Trump Criticized for ‘Phoning It In’ During Virginia Tele-Rally with Gov. Youngkin
Regency. (AFP)
Donald Trump faced criticism on Sunday for “literally phoning it in” after participating in a tele-rally in Virginia, a state some are calling a new battleground in the upcoming elections. The tele-rally, held over the weekend, featured Trump and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin urging voters to participate in early voting while raising concerns about voter fraud in the state.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Trump and Youngkin’s virtual rally took place as Virginia emerged as a potential swing state, a move described by the New York Post as unexpected. Laura Vozzella, a political reporter for The Washington Post, noted that Trump and Youngkin stressed the importance of early voting during the call but also played into fears of election fraud.
Critics, however, were quick to call out Trump’s participation as lackluster. Susan Swecker, chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, took aim at the former president, saying, “While Trump is literally phoning it in here in Virginia, Team Harris-Walz and Virginia Democrats are turning unmatched enthusiasm into action.”
Swecker highlighted the stark contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris’ vision for the future and what she referred to as Trump’s “extreme Project 2025 agenda,” which includes proposals like nationwide abortion bans and tax increases on families.
The criticism didn’t stop there. Aaron Fritschner, a Virginia communications representative for Vice President Harris and a former Democratic House aide, also took to social media to flag Trump’s brief contribution to the rally. “It would take you more time to read this article than Trump spent talking during his long-distance phone call to Virginia today,” Fritschner quipped on Sunday.
The event highlighted the ongoing tensions in Virginia, where Democrats are mobilizing to counter what they see as Trump’s extreme policies, even as the former president seeks to shore up support in a state that could prove critical in the upcoming election. Trump’s tele-rally performance, however, seemed to draw more criticism than enthusiasm, with many accusing him of not fully engaging with Virginia voters.
