Trump Slams Harris, Makes Familiar Claims at Fox News Town Hall
Donald Trump held a town hall with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday evening, bashing Democratic rival Kamala Harris and laying out familiar campaign talking points.
Trump reiterated his criticism of Harris’s record at the border, promising a “largest deportation” in US history if elected. He also attacked her economic policies, warning of a “1929-style depression” if she wins the White House in November.
Trump also bragged about the support of Tim Walz’s extended family, showcasing a photo of them wearing “Walz’s for Trump” shirts. He called them “nice looking” and characterized Walz as “weird” in contrast to himself and his running mate JD Vance.
The town hall was held in a key battleground state, as both campaigns are focused on winning Pennsylvania. A CNN poll found Harris leading in Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada, while Trump leads in Arizona, and the two are tied in Pennsylvania.
Trump criticized ABC News, which will host the debate between him and Harris in six days, calling it “the most dishonest network, the meanest, the nastiest.” He accused the network of giving President Biden a “soft” interview.
About 45 minutes into the town hall, Trump discussed Harris’s economic policies, claiming he had given the country “the biggest tax cuts in the history of our country” and warning of dire consequences if Harris reversed his policies. “This country will end up in a depression if she becomes president, like 1929,” he said. He also took a jab at Harris’s father, Donald Harris, calling him a “Marxist teacher of economics.”
Trump offered a bleak worldview during the town hall, claiming “October 7 would have never happened” if he had been president. He also warned of a potential “World War III territory” situation with Ukraine and Russia.
In the middle of criticizing President Biden, Trump got distracted by a mosquito. He swatted it away and exclaimed, “I hate mosquitos… we want nothing to do with them — and we want nothing to do with bad politicians that hate our country, too.”
Trump also attempted to refocus his campaign on New Hampshire after a leaked email suggested his campaign was “pulling back” from the state. “We really wanna win New Hampshire,” he said.
Trump’s town hall appearance comes at a critical time in the election cycle. With just six days before the first debate, it was a chance for him to lay out his message and attack his opponent. It remains to be seen whether his familiar claims and attacks will resonate with voters.
