftermath of the storm.
Outside the Reading arena, onlookers expressed varied opinions about political events amidst hurricane threats. “I do hope that the government in general does respond and provides relief,” said local financial consultant Zimri Rivera, while another attendee remarked on the distractions Trump’s campaign faces, particularly his legal challenges.
The campaign continues as both parties navigate the challenges posed by natural disasters and the political landscape ahead of the election.
