In West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump has decided to vote on Election Day despite earlier intentions to cast his ballot early. During a recent radio appearance with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, Trump indicated that he planned to vote ahead of time, a suggestion that Kilmeade presented as a way to inspire his supporters. Although both Trump and his campaign have been encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting, Trump continues to voice skepticism about the method and raise baseless concerns over potential voting fraud.
Initially, Trump affirmed, “I’ll be voting early. I’ll be voting early,” but plans have since changed. Instead, he’ll be exercising his right on Tuesday morning near his residence in Palm Beach, as revealed by an anonymous source familiar with his itinerary. Trump’s intention to vote early was nudged by Kilmeade, who asked twice about the possibility of Trump setting an example for his supporters.
When previously asked about his thoughts on early voting, Trump expressed his mixed feelings on the topic. He stated, “I’m very mixed on it,” emphasizing that while his priority is to encourage voting, he remains cautious about the early voting method. Kilmeade, keen to see Trump take on the challenge, rephrased the question, suggesting that voting early could send a positive message in Florida. Trump’s response reiterated his ambivalence, acknowledging that voting opinions can vary but asserting that it is critical for people to participate in the electoral process.
Despite this mixed messaging, Trump has actively prompted his supporters to vote early as the election approaches. His rallies feature large signage advocating for early voting, with the message: “VOTE EARLY!” In a podcast with Dan Bongino, who is known for promoting misinformation regarding early voting and the 2020 election, Trump claimed, “I am telling everyone to vote early.”
However, Trump’s discourse is often contradictory. While he urges his supporters to head to the polls, he simultaneously raises concerns about the integrity of the voting process. At a rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, he described early voting as “stupid” and pondered what could happen during the long voting window, which can span up to 45 days. He even went as far as to hypothetically suggest that ballots could be tampered with, referencing disproven claims from the 2020 elections, and insisted that supporters should deliver him a landslide victory to prevent any rigging claims.
On the ground, Republicans seem to be responding positively to the call for early voting, with significant turnout observed in battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina, where early voting has set new records. As the election nears its conclusion, Trump is ramping up his campaign activities, planning multiple rallies in the final days. On Monday alone, he is slated to hold four rallies, including stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Maintaining tradition from his previous campaigns, Trump’s final rally is set to take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Monday night, marking a critical moment as he emphasizes the importance of voter participation.