Kamala Harris is under fire for spreading false claims regarding former President Donald Trump’s reaction during a town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
The Harris campaign and its supporters suggested that Trump’s actions at the rally indicated mental decline, but these claims were quickly debunked by ABC News.
The incident took place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and Fairgrounds, where Trump was holding a campaign event in the Philadelphia suburbs.
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During the event, two people in the audience suffered medical emergencies due to the heat in the venue.
Trump paused the event and allowed medical professionals to attend to the individuals. To keep the atmosphere calm, Trump requested music to be played and engaged with the audience.
As reported by the Associated Press and ABC News, Trump played music during the pause, including “Ave Maria,” while members of the crowd spontaneously sang “God Bless America.” Trump stopped answering questions and mentioned the heat in the room, even asking about the air conditioning.
He suggested wrapping up the event with music instead of continuing the Q&A session.
Despite these straightforward actions, the KamalaHQ social media account, which is tied to Harris’s presidential campaign, falsely implied that Trump’s behavior was a sign of mental instability.
The account mischaracterized the event, leading Harris herself to join in, sarcastically tweeting, “Hope he’s okay.”
Hope he’s okay. https://t.co/WGhGteFpjm
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 15, 2024
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ABC News fact-checked the claims circulating on social media, confirming that Trump’s response was appropriate and focused on the well-being of his supporters.
The network praised Trump for handling the situation well and ensuring that those who needed medical attention received it promptly.
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the safety of Trump’s supporters was always a priority, and Trump referred to the individuals who experienced medical issues as “great patriots.”
ABC’s senior national correspondent, Terry Moran, reported that while some social media users found Trump’s actions odd, those attending the event enjoyed the music and the impromptu atmosphere that followed. “It did not seem out of the ordinary. It seemed almost intimate,” Moran said, describing how Trump mingled with the crowd, signed autographs, and shook hands.
BREAKING: ABC News debunks the Harris campaign’s claim that Trump had a “senior moment” on stage, *compliments* him for how he handled the situation.
Another narrative destroyed.
ABC News says Trump decided to change things up after a couple of supporters had medical… pic.twitter.com/mDSWZNGkEq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 15, 2024
This isn’t the first time the Harris campaign has spread misleading information.
The KamalaHQ account has previously been criticized for promoting the debunked “very fine people” hoax regarding Trump’s remarks about the Charlottesville incident.
Critics of Harris are now calling her out for attempting to use the medical emergencies at Trump’s event to score political points.
You do realize two people had medical emergencies, right?
Goodness, you’re a sick, sad individual.
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) October 15, 2024
In the aftermath of the rally, Harris’s campaign has faced growing scrutiny, with many pointing out that it mirrors an ongoing Democratic narrative attempting to portray Trump as too old or unfit for the presidency.
THE LIE: Trump was lost, confused, and frozen on stage as the event ends early.
THE TRUTH: KamalaHQ desperately edited this video in an attempt to slander Trump.
The Kamala campaign is releasing a coordinated smear campaign with edited videos as Harris slumps in the polls.… pic.twitter.com/VQvNg9cgg9
— KamalaHQLies (@KamalaHQLies) October 15, 2024
However, this tactic comes as Harris herself is facing questions about her own electability, especially as polling shows Trump gaining ground in key swing states.
Recent polling data from Pennsylvania shows Trump chipping away at Harris’s support base, particularly among Black voters, a critical demographic in the Philadelphia metro area.
Democratic figures, including Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), have expressed concerns that Harris’s campaign is losing its connection with low- and middle-income voters who were essential to securing the state in previous elections.
As Election Day approaches, the Harris campaign is being urged by some Democratic operatives to step up its efforts, with fears growing that Trump’s growing support in the Rust Belt and swing states like Pennsylvania could prove decisive.
Despite attempts to criticize Trump’s performance on the campaign trail, it appears he is outpacing Harris, energizing his base, and potentially winning over voters in these pivotal battleground regions.
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You know if ABC debunks this ridiculous claim, Harris is spewing BS.
In 2020 Trump was ostensibly in charge, was warned about it, saw it coming, watched it unfold and yet wasn’t able to stop the steal; imagine now that he isn’t: additional pro-dem votes from immigrants, fully-fledged vote-by-mail, pre-printed pristine ballots, poll-watchers being prevented from watching, big media polls all going one way…
Doesn’t stand a chance.