Donald Trump plans to flood the airwaves with rallies, press conferences and campaign events that will represent a massive counterprogramming effort to this week’s Democratic National Convention.
The former president will hold events every day this week in key states, and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, also plans to visit battleground states with events on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, all culminating in a rally on Friday.
Meanwhile, Trump allies will hold daily press conferences at the Trump Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, every day of the Democratic National Convention.
Among the Republican representatives coming to town for the convention are Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.) and Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Florida Reps. Byron Donalds and Mike Waltz. Thursday’s news conference will include a “surprise special guest.”
During a call with reporters, the Trump campaign said it is “making sure we are accessible” to the press, while Harris has gone nearly a month without a press conference or interview since announcing her candidacy.
Donald Trump is holding events every day this week in key states as he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, pursue a schedule contrary to that of the Democratic National Convention.
As Democrats descend on Chicago for their convention to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for vice president for their 2024 ticket, Trump and Vance will hit the seven key states that will determine the outcome in November.
“At the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris will hide behind celebrities because ordinary families know she has been an unmitigated disaster for our nation, and real Americans are worse off now than they were four years ago,” Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement about the counterprogramming.
“Harris has not responded to media questions for 28 days because she cannot justify her record of supporting inflation-causing policies, banning private health insurance, destroying American energy, and raising taxes,” they added. “When they meet with Americans in battleground states across the country, President Trump and Senator Vance will remind voters that under their leadership, we can end inflation, protect our communities from violent criminals, secure the border, and Make America Great Again.”
Trump will first travel to York, Pennsylvania, on Monday, to focus on economic issues at a private event with about 150 people at an industrial warehouse. Senator Vance will also be in Pennsylvania on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, with about 200 factory workers and business owners in Philadelphia.
That same day, President Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention after delegates officially nominated Harris and Walz.
The United Center has set the stage for the Convention which will begin on Monday, August 18 and conclude on Thursday, August 21.
On Tuesday, Trump will travel to Detroit, Michigan, for an event with 100 law enforcement officers and their families to discuss rising crime under Democratic leadership.
Vance will also focus on crime and safety during an event with crime victims in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday.
In Chicago, former President Barack Obama will lead the address after a speech by his wife and former first lady Michelle Obama.
Trump and Vance will appear together Wednesday at a national security-focused event at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Asheboro. The event will take place the same month as the third anniversary of Biden’s botched troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.
Rep. Donalds will also attend the event with approximately 3,000 veterans, Gold Star military families, and elected officials to deliver remarks focused on maintaining American sovereignty and military strength.
Walz will maintain tradition by speaking and formally accepting his nomination as the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee on the convention’s penultimate day. Harris will speak on Thursday.
Trump will head to the border on Thursday, the final day of the convention, for an event on immigration in Montezuma Pass, Arizona, while his running mate will be in Valdosta, Georgia, to also focus on immigration issues at the local sheriff’s office.
The Trump campaign says its themes for the week deliberately align with the convention speakers.
When Biden and Hillary Clinton speak on Monday, Trump’s campaign will focus on economic policies with “Make America Wealthy Again.”
On Tuesday, when the Obamas speak, the Republican slogan will be “Make America Safe Again.” And when Walz speaks on Wednesday, the Trump team will focus on national security and military strength with “Make America Strong Again.”
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be officially named as the 2024 Democratic nominee during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this week in Chicago, Illinois.
When Harris leaves office on Thursday, Trump and Vance will attack the vice president for her role as “border czar,” where she was supposed to lead the Biden administration’s efforts to address migrant issues and secure the southern border.
After the Democratic National Convention concludes Thursday, Trump will continue his schedule with a stop in Las Vegas, Nevada, highlighting his proposal to waive tip taxes on Friday morning and return to Arizona for a rally in Glendale in the evening.
During their tour, Trump and Vance will provide opportunities for reporters to ask them questions as the Republican ticket continues to foreground the juxtaposition of its press strategy compared to the Harris-Walz ticket.
Since taking over the Biden campaign on July 21, Harris has not sat down for an interview or held a news conference with reporters.
Trump’s team has blamed the media for giving Harris a “free pass” and providing her with favorable coverage without having to sit down for an interview and thus prolonging the “honeymoon phase.”