MICHIGAN — Vice President Kamala Harris stormed through the battleground state of Michigan on Friday, questioning Donald Trump’s physical stamina to serve effectively as president amid reports he is suffering from exhaustion and questions about his health begin to swirl.
Harris and Trump both hit the battleground state on Friday, hoping to win over key voters that will help them capture the state’s 15 Electoral Votes in November. Harris, who turns 60 on Sunday, first brought up the Politico story, which raises doubts about the 78-year-old former president’s stamina.
The report states that Trump canceled interviews with several media outlets due to exhaustion. “President Trump is exhausted and refusing [some] interviews but that could change,” a campaign staffer reportedly said to producers of The Shade Room, a site that draws a largely young and Black audience.
“His team is saying that he is suffering from exhaustion,” Harris said during a stop in Grand Rapids. “We really do need to ask ourselves: If you are exhausted on the campaign trail, it raises real questions about whether you are fit for the toughest job in the world.”
Trump rejected the report as he arrived in Detroit, instead deciding to call out Harris.
“I’ve gone 48 days now without a rest,” he said. “I’m not even tired. I’m really exhilarated. You know why? We’re killing her in the polls, because the American people don’t want her.”
Earlier in the day on Fox & Friends, the former president complained about the network showing negative ads about him, telling the show’s hosts that he would talk to Rupert Murdoch, the founder of Fox News parent company News Corp, to take down the ads until November 5.
“I’m going to say, ‘Rupert, please do it this way and then we’re going to have a victory, cause everyone wants that,’” Trump said.
Trump had another moment on stage in Detroit on Friday that will likely not quiet questions about his health and stamina when his microphone cut out during his rally. The crowd chanted “USA” and “We love Trump” in support but the former president wandered around the stage for 20 minutes looking frustrated with his back to the audience.
The moment marked the second time in a week that one of his events was interrupted. On Monday, Trump ended a town hall early and instead played music after multiple people in the audience needed medical attention.
After stumping in Grand Rapids, Harris headed to Lansing and then Oakland County as she and Trump battle to win over he state’s Arab American, senior, union and working-class voters.
Harris made a reference to Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah during her final rally in Detroit.
“I know this year has been very difficult. Sinwar’s death can and must must be a turning point,” she said following news of the Hamas leader’s death. “Everyone must seize this opportunity to end the war in Gaza, bring the hostages home, and end the suffering for all.”
For his part, Trump told reporters in Michigan that he was going to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I’m going to call him soon,” he said. “Biden is trying to hold him back, he probably should be doing the opposite, actually.”
Trump, who instituted a travel ban targeting Muslim countries while in office, has vowed to expand the ban to include refugees from Gaza if elected.
The Harris campaign sees the suburbs as the key to winning Michigan, according to a campaign memo as they look to target Trump’s “unprecedented weakness” among women and White, college-educated voters.
