Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held back-to-back rallies on Monday as they raced through the final hours before Election Day. Americans will soon decide whether Harris becomes the first female president in U.S. history or deliver an unprecedented comeback for Trump, a result that could reverberate globally.
With polls indicating a tight race, the candidates presented sharply contrasting visions, focusing on critical swing states that could determine the outcome once polls close on Tuesday.
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Gastonia Municipal Airport in Gastonia, North Carolina, on November 2, 2024. (Photo by Peter Zay / AFP)
In a critical final push, both rivals staged energetic rallies simultaneously in Pittsburgh, a vital city in Pennsylvania’s must-win battleground.
“Tomorrow is Election Day, and momentum is on our side,” declared Harris, shortly before singer Katy Perry took the stage.
Meanwhile, Trump maintained his darker tone, labeling Harris “a disaster.” He urged supporters not to accept “weakness, incompetence, decline, and decay,” promising that their votes could address every challenge facing the nation.
Trump’s campaign included stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, culminating in a final event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, mirroring his 2016 and 2020 campaign closures.
Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to members of the media before leaving her hotel in Madison, Wisconsin on October 31, 2024. – Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump’s latest remarks in which he vowed to protect women in America whether they “like it or not,” describing her White House rival’s comments as “very offensive.” (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris went all-in for Pennsylvania, culminating in a rally at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, made famous by the movie “Rocky.” She will be joined by high-profile celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.
Both campaigns are buoyed by strong early turnout, with over 82 million ballots cast before Election Day. Notably, superstar Taylor Swift urged her 283 million followers to vote, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election. Meanwhile, Joe Rogan announced his endorsement of Trump after the former president appeared on his podcast.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R) jumps on stage as he joins former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally at site of his first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5, 2024. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)
Both candidates aimed to rally their supporters and sway undecided voters with contrasting messages. In Reading, Pennsylvania, Trump painted a grim picture of a nation in decline, criticizing illegal immigration and using derogatory terms. In contrast, Harris focused on her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans, maintaining an optimistic and centrist tone to attract voters.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) greets US rapper Cardi B during a “When We Vote We Win” rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 1, 2024. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
Biden “let a lot of illegals in, and they’ve been murdering and raping our own people,” he told AFP. “When Trump was president, nobody messed with America.”
Harris, 60, faced enormous challenges on being catapulted into the race only in July after Biden abruptly dropped out.
Yet in that short time, Biden’s previously little-noticed vice president has galvanized the Democratic Party and stirred excitement among young voters and women after nearly a decade of political headlines dominated by Trump.
Former US President Barack Obama holds hands with US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at the James R Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, Georgia on October 24, 2024. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP)
“It’s kind of mind-boggling that the race is so close, because he’s a convicted felon, the way he talks to women… the tariffs, everything”, said Trish Kilby, 60, at Harris’s Philadelphia rally.
“She’s more about bringing the people together, whereas all he cares about is his top one per cent.”
The world is anxiously watching as the outcome will have major implications for conflicts in the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine, and for tackling climate change, which Trump calls a hoax.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) joins US television producer Oprah Winfrey at a ‘Unite for America’ live streaming rally in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on September 19, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
There are growing concerns that U.S. democracy could face a crisis if Trump, should he lose, refuses to concede as he did four years ago, leading to violence reminiscent of the Capitol riot. Following a narrow assassination attempt and foiled plots, the risk of unrest is significant, prompting businesses and offices in Washington to board up in anticipation of potential disturbances.
