Former President Donald Trump directed a barrage of personal insults at Vice President Kamala Harris and other women during a series of rallies in Pennsylvania, intensifying his contentious rhetoric as Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida. Despite polls indicating that women view him less favorably than men, Trump made it clear he had no intention of softening his approach, boldly stating, “I don’t want to be nice.” He dismissed concerns that his aggressive rhetoric would alienate female voters, asserting, “You know, somebody said, ‘You should be nicer. Women won’t like it.’ I said, ‘I don’t care.’”
During his rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Trump relentlessly attacked Harris, labeling her as “grossly incompetent” and “totally ill-equipped to do the job of being President of the United States.” His scorn didn’t stop there; he also targeted Sunny Hostin, a co-host of ABC's “The View,” calling her “dumber than Kamala.” He went on to say, “That is one dumb woman. Sorry. I’m sorry, women, she’s a dummy,” referencing Hostin's question to Harris about her actions during Biden's presidency. In a further display of hostility, Trump labeled Whoopi Goldberg, another host of the show, as “demented,” criticizing her as having a “foul mouth” and making derogatory comments about her character.
The former president and his campaign are attempting to leverage Harris’s responses to paint her as a mere continuation of Biden's unpopular presidency. In Reading, he deemed her answer to Hostin's question as “disqualifying,” juxtaposing her remarks against a litany of tragedies that occurred under the Biden administration, including Hamas' attack on Israel and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He remarked, “People are realizing she’s a dumb person. And we can’t have another dumb president,” escalating his rhetoric as the election draws nearer.
As Hurricane Milton approached, threatening to overshadow the presidential race with expectations of catastrophic damage across Florida's Gulf Coast, both Trump and Harris had to adapt their campaign strategies. Trump, who has recently relocated to Florida, postponed a virtual healthcare event and a scheduled town hall in Miami due to the impending storm. He expressed concern for those in the hurricane's path, 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."
In contrast, Harris was engaged in a campaign swing through Nevada but first attended a briefing at the White House alongside President Biden, focusing on the federal response to Hurricane Milton. As she prepared to fly to Las Vegas for a town hall meeting, Harris emphasized the importance of supporting those impacted by the hurricane. “Many of you, I know are tough, and you’ve ridden out these hurricanes before. This one is going to be different,” she warned, underscoring the potential severity of the storm.
In Arizona, where early voting began, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz called for unity across party lines to assist those affected by the hurricane. He stated, “Those are Americans. Those are our neighbors. Those are our family members. Those are our friends,” stressing that responding to natural disasters transcends political boundaries. “It’s not about politics. It’s about basic human decency,” he remarked, highlighting the need for leadership and character in times of crisis.
Hurricane Milton follows closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which had already wreaked havoc, resulting in over 220 fatalities and extensive damage across six southeastern states. Both Biden and Harris have condemned the misinformation surrounding federal relief efforts, particularly the false claims about funding allocations and assistance to migrants. Biden characterized these falsehoods as “reckless, irresponsible, and relentless,” saying they undermine public confidence in the federal response.
As Trump continued his campaign trail, he faced various distractions, including ongoing legal challenges and the stark reality of natural disasters impacting voters. Joey Inmon, a Reading resident, noted that Trump’s focus should be on the crisis at hand rather than solely on political campaigning, stating, “As far as the hurricane goes, and managing that — that’s not Trump’s job.”
In summary, both candidates are navigating a tumultuous political landscape, with Hurricane Milton forcing them to balance campaign messages with the urgent needs of disaster-stricken communities, while Trump remains unyielding in his confrontational style, disregarding the potential fallout with female voters.
