With only days left before Election Day, former President Donald Trump brought his campaign back to Wisconsin, holding a high-energy rally at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. The event, filled with spirited moments and technical mishaps, highlighted his ongoing bid to regain the White House. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris held a competing rally just six miles away, underscoring Wisconsin’s critical role as a battleground state.
Microphone Trouble and Trump’s Fiery Response
Trump’s rally wasn’t without challenges, as he encountered technical issues with his microphone throughout his speech. The microphone, mounted on a stand, struggled to project his voice clearly to the audience, prompting Trump to take it off the stand and hold it. As he tried to navigate the situation, Trump’s frustration became clear. At one point, he jokingly asked the crowd if they wanted to see him “knock the hell out of people backstage” over the malfunction. His comments drew laughter and cheers from supporters, turning a technical hiccup into an entertaining moment.
With the mic issues continuing, Trump voiced his irritation, saying, “I’m working my ass off with this stupid mic. I’m blowing out my left arm, now I’m going to blow out my right arm and my throat too because of these stupid people.” After some time, an aide handed him a wireless microphone, but even then, Trump couldn’t resist poking fun, joking, “I can do exercise, I can build up my muscles.”
Competing Events: Harris and High-Profile Endorsements
On the same night, Vice President Kamala Harris held her own rally nearby, joined by rapper Cardi B and comedian Keegan-Michael Key. Harris’s event drew a strong crowd and underscored her focus on Wisconsin as a key state in the upcoming election. Trump, meanwhile, was introduced on stage by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently shifted from running as an independent candidate to endorsing Trump. Both events highlighted the candidates’ intense efforts to win over voters in this crucial swing state.
Trump Criticizes Economy, Slams Jobs Report
In his speech, Trump criticized the latest jobs report, which showed disappointing growth with only 12,000 jobs added in October. Although external factors like recent hurricanes and strikes contributed to this slowdown, Trump used the report to underscore his claim that the economy “stinks.” He promised that, if elected, he would bring America back to economic strength. Promoting tariffs as a tool for economic recovery, he called tariffs “the most beautiful word in the dictionary,” though economists often caution that tariffs could lead to higher prices for consumers.
Attacks on Political Opponents
Trump didn’t hold back on attacking his political rivals, including former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump and has endorsed Harris. He labeled Cheney a “war hawk” and criticized her support for military intervention, suggesting sarcastically that she should experience the frontlines herself. Cheney responded by calling Trump a “cruel, unstable man” in a post on social media.
Tight Polls as Election Day Approaches
As the election looms, national polls show a tight race between Trump and Harris, with Harris holding a narrow lead in most surveys. In North Carolina, a key swing state, Trump holds a slim 1.4% lead, emphasizing the importance of the seven battleground states that could determine the election’s outcome. Public sentiment remains tense, with many Americans feeling anxious and divided about the 2024 campaign.
With Election Day set for Tuesday, November 5, both candidates are focusing their efforts on key states like Wisconsin and North Carolina, making last-minute appeals to win over undecided voters. The race’s close margins and heated campaign moments point to a fiercely contested election where every vote counts.