Former President Donald Trump continued his campaign schedule despite the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which threatened Florida with catastrophic damage. In Pennsylvania, he insulted Vice President Kamala Harris and other women, stating that he had no interest in being nice even if it turned off female voters. Trump called Harris “grossly incompetent” and attacked a host of ABC’s “The View,” calling her “dumber than Kamala.” He criticized Harris for saying she wouldn’t have done anything differently from President Joe Biden in the last four years, which his campaign has seized on to paint her as merely continuing Biden’s presidency. Trump also postponed events focused on health care and immigration due to the hurricane.
Hurricane Milton disrupted the campaign just weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast, killing over 220 people and causing widespread destruction. Both Trump and Harris denounced misinformation surrounding the federal response to hurricanes, with false claims about assistance funding, diverting aid to migrants, and property theft. Trump’s campaign spokesperson claimed world leaders want to meet with him because they expect he will soon return to the White House and restore peace globally. Meanwhile, Biden postponed a trip to Germany and Angola, stating he couldn’t be out of the country during this time. Harris taped interviews in New York, where she failed to name significant ways her administration would differ from Biden’s.
Trump’s campaign seized on Harris’s failure to differentiate her administration from Biden’s, with Trump calling Biden the “WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.” Harris responded to reports in Bob Woodward’s book that Trump sent COVID-19 test kits to Russian President Vladimir Putin, questioning why those kits weren’t made available to Americans who needed them. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the U.S. sent test kits to Russia but denied any secret shipments, stating that many countries exchanged equipment during the pandemic. Harris also participated in a phone call with Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding ongoing tensions in the Middle East, while Trump’s campaign claimed he had spoken to Netanyahu after Iran launched missile attacks on Israel.
The hurricane prompted Biden to offer prayers to those in its path and assure that federal authorities are prepared to help with rescue and recovery efforts. Democrats emphasized the need for Americans to come together to support those impacted by the storm, regardless of political affiliations. Campaigning in Arizona, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz highlighted the importance of unifying in the face of natural disasters, stressing that it’s about basic human decency and leadership. Both Trump and Harris acknowledged the seriousness of the hurricane and the need to provide assistance to affected communities once it passes. Harris discussed the historic nature of Hurricane Milton and the differences it may present compared to previous storms in the region.
