Pennsylvania Deployment... "Trump's Second Term Risk" vs "Border Closure on Day One"

About three weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election this November, Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate former President Donald Trump simultaneously visited Pennsylvania, considered the key battleground state. Vice President Harris launched an offensive against former President Trump, who had earlier labeled anti-Trump forces as "internal enemies" and even hinted at the possibility of deploying the military on election day. Former President Trump, in turn, emphasized that Harris is more dangerous than President Joe Biden and vowed to close the border on his first day in office to address illegal immigration.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris [Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

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According to The New York Times (NYT) and others, on the 14th (local time), Vice President Harris stated during a campaign rally in Erie County, Pennsylvania, "A second term for Trump would pose a great risk and be dangerous for America." At the event, she showed a video of former President Trump's Fox News interview from the previous day, warning Americans to be vigilant.

In the interview aired the day before, former President Trump mentioned the possibility of violent protests by Democratic supporters on election day, calling them "internal enemies," "radical left-wing lunatics," and saying "the military could easily handle them if necessary," which sparked controversy. These remarks came amid concerns that the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021, carried out by some Trump supporters who rejected the 2020 election results, could be repeated after this year's election, intensifying the debate.

In response, Vice President Harris said, "He (Trump) considers anyone who does not support him or does not bend to his will as an enemy of our country," adding, "We know who he targets. He has already attacked them." She specifically cited journalists who wrote unfavorable articles about Trump, election officials who refused to commit fraud to add extra votes for him, and judges who claim to uphold the law as examples.

Vice President Harris asserted, "Trump is becoming increasingly unstable and chaotic," and "He seeks unchecked power. That is exactly what he wants." She also urged voting, saying, "We need a president who works for all Americans," and "When freedom is at risk, Americans always answer the call." The crowd responded by shouting "Vote!"

On the same day, Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz, campaigning in Green Bay, Wisconsin, escalated the rhetoric. Governor Walz criticized Trump's "internal enemy" and "military mobilization" remarks, saying, "It makes me nauseous." He also stated, "Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said there is no one more dangerous to this country than Trump," calling him "a core fascist." The NYT reported, "Harris and Walz are intensifying their attacks on Trump," and described Walz's remarks as "the most intense tone so far" against Trump.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

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Republican presidential candidate former President Trump also visited the battleground state of Pennsylvania that day. At a town hall meeting held in Oaks near Philadelphia, he repeatedly emphasized how important Pennsylvania is for winning this election and continued his offensive against Vice President Harris.

Former President Trump claimed that illegal immigrants are pouring in through the southern border, saying, "Many have come from jails, prisons, and mental hospitals. I will close the border very strictly." Regarding the prolonged war in Ukraine, he said, "Biden is doing nothing," and confidently stated, "Before entering the White House, as the president-elect, I will end this war." About Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Harris, he said, "We have the worst president and vice president. The vice president is worse," adding, "She is more dangerous. Biden is smarter."

However, the event was cut short early due to medical treatment after two audience members fainted in succession. The NYT reported that while medical staff responded to the situation on-site, former President Trump asked his campaign staff to play "Ave Maria" music and display charts on illegal immigration. About 20 minutes of music played at the venue, and Trump, who was waiting on stage, eventually left the spot. The Guardian reported with photos that a large screen behind former President Trump on stage displayed the phrase "Trump was right about everything."

With the November election unfolding as a razor-thin race, Pennsylvania is considered the largest battleground state, allocated the most electoral votes (19) among swing states. Local media pointed out that this year's election outcome is likely to be decided by seven battleground states, with Pennsylvania being particularly important. According to the polling aggregation site FiveThirtyEight, the current support gap between the two candidates in Pennsylvania is within 1 percentage point, showing a tight race.

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