Trump Calls Harris a “Radical Left Lunatic” at St. Cloud Rally
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ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Former President Donald Trump delivered new attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris during a rally in St. Cloud on Saturday evening, where he was joined by his running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance.
Trump labeled Harris, the likely Democratic nominee for president following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race, as a “radical left lunatic” who supports defunding the police, restricting gun rights, allowing mass immigration, and limiting red meat consumption. He also questioned her intelligence.
Trump also targeted his usual adversaries: Biden, “fake news,” radical Islamic terrorism, and violent “illegal aliens,” whom he controversially compared to the fictional serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs. “I mentioned him because we have people like that coming into our country. They’re closing their insane asylums all over the world. They’re sending the criminals into the United States,” he claimed.
In a more optimistic tone, Trump promised immediate improvements for America if he returns to the Oval Office: “Inflation will stop. The illegal aliens will be turned back. The cartels will be in retreat. Crime will fall. Energy prices will plummet. Incomes will soar. And a world in chaos will rapidly be transformed into a planet of peace.”
However, economists from various think tanks and Wall Street firms argue that Trump’s plans to halt immigration and increase tariffs on imported goods would likely increase inflation and reduce inflation-adjusted incomes. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told CBS MoneyWatch that consumers “will be hopping mad a year from now” about inflation if Trump wins and enacts his policies.
Despite the sweltering 90-degree heat, thousands lined up at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center to see Trump. Supporters sported t-shirts reading “I’m voting for the felon” and “Mean tweets and cheap gas.”
Jake Wolf of St. Cloud expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to “get the country under control” with stricter border security and removing “transgender sh** out of children’s schools.” Darla Schmidt and Brian Nelson, both truck drivers, were concerned about the rising cost of living and believed Trump could reduce prices. Schmidt compared the process to cleaning a house: “It gets nasty first, but eventually it’s going to work its way through.”
Although 8,000 supporters made it inside the arena, more than 1,000 were turned away and watched Trump’s speech on a giant screen in the parking lot. Trump claimed they will win Minnesota easily “as long as they don’t cheat.”
Ahead of the rally, Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, energized 300 volunteers at the St. Paul Labor Center for a door-knocking session. “Three days ago, the nation found out what we’ve all known in Minnesota, [Trump and Vance] are just weird,” Walz said, adding that the Democratic campaign will push to only be “10 points behind” by the time they’re done.
Minnesota has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 1972. Even during Trump’s 2016 victory across the Upper Midwest, Minnesota remained Democratic, with Hillary Clinton winning by just 1.5 percentage points. Despite Trump’s efforts in 2020, he lost Minnesota by 7 percentage points to Biden.
Recent polls show Harris with a 10-point lead over Trump in Minnesota. St. Cloud, a stronghold for Trump where he won 60% of the vote in Stearns County in 2020, was a welcoming location for the rally. Vance took the stage first, previewing Trump’s messages on immigration, Islamic extremism, and support for the police. He criticized Harris for supporting the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which bails out individuals awaiting trial, including those arrested during protests after George Floyd’s murder.
Trump falsely claimed he sent the National Guard to quell the Minneapolis riots after Floyd’s death, a move actually initiated by Gov. Walz, a National Guard veteran. Trump was joined on stage by Shannon Owen, whose husband was killed in the line of duty, and Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council.
Despite Trump’s anti-immigrant stance, many East African immigrants attended the rally. Osman Dagane, an Uber and Lyft driver from Minneapolis, organized support for Trump, believing the former president has gained a better understanding of their community. As Trump spoke, some attendees began leaving the arena, leaving only the most dedicated supporters to listen to the entirety of his speech, according to the organization.
