Michigan is currently hosting both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as they vie for the state’s 15 electoral votes in a tightly contested race.
Trump’s day has been particularly eventful, marked by a visit to Hamtramck, where he actively engaged with Arab and Muslim voters. This strategy represents a shift from his previous campaigns, highlighting how both candidates are venturing beyond their usual approaches to attract undecided voters.
Harris speaks to United Auto Workers
This afternoon, Harris spoke to United Auto Workers (UAW) members, who are typically aligned with the Democratic Party. During his rally on Friday, Trump experienced a technical issue that forced him to pause for over 15 minutes while his microphone malfunctioned. As he waited for the problem to be fixed, he moved around the stage.
Once the sound was restored, he expressed his refusal to pay for what he deemed inadequate equipment, criticizing the company that provided it.
Heated battle in Michigan
With 18 days remaining until Election Day, over 11 million Americans have already cast their votes, as reported by data from 42 states compiled by CNN, Edison Research, and Catalist. California leads in early voting with more than 1.5 million ballots submitted, followed closely by Georgia with over 1.1 million. Florida, Michigan, and Virginia each have seen more than 900,000 ballots cast.
In a bid to differentiate her commitment to union members and working-class voters from Trump’s, Vice President Harris presented video clips that featured Trump making derogatory remarks about auto workers, criticizing UAW President Shawn Fain, and admitting he had disliked paying overtime during his business career before entering politics.
Harris touches on workers issues in Michigan
While addressing union members in Lansing, Michigan, Harris outlined her plan to bolster manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and safeguard worker benefits, simultaneously depicting Trump as unsupportive of labor interests. During her speech, she played a compilation of past statements from Trump, including his suggestion that a child could perform the work of assembly line workers and a remark indicating he would dismiss striking workers.
Arab American and Muslim demographic
In an unexpected visit to a campaign office in Hamtramck before his scheduled rally in Detroit, Trump appeared alongside the city’s mayor, Amer Ghalib, who recently expressed his endorsement of Trump. Given Hamtramck’s significant Arab American and Muslim demographic, the mayor raised concerns about ongoing Democratic messaging that suggests Trump intends to deport community members, many of whom are second or third-generation immigrants. He invited Trump to address these allegations and communicate directly with the community about his intentions.
Read More: Trump Speaks Out On Killing Of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
