CNN —
Donald Trump has shifted his focus to making closing arguments to voters as he heads into the final stages of his campaign for the White House.
That’s what his campaign said Saturday as the former president took to the stage in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
But shortly after exiting to the sounds of professional wrestlers’ entrance music, Trump immediately launched into a rambling anecdote about the late golf legend Arnold Palmer, the namesake of the local airport. The story, which lasted nearly 15 minutes, seemed to have little purpose beyond evoking regional icons, and included references to Palmer’s vast wealth and some blunt remarks about the Hall of Fame player’s nudity. Ta.
“Arnold Palmer was originally a man. With all due respect to women, I love women. …This man was strong and tough, and I refuse to say that, but he was When I took a shower with the other professionals who came out of there, they said, ‘This is unbelievable.’
Upon hearing this anecdote, one rally attendee commented, “I wasn’t expecting to hear that tonight.”
From there, Trump invited former Pittsburgh Steeler star Antonio Brown, who has had legal issues, to the stage, called his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris a “shit vice president,” and a screen called out to his supporters. during which he attacked mail-in voting. Cast your absentee ballot early.
“The American people deserve better,” Harris said Sunday when asked about Trump’s comments by the Rev. Al Sharpton in a clip of a recorded interview on MSNBC’s “Politics Nation.”
“That’s how I approach it. And as you point out, the president of the United States has to set the standard, not just for our country, but as a nation for the world. We need to understand the standards,” Harris said.
One of Palmer’s daughters, Peg Palmer Wares, told The Associated Press on Sunday that Trump’s comments about the late golfer were “a poor approach to honoring my father, but what are we going to do about it?” ?” he said.
But on other occasions, Trump interrupted his written remarks just as he was about to get across the core of his campaign message, the kind of thing that was cut out for airplay by a local television station in Pittsburgh. .
Trump’s rally on Saturday offered glimpses of closure, in between some bawdy and bizarre moments. Reading from a teleprompter, President Trump told the crowd, “With your help, we can restore the strength, the advantage, the prosperity, and the pride of this nation.” …This will be a new golden age for America. One hundred years from now, the 2024 presidential election will be seen as America’s greatest victory. ”
“This election is a choice between whether we continue to fail four more years of unbelievably bad things. Four such horrible years. Everything they touch turns into —” Trump said. I said as I stopped.
The crowd shouted back a corresponding expletive.
The rally marked the beginning of two days of appearances for Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that both sides are prioritizing in both broadcasting and scheduling. President Trump held a town hall in suburban Philadelphia on Saturday. He also planned to attend a Pittsburgh Steelers game and stopped by a McDonald’s to work as a fry cook, a visit meant to disparage Harris’ experience working with the Golden Arches.
Ahead of the Latrobe event, the Trump campaign suggested the former president would begin adjusting his message to the current urgency and contrasts between the two candidates.
“I think today’s remarks are important because they are the beginning of a framework,” said Jason Miller, Trump’s top adviser. His pitch will be delivered in full at a rally scheduled for a week later at Madison Square Garden, Miller added.
But there was little to distinguish Trump’s remarks from the dozens of speeches he gave during the campaign. He railed against immigration and the mental capacity of his opponents. He complained about the lawsuits against him as a former president and the investigation into Russian election interference that dogged his early days in office.
Saturday’s shaky performance, which lacked energy during the pre-program and took place in front of a smaller-than-usual crowd, came on the heels of a string of recent performances that deviated from expectations.
President Trump’s Friday rally in Detroit failed to fill the venue booked by his campaign, and the former president was interrupted when he took to the stage due to technical problems with his microphone. Mr. Trump stood awkwardly by the podium, waiting for repairs to be completed, then vowed to come down hard on the contractor who provided the sound system.
Earlier this week, President Trump decided to cancel questioning at a town hall after a member of the audience developed a medical condition. Instead, he waved his arms on stage, called out a song to play on the sound system, and left after 40 minutes without taking any further questions.
The incident echoes recent attacks by Ms. Harris and her allies, who argue that Mr. Trump has become unstable and erratic in the final stages of the campaign. They also used President Trump’s decision to cancel high-profile interviews with “60 Minutes” and CNBC as evidence that the former president’s travel schedule is catching up with the 78-year-old former president.
Speaking in Detroit on Friday, Mr. Trump pushed back against suggestions that he had given up a step.
“I’ve already been 48 days without a break, and there are losers who don’t have the energy of a rabbit,” he said.
The next day at Latrobe he spoke for about an hour and 40 minutes, publicly demonstrating his ability to continue fighting.
Still, Trump kept his eyes on the moment in his rearview mirror when he could make a third White House bid.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Trump said. “The finish line is finally in sight.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
