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Trump Closes Out a Campaign Built on Fear, Anger and Division Trump Closes Out a Campaign Built on Fear, Anger and Division
(about 2 hours later)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — President Trump embarked Monday afternoon on a final three-state election swing that will close out an us-against-them midterm campaign built on dark themes of fear, anger, division, nationalism and racial animosity. CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — President Trump embarked Monday on a final three-state election swing that will close out an us-against-them midterm campaign built on dark themes of fear, anger, division, nationalism and racial animosity.
The president’s thundering warnings about “left-wing mobs” and a migrant “invasion” have inflamed the passions of a country, energizing conservatives he hopes to mobilize to hang onto control of Congress while exasperating opponents who accuse him of fear-mongering and demagogy.The president’s thundering warnings about “left-wing mobs” and a migrant “invasion” have inflamed the passions of a country, energizing conservatives he hopes to mobilize to hang onto control of Congress while exasperating opponents who accuse him of fear-mongering and demagogy.
Mr. Trump has generated overflow crowds of red-hatted supporters wherever he has gone in these final days, drawing energy from their adulation and pumping them up to head to the polls on Tuesday to salvage Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Mr. Trump kicked off the first of three rallies in Cleveland in front of a loud and energetic crowd of thousands. His remarks were laced with his usual, acerbic attacks on his adversaries — “radical,” “left-wing socialists,” “corrupt,” “the Democratic mob” — and accusations that Democrats would raise taxes, destroy Medicare and enact a socialist takeover of the American health care system.
Underscoring the emphasis on his base, Mr. Trump will finish out the day alongside the radio host Rush Limbaugh in the latter’s hometown, Cape Girardeau, Mo., after earlier stops in Ohio and Indiana on Monday. But he again reserved his most vitriolic language for the issue of immigration, repeatedly prompting loud boos as he warned that if Democrats take over the House, they will invite murderers to come into the United States to kill men, women and children.
“We’re going to have a very good day,” Mr. Trump told reporters before leaving Washington for Cleveland, his first stop. “They’re packed houses. Every one of them is packed. And there is a great electricity in the air. I don’t know if you report it that way, but there is a great electricity in the air like we haven’t seen, in my opinion, since the ’16 election. So something’s happening.” “Democrats are inviting caravan after caravan, illegal aliens to flood into our country,” Mr. Trump boomed. He falsely said that Democrats want to give health care benefits to undocumented immigrants and are openly encouraging undocumented immigrants to vote.
Mr. Trump has generated overflow crowds of red-hatted supporters wherever he has gone in these final days, drawing energy from their adulation and pumping them up to head to the polls on Tuesday to salvage Republican majorities in the House and Senate. After Cleveland, he headed to Fort Wayne, Ind.
Underscoring the emphasis on his base, Mr. Trump will finish out the day at a late-night rally alongside the radio host Rush Limbaugh in the latter’s hometown, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
“We’re going to have a very good day,” Mr. Trump told reporters before leaving Washington for Cleveland. “They’re packed houses. Every one of them is packed. And there is a great electricity in the air. I don’t know if you report it that way, but there is a great electricity in the air like we haven’t seen, in my opinion, since the ’16 election. So something’s happening.”
Even so, he acknowledged that he is planning a shake-up after the election. “Administrations make changes usually after midterms, and probably we’ll be right in that category, too,” he told the reporters. “I think it’s very customary.” He added that, “for the most part, I love my cabinet.”Even so, he acknowledged that he is planning a shake-up after the election. “Administrations make changes usually after midterms, and probably we’ll be right in that category, too,” he told the reporters. “I think it’s very customary.” He added that, “for the most part, I love my cabinet.”
He did nothing to wave off the assumption that Attorney General Jeff Sessions would go, but dismissed speculation that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis might. “Why would I do that?” he asked. “Is that the new rumor? No, no, I don’t at all.” As for Ryan Zinke, the interior secretary who is facing multiple investigations, Mr. Trump said that “he’s done a very good job,” but that “I would not be happy with that at all” and “I will take a look.” He did nothing to wave off the assumption that Attorney General Jeff Sessions would go, but dismissed speculation that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis could also be leaving. “Why would I do that?” he asked. “Is that the new rumor? No, no, I don’t at all.”
As for Ryan Zinke, the interior secretary who is facing multiple investigations, Mr. Trump said that “he’s done a very good job,” but that “I would not be happy with that at all” and that “I will take a look.”
Mr. Trump has declared that the election will be a referendum on him, and his campaign strategy itself became one of the biggest issues. He has eagerly taken credit for the healthy economy, even exaggerating its merits, but rather than make that the centerpiece of his campaign in hopes of appealing to independents and moderates, he waged the fall battle on the ground of immigration.Mr. Trump has declared that the election will be a referendum on him, and his campaign strategy itself became one of the biggest issues. He has eagerly taken credit for the healthy economy, even exaggerating its merits, but rather than make that the centerpiece of his campaign in hopes of appealing to independents and moderates, he waged the fall battle on the ground of immigration.
Describing himself as a “nationalist,” he has vilified immigrants, both legal and illegal, playing to tribal rifts in American society in a way that went beyond what most presidents have done during competitive midterm elections in the modern era. His supporters cheered him on, embracing a leader they said was finally taking on the cosseted elites and guarding the country against outsiders. But the divisions he encouraged will bedevil the country beyond Election Day. Describing himself as a “nationalist,” Mr. Trump has vilified immigrants, both legal and illegal, playing to tribal rifts in American society in a way that went beyond what most presidents have done during competitive midterm elections in the modern era. His supporters cheered him on, embracing a leader they said was finally taking on the cosseted elites and guarding the country against outsiders. But the divisions he encouraged will bedevil the country beyond Election Day.
Asked by reporters on Monday if the elections were turning as much on his style of leadership as anything else, the president said, “I don’t think so, but I mean I’m willing to accept that.” Asked by reporters on Monday if the elections were turning as much on his style of leadership as anything else, the president said, “I don’t think so, but, I mean, I’m willing to accept that.”
He made no effort to distance himself from the harshness of his campaign, including an advertisement that was deemed too racist to run by several networks and Facebook that either rejected it or pulled it, including his favorite, Fox News. “A lot of things are offensive,” Mr. Trump said. “Your questions are offensive a lot of times.”He made no effort to distance himself from the harshness of his campaign, including an advertisement that was deemed too racist to run by several networks and Facebook that either rejected it or pulled it, including his favorite, Fox News. “A lot of things are offensive,” Mr. Trump said. “Your questions are offensive a lot of times.”
Mr. Trump used the final day of the campaign to raise the possibility of voter fraud, a perennial interest of his.Mr. Trump used the final day of the campaign to raise the possibility of voter fraud, a perennial interest of his.
“Law Enforcement has been strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’s Election (or Early Voting),” he wrote on Twitter on Monday. “Anyone caught will be subject to the Maximum Criminal Penalties allowed by law. Thank you!” “Law Enforcement has been strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’s Election (or Early Voting),” he wrote Monday on Twitter. “Anyone caught will be subject to the Maximum Criminal Penalties allowed by law. Thank you!”
In his later encounter with reporters, he offered no basis for suggesting that large-scale fraud was likely. “All you have to do is go around, take a look what’s happened over the years and you’ll see,” he said. “There are a lot of people, a lot of people, in my opinion and based on proof, that try and get in illegally and actually vote illegally. So we just want to let them know that there will be prosecutions at the highest level.” In his later encounter with reporters, the president offered no basis for suggesting that large-scale fraud was likely. “All you have to do is go around, take a look what’s happened over the years and you’ll see,” he said. “There are a lot of people, a lot of people, in my opinion and based on proof, that try and get in illegally and actually vote illegally. So we just want to let them know that there will be prosecutions at the highest level.”
The invocation of voter fraud could foreshadow his reaction if Democrats win control of the House on Tuesday, as many consultants in both parties expect. After he lost the popular vote in 2016, he explained it away by asserting, without any foundation, that three million illegal immigrants voted, which he said made the difference. But the claim was widely rejected in both parties, and his promise to investigate and prove it fizzled. The invocation of voter fraud could foreshadow Mr. Trump’s reaction if Democrats win control of the House on Tuesday. After he lost the popular vote in 2016, he explained it away by asserting, without any foundation, that three million illegal immigrants voted, which he said made the difference. But the claim was widely rejected in both parties, and his promise to investigate and prove it fizzled.
As he flew to the Midwest on Monday, Mr. Trump still hoped to reproduce the stunning upset that embarrassed prognosticators in 2016. But even if he fails at holding onto the House, he expects to hang onto the slim Republican majority in the Senate and perhaps even build on it. If Democrats do take the House and Republicans hold the Senate, Mr. Trump will almost certainly claim victory out of the split decision, saying he defied the odds once again.As he flew to the Midwest on Monday, Mr. Trump still hoped to reproduce the stunning upset that embarrassed prognosticators in 2016. But even if he fails at holding onto the House, he expects to hang onto the slim Republican majority in the Senate and perhaps even build on it. If Democrats do take the House and Republicans hold the Senate, Mr. Trump will almost certainly claim victory out of the split decision, saying he defied the odds once again.
But a divided Congress would present a profound challenge to his presidency for the last two years of his term, making the prospect of major legislation even more distant and opening a period of partisan warfare led by subpoena-powered Democratic committee leaders intent on investigating everything from his taxes to Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.But a divided Congress would present a profound challenge to his presidency for the last two years of his term, making the prospect of major legislation even more distant and opening a period of partisan warfare led by subpoena-powered Democratic committee leaders intent on investigating everything from his taxes to Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.
[Meet the Democratic leaders whose House committees could torment President Trump.][Meet the Democratic leaders whose House committees could torment President Trump.]
For his last campaign swing of this cycle, Mr. Trump was heading first to Cleveland, where an intense governor’s race will decide which party controls state government in a place Mr. Trump must win if he hopes to secure a second term in two years. For his last campaign swing of this cycle, Mr. Trump headed first to Cleveland, where an intense governor’s race will decide which party controls state government in a place Mr. Trump must win if he hopes to secure a second term in two years.
From there, he planned to fly to Fort Wayne, Ind., where Republicans have hopes of knocking off a Democratic senator, Joe Donnelly. And he was to end his day with a late-night rally in Cape Girardeau, on behalf of the Republican Josh Hawley’s efforts to defeat Senator Claire McCaskill. From there, he flew to Fort Wayne, Ind., where Republicans have hopes of knocking off a Democratic senator, Joe Donnelly. And he was to end his day with a late-night rally in Cape Girardeau, on behalf of the Republican Josh Hawley’s efforts to defeat Senator Claire McCaskill.
In addition to Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Trump’s campaign initially announced on Sunday that Sean Hannity, his friend and Fox News host, would also appear with the president. But Mr. Hannity denied that on Monday, saying he would only be interviewing Mr. Trump and covering the rally. “To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President,” Mr. Hannity wrote on Twitter. In addition to Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Trump’s campaign initially announced on Sunday that Sean Hannity, his friend and Fox News host, would also appear with the president. But Mr. Hannity denied that on Monday, saying he would only be interviewing Mr. Trump and covering the rally. “To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President,” Mr. Hannity tweeted.
Even before leaving the White House, Mr. Trump took to Twitter to cheer on select Republican allies and trash-talk some favorite Democratic targets. He previewed his evening attack on Ms. McCaskill. “No matter what she says, Senator Claire McCaskill will always vote against us and the Great State of Missouri!” he wrote. Even before leaving the White House, Mr. Trump used Twitter to cheer on select Republican allies and trash-talk some favorite Democratic targets. He previewed his evening attack on Ms. McCaskill. “No matter what she says, Senator Claire McCaskill will always vote against us and the Great State of Missouri!” he tweeted.
He also went after Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, whom he called “an automatic far left vote, controlled by her bosses,” and Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor in Florida, who he said would make his state “a crime ridden, overtaxed mess.” He also posted endorsements of Republicans like Representative Claudia Tenney of New York and Dana Rohrabacher of California, whom he called “respected by all.” He also went after Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, whom he called “an automatic far left vote, controlled by her bosses,” and Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor in Florida, who he said would make that state “a crime ridden, overtaxed mess.” The president also posted endorsements of Republicans like Representative Claudia Tenney of New York and Dana Rohrabacher of California, whom he called “respected by all.”
He also returned to another favorite target, the news media, claiming the polls this year were intended to discourage Republicans from voting.
“So funny to see the CNN Fake Suppression Polls and false rhetoric,” he wrote. “Watch for real results Tuesday. We are lucky CNN’s ratings are so low. Don’t fall for the Suppression Game. Go out & VOTE. Remember, we now have perhaps the greatest Economy (JOBS) in the history of our Country!”