MIAMI (AP) — Confusion grows over President Joe Biden Former President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail on Tuesday after keeping a low profile for days after the debate, playing golf and publicly waging intra-Democratic infighting.
Trump plans to rally voters at a golf course near Miami as the presidential election approaches. Deadline to announce vice presidential candidateBut with much of the focus still on the question of whether Biden can govern for another four years, he does not appear to be in any rush. Some Democrats have begun calling for Biden to resign. as his potential successor Dismal debate performance last month.
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump gestures during the presidential debate with Joe Biden in Atlanta, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, are at least 20 years older than most US presidents, according to the Pew Research Center, which finds that the average age of a US president at the time of inauguration is 55. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from insisting he is stronger than Biden, who repeatedly stumbled, paused and sometimes couldn’t finish sentences during his speech. June 27th debateTrump has faced criticism from Democrats. made false statements during a debate about the January 6, 2021, riots; At the U.S. Capitol Suggesting that immigrants enter the United States illegally They were taking away so-called “black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs.”
Trump said in an interview with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity on Monday that he thinks Biden has “a good chance of staying in the race.” “Nobody wants to give up like that,” Trump added. “He’s going to feel bad about himself for a long time. It’s hard to give up the way that they’re trying to get rid of him.”
What you need to know about the 2024 election
In Doral, a Miami suburb, Trump is expected to highlight his strong support in the once-battleground state that now has a Republican edge. Miami Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida senator and one of his running mates, was among Florida politicians speaking at the event.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, is seen as a possible vice presidential candidate who could help Trump secure the support of Hispanic Americans, a point the senator made during his speech, switching into Spanish at various times.
The senator did not publicly acknowledge speculation that he might be Trump’s running mate, instead calling Biden a “symbol of the left, of the shadow government” and harshly criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris, who he would have to debate if selected as Trump’s running mate.
Rubio didn’t initially mention Harris by name, but called her Biden’s “successor” and a “real, proven leftist.” Elsewhere in the remarks, he mocked the way Harris laughs.
He appeared to incorporate himself into President Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” slogan when he said: “Together, we can not only make America great again, we can elect this man president, and together, we can make America greater than it’s ever been.”
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, who served as Florida director for Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, spoke at the rally, saying ahead of the event it would be an “overwhelming show of unity.”
“The rally showcased our unity, in stark contrast to Democrats who are wavering and fighting amongst themselves over Biden’s health and his chances of continuing in office,” Cabrera said.
One attendee, Austin Stiglin, 28, said he had traveled from north Florida to attend his first Trump rally. “I’m tired of people telling me to vote left just because I’m gay,” Stiglin said in a navy blue jacket with stars and red pants.
“I have a lot to say, and it’s not just about sexual orientation,” Stiglin said. “I want to vote for policies that support America.”
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is expected to address Biden’s handling of immigration and the economy in his speech, highlighting rising home and consumer prices. He is also expected to talk about how Florida, the final destination for many who cross the US-Mexico border illegally, is being affected by the rise in migrants.
The Democratic leadership crisis is likely down to Trump Reasons to wait Trump has asked not to announce his running mate so as not to distract from Biden’s predicament. Senior advisers and key allies have said Trump does not yet know who he will choose as his running mate, with many believing the choice is still in flux.
Speaking on MSNBC on Monday, Biden criticized Trump for not holding any events since the debate, suggesting he’s been “driving around in a golf cart.”
___
Prices were reported from New York.
