In a stark final message before Election Day, Donald Trump described the United States as an “occupied country,” highlighting both undocumented and legal immigration as a major concern and pledging to “rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered.”
At his rally in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, Trump painted a dark picture of the nation, emphasizing what he sees as a crisis in immigration and crime as he and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered their closing appeals to voters.
Trump blurred distinctions between undocumented immigrants he said were taking over apartment complexes in Colorado and Haitian migrants who legally settled in Springfield, Ohio. He called these migrations “military invasions without the uniforms” and promised a large-scale deportation initiative.
Closing his third presidential campaign with the same hardline anti-immigration stance he initially ran on, Trump presented a vision of America in decline, afflicted by crime tied to migrants. He promised to go after migrant gangs, eliminate sanctuary cities, and impose the death penalty for migrants convicted of killing American citizens. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly joined him on stage, recounting cases of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants—a significant appearance given their heated history following a 2015 Republican primary debate.
Trump also reiterated his commitment to reviving U.S. manufacturing, proposing steep tariffs on goods made in countries like Mexico and China, a move economists warn could drive up inflation as businesses pass on these added costs to consumers.
“Four years of Kamala have delivered nothing but economic hell for American workers,” Trump argued. He also criticized the lengthy vote-counting process and electronic voting machines, calling for all votes to be cast on paper in a single day. While his campaign had previously encouraged early voting, Trump now voiced doubts, suggesting the election system could be manipulated.
“I believe it’s too big to rig, but they’ll try,” Trump said, recalling his successes in 2016 and the challenges he faced in 2020. “We have to win the old-fashioned way and then fix it. We can’t let this happen again.” He also emphasized that states function as federal agents in the election process and should follow federal directives to avoid delays.
Trump concluded his final Pennsylvania rally by referencing Pittsburgh sports icon Roberto Clemente and inviting Clemente’s son on stage for a tribute, paying homage to the city’s legacy.
As Harris wrapped up her campaign tour in Pennsylvania as well, both candidates underscored the significance of the Keystone State’s 19 electoral votes. Without Pennsylvania, each would face a much more challenging path to the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Both campaigns have concentrated on seven pivotal battlegrounds: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina.
