During a campaign event in Doral, Florida, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized his opponent, Kamala Harris, calling her “lazy” and questioning her work ethic. Trump's remarks followed Harris's first day without public events in two weeks, during which she was conducting important meetings and preparing for interviews in Washington, D.C.
Trump asked the crowd, “Who the hell takes off when you have 14 days left?” and continued his critique by stating, “She’s lazy. She’s lazy as hell.” His comments echoed earlier criticisms where he labeled Harris as “slow” and implied a low IQ, continuing his history of personal attacks on political rivals.
The Harris campaign did not respond immediately to the remarks. However, Ian Sams, a spokesperson for Harris, noted Trump’s own recent campaign cancellations, pointing out that he had skipped a town hall event in North Carolina. “Donald Trump continuing his recent trend of canceling campaign events… With just two weeks to go,” Sams posted on social media.
Trump has a long record of criticizing the work ethic of his opponents, previously calling President Joe Biden’s pandemic-era campaign efforts "lazy" and referring to Hillary Clinton as "low-energy" during the 2016 election.
His comments about Harris play into long-standing stereotypes, particularly harmful to Black women, by labeling her as “lazy.” Such depictions have historical roots and are seen as demeaning and racially charged. Trump's rhetoric, especially regarding race, has been controversial in the past, including his role in legal actions surrounding housing discrimination and his calls for the death penalty for the Central Park Five, who were later exonerated.
Despite these attacks, the Harris campaign continues its push in key battleground states, where both candidates are competing in a tight race. Trump leads by a slim margin, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average.
In his speech, Trump also touched on what he called America’s "glory days," reminiscing about his father’s love for luxury cars like the Cadillac. He promised a return to those days by offering tax breaks for car buyers and imposing tariffs on foreign-made products, particularly from Mexico and China. While these proposals appeal to American manufacturing workers, economists have warned they could lead to higher household costs and negatively impact economic growth.
Trump's focus on manufacturing jobs is a key strategy as he tries to win over voters in battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Although the United Auto Workers union has endorsed Kamala Harris, Trump’s message has gained traction among rank-and-file members, making their votes crucial in the upcoming election.
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