As the U.S. presidential election enters its final stretch, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have ramped up their personal attacks, trading bitter jabs as they crisscross battleground states just 16 days before the vote. Polls indicate a neck-and-neck race between the two rivals, particularly in the key swing states that could decide the outcome.
In Pennsylvania, Trump made headlines by serving fries at a McDonald’s, using the visit to cast doubt on Harris’s claim of having worked at the fast-food chain decades ago. Meanwhile, Harris took to social media during her visit to Georgia, calling Trump “exhausted, unstable, and unfit to be President of the United States.” Both campaigns appear laser-focused on energizing their respective bases and swaying undecided voters with sharp rhetoric and high-profile appearances.
Trump’s Focus on the Economy and Immigration in Pennsylvania
On Sunday, Trump made a strategic stop in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a traditionally Republican stronghold, where he delivered a speech focusing on the economy and immigration—two issues that have become central to his campaign. “If you look at the polls, the biggest thing is the economy,” Trump told the crowd. “But I think the border is even bigger than the economy… that’s the number one thing people want to talk about.”
The former president also visited a McDonald’s in Feasterville-Trevose earlier in the day, where he performed a brief stint working the fry station and serving meals at the drive-through. The stunt allowed Trump to mock Harris’s claim of working at McDonald’s in her youth, claiming, “I’ve now worked [at McDonald’s] for 15 minutes more than Kamala.” Trump’s playful tone belied the serious nature of his overall message, as he sought to frame Harris as disconnected from ordinary Americans and emphasize his own economic policies as the solution to inflation and rising costs.
Kamala Harris Fires Back, Criticizing Trump’s Fitness for Office
In Georgia, Vice President Kamala Harris did not mince words as she continued her campaign blitz, targeting Trump’s character and suitability for the presidency. During a visit to a black church near Atlanta, Harris urged the congregation to vote against what she described as “chaos, fear, and hate,” implying that Trump personified these traits. In a fiery social media post, she described Trump as “exhausted, unstable, and unfit to be President of the United States,” while addressing a rally in the city, where she labeled her Republican opponent as “cruel.”
Harris also used her 60th birthday interview on MSNBC to respond to a crude comment Trump made about her at a recent rally. “He has not earned the right” to be president again, she said, accusing Trump of demeaning the office with his behavior. Harris’s team has painted Trump as desperate and erratic, contrasting her experience and empathy with his bombastic approach. As the race tightens, Harris is leaning into her appeal among women and minority voters, groups that could prove decisive in several swing states.
Billionaire Elon Musk Adds Controversy with Election Petition
As the battleground fight intensifies, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has waded into the election, openly campaigning for Trump. Musk has pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters who sign a petition backing the U.S. Constitution, a move that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, called “deeply concerning.” Shapiro suggested that law enforcement should investigate whether Musk’s initiative crosses legal boundaries in the highly charged electoral climate.
Trump supporters at his town hall event in Lancaster expressed strong support for the former president’s promises to tackle inflation and secure the U.S.-Mexico border, two key issues driving their votes. Yet, not everyone was convinced. Jordan Ashby, an undecided voter in attendance, said he is still weighing his decision. “I truly don’t know yet,” he said. “I have family on both sides of the fence. It’s a difficult time right now.” As the candidates continue their final push, undecided voters like Ashby could be pivotal in determining the election outcome.
