Trump Balances Hurricane Sympathy with Insults Toward Harris \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ While Hurricane Milton battered Florida, former President Donald Trump offered his prayers for those in its path but maintained his combative tone, attacking Vice President Kamala Harris and other female critics at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump dismissed concerns that his rhetoric could alienate female voters, continuing to lob insults at Harris and The View host Sunny Hostin. Meanwhile, Biden and Harris focused on federal preparations for Hurricane Milton, decrying misinformation about the government’s disaster response as dangerous and un-American.
Trump Prays for Hurricane Victims While Insulting Harris and Women Critics: Quick Looks
- Trump’s Campaign Rhetoric: Trump offers prayers for hurricane victims but continues his attacks on Harris and other female figures.
- Dismisses Warnings: Trump disregards concerns that his aggressive remarks could alienate female voters.
- Hurricane Milton Disruptions: Both campaigns face schedule adjustments as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida.
- Biden and Harris’s Focus: Biden and Harris emphasize unity and denounce misinformation about federal disaster responses to Hurricane Helene and Milton.
- Misinformation Spread: Trump and his allies have promoted false narratives about FEMA and federal aid, which Biden calls “reckless.”
Deep Look:
As Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury on Florida, former President Donald Trump offered prayers for those in the storm’s path during a campaign rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Yet, despite the storm threatening to overshadow the presidential race, Trump continued to hurl personal insults at Vice President Kamala Harris and other female figures, showing no intention of toning down his rhetoric, even at the risk of alienating female voters.
Trump’s rally in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania saw him once again targeting Harris, who replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket in July. Trump described Harris as “grossly incompetent” and “totally ill-equipped to do the job of being President of the United States.” These remarks came as Trump attempted to paint Harris as a weak candidate who would continue the policies of the Biden administration, which he has consistently attacked as ineffective.
Despite the approach of Hurricane Milton, which forecasters warned could cause catastrophic damage to Florida’s Gulf Coast, Trump kept his campaign schedule, holding two rallies in Pennsylvania. While expressing sympathy for Floridians, Trump used much of his platform to attack Harris and other women, including Sunny Hostin, a co-host of The View. Harris appeared on the daytime talk show earlier in the week, where she faced questions about her leadership and whether she would have made different decisions than Biden during his presidency.
Trump seized on Harris’ response, where she stated that “not a thing comes to mind” when asked what she would have done differently. During his rally, Trump mocked her response, using it as part of a broader critique aimed at portraying Harris as a mere continuation of Biden’s presidency. Turning his attention to Hostin, Trump did not hold back. “That is one dumb woman. Sorry, I’m sorry, women, she’s a dummy,” Trump said of Hostin, adding that she was “dumber than Kamala.”
The aggressive tone toward women has been a consistent feature of Trump’s campaign, and at his Pennsylvania rally, he made clear that he has no plans to soften his rhetoric. “You know, somebody said, ‘You should be nicer. Women won’t like it,’” Trump told the crowd. “I said, ‘I don’t care.’” Despite warnings from some Republicans that his harsh remarks could alienate female voters, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania, Trump dismissed the concern.
Hurricane Milton Overshadows Campaigns
Hurricane Milton, a massive storm threatening Florida with severe flooding and winds, has already forced both campaigns to adjust their schedules. Trump, who now resides in Florida, had to postpone a virtual health care event and a Univision town hall scheduled for Miami as the state prepared for the storm. Harris, meanwhile, delayed her western campaign swing to attend a White House briefing with President Biden on federal disaster preparedness for Hurricane Milton. The briefing covered emergency response plans, including staging supplies such as 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in advance of the storm’s impact.
During the rally, Trump briefly acknowledged the severity of Hurricane Milton, saying, “We’re praying for them and asking God to keep them all safe, all those people. I’ve never seen a hurricane like that.” He expressed concern for Florida residents, noting that the hurricane was “the real deal” and urging people to stay safe.
While Trump focused much of his rally on personal attacks, Harris and Biden took a more measured approach, concentrating on federal disaster response. Harris addressed the potential devastation Milton could cause, reassuring Floridians that the federal government would provide support long after the storm passed. “Many of you, I know, are tough, and you’ve ridden out these hurricanes before,” she said. “But this one is going to be different.”
At the same time, Biden emphasized the importance of unity and preparation during natural disasters, stressing that the government was fully equipped to handle the storm’s aftermath. The president took time to recognize FEMA Director Deanne Criswell, praising her leadership in coordinating efforts for both Hurricane Helene and Milton. “You’re doing a hell of a job,” Biden told Criswell during a Wednesday briefing, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to helping hurricane victims recover.
Misinformation and Political Attacks
Misinformation surrounding the federal response to Hurricane Helene and Milton has been a major point of contention between the Biden-Harris administration and Trump’s campaign. Biden and Harris have condemned the spread of false claims about the government’s disaster efforts, many of which have been propagated by Trump and his political allies.
Some of the most persistent falsehoods involve claims that federal assistance is being diverted from Republican-heavy areas to aid migrants in the country illegally. Others have suggested, without evidence, that there is a cap on the amount of assistance families can receive or that federal authorities might seize property from disaster victims. Biden called these claims “reckless” and “dangerous,” warning that the disinformation threatens to erode public trust in the government’s ability to respond to crises.
Speaking at the White House briefing, Biden expressed his frustration with the spread of false information, singling out Trump for perpetuating many of the lies. “Over the last few weeks, there’s been a relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies that are disturbing people,” Biden said. “It’s undermining confidence in the incredible rescue and recovery work that has already been taken and will continue to be taken.”
In addition to Trump’s false claims, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a vocal Trump supporter, has also come under fire for spreading conspiracy theories about the government’s ability to control weather patterns. Biden dismissed Greene’s comments as “beyond ridiculous,” likening them to something “out of a comic book.”
Harris echoed Biden’s sentiments, calling on the nation to come together in the face of natural disasters and set aside political differences. “It’s not about politics. It’s about basic human decency,” Harris said, urging Americans to focus on helping their fellow citizens as they confront the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton.
Final Stretch of the Campaign
As both campaigns enter the final weeks before Election Day, the balance between political attacks and responding to national crises like Hurricane Milton becomes more challenging. Trump has used his rallies as platforms to attack Harris and rally his base, focusing on personal insults and criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the economy, immigration, and disaster preparedness. Harris, meanwhile, continues to emphasize leadership, unity, and recovery efforts, as she works to define her candidacy in contrast to Trump’s rhetoric.
Trump’s combative style, particularly toward female political opponents, remains a hallmark of his campaign, despite concerns from some Republicans that it could hurt his standing with undecided female voters. Still, Trump shows no signs of moderating his tone as the election nears. His refusal to pivot to a more conciliatory stance, even in the face of natural disasters like Hurricane Milton, reflects his confidence in appealing to his core supporters.
In contrast, Harris and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz have focused on a message of empathy and solidarity in the wake of the hurricanes, stressing that leadership in times of crisis should transcend partisanship. “These are Americans. These are our neighbors,” Walz said, adding that coming together in times of disaster should be a priority for all leaders, regardless of political affiliation.
As the campaigns adjust to the ongoing storms and head into the final days of the race, the candidates’ responses to both natural and political tempests will continue to shape the narrative as voters prepare to head to the polls.
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