Trump Begins Week of DNC Counterprogramming with Economic Remarks in PA

Former President Donald Trump is set to embark on a week-long tour of battleground states, intentionally scheduled to counterprogram the Democratic National Convention that kicks off on Monday. His first stop will be in York, Pennsylvania, where he will discuss economic and energy policies, just hours before key DNC speakers take the stage.

Throughout the week, Trump aims to emphasize his economic proposals, particularly following a series of contrasting addresses made by himself and Vice President Kamala Harris the previous week.

During two separate events in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Trump discussed various economic topics, interspersing relevant commentary with personal jabs directed at both Harris and former President Joe Biden.

The former President, alongside his running mate, Senator JD Vance, plans to hold issue-focused campaign events throughout the week across states such as Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. The Trump campaign describes their strategy as “dividing and conquering,” ensuring that their message reaches key contested areas.

Each campaign stop will target a specific election issue. Trump’s schedule includes economy-centered events in Pennsylvania on Monday, followed by a focus on crime and safety on Tuesday, national security on Wednesday, immigration on Thursday—when he will be visiting the southern border—and culminating the week with events promoting the “no tax on tips” policy on Friday.

The ramp-up in campaign activities comes as the Harris campaign criticized Trump for lacking swing-state appearances in recent weeks. In contrast, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have actively campaigned in key swing states earlier this month.

As accusations fly regarding Harris avoiding the press, the Trump campaign has stepped up by offering opportunities for journalists to engage with Trump surrogates, with the understanding that Trump or Vance may also take questions.

It is noteworthy that Harris has not participated in an official interview since the evening of the first presidential debate alongside Biden.

In the lead-up to the DNC, Trump allies including Senators Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, and Representative Byron Donalds plan to hold daily press conferences in Chicago, where the convention is taking place. Additionally, the Trump campaign has hinted at having a “special guest” appear on Thursday just before Harris officially accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Trump’s campaign officials expressed confidence in their messaging, stating that through their engagements in battleground states, Trump and Vance will convey their commitment to addressing issues like inflation, community safety, and border security. They framed these efforts as a way to “Make America Great Again.”

They further characterized their approach as connecting with everyday Americans and sharing their stories, in stark contrast to what they claim will be the DNC’s reliance on prominent figures from the past, such as former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

During the DNC’s primetime programming, Trump is expected to participate in fundraisers and media engagements. A campaign official stated that their goal is to clearly define Harris and Walz, signaling that their “honeymoon” period is over and reinforcing their belief in having the winning message against what they perceive as a losing message from Democrats.

With the DNC set to rally around Harris, Trump’s campaign seeks to keep the spotlight on critical issues and appeal directly to voters in the key battleground states.

As the political landscape heats up, both campaigns are gearing up for what promises to be a highly competitive lead-up to the upcoming elections.

Source: ABC News