With just a week left in a highly charged US presidential race, Donald Trump addressed his supporters in Atlanta on Monday, firmly rejecting claims of authoritarianism, including accusations from former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who recently described him as a “fascist.” Facing Democratic rival Kamala Harris in one of the closest elections in recent history, Trump sought to dismiss comparisons to Hitler, saying, “I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.” The remark followed Harris’s intensified critiques of Trump’s divisive rhetoric on the campaign trail.
Trump’s rally came just a day after a New York event in which one of his allies sparked controversy by making disparaging comments about Puerto Rico. Harris responded by condemning “that nonsense last night at Madison Square Garden,” while Trump’s campaign distanced itself from the comments, stating they do “not reflect the views of President Trump.” The incident has fueled additional concerns over Trump’s rhetoric among Hispanic voters, particularly the 450,000 Puerto Rican voters in swing states like Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Harris, campaigning in Michigan, criticized Trump for his fixation on “dividing our country,” urging Americans to consider “what’s on the line” in the upcoming election. Joined by former President Barack Obama in Pennsylvania, Harris emphasized the importance of standing against divisive tactics, with Obama calling out Trump’s allies for using “the most racist, sexist, bigoted stereotypes.”
As tensions remain high, incidents of reported ballot tampering have added to the turmoil, with fires damaging early ballots in Washington state and Portland, Oregon. Analysts believe voter turnout could be decisive, with over 47 million Americans having already cast early ballots. Harris is expected to deliver a “closing argument” speech near the White House, underscoring the stakes of the race as both campaigns make their final push in key swing states.
