As Election Day draws closer, the divide between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has become a chasm.
With the help of well-known supporters like 叠别测辞苍肠茅, Usher, and Bruce Springsteen who gathered in cities across the country to support her inclusive platform, Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has spent the final days of her campaign calling for unity among Americans.
Meanwhile, Trump, the Republican nominee, took the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York, delivering a closing pitch that unleashed xenophobic, racially charged rhetoric, painting an America under siege and promising a wave of mass deportations starting on day one.
叠别测辞苍肠茅 joined Harris onstage in Houston on Friday, stating, 鈥淚鈥檓 not here as a celebrity. I鈥檓 here as a mother.鈥澛
Springsteen spoke to the vice president鈥檚 core values, noting, 鈥淪he believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power.鈥
The entertainers championed a vision that they argue will protect democracy, safeguard freedoms, and promote unity.
In contrast, in New York on Sunday, Trump delivered a divisive tirade at the World鈥檚 Most Famous Arena, where just blocks away, he was found guilty of 34 felony charges this year and only a few miles from the court that held him responsible for sexual assault.
His civil conviction on massive business fraud also occurred across town from the Garden.
Trump鈥檚 rally, marketed as a historic comeback, was instead a showcase of his campaign鈥檚 unrestrained hostility. He anchored his speech on his promise of a massive deportation program, calling the country 鈥渙ccupied鈥 by immigrants 鈥 a message reminiscent of historical demagogues.聽
Outside, the Democrats made their own statements, projecting the messages 鈥淭rump is Unhinged鈥 and 鈥淭rump Praised Hitler鈥 across the storied arena鈥檚 exterior.
Before Trump even reached the podium, his supporters stoked racial hatred and fear.
Former congressional candidate David Rem attacked Harris, calling her 鈥渢he antichrist鈥 and 鈥渢he devil鈥 while waving a cross.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe plunged into outright racism, referring to Puerto Rico as 鈥渁 floating island of garbage鈥 and demeaning Latinos with, 鈥淭hese Latinos, they love making babies, too.鈥
Radio host Sid Rosenberg went further, railing against migrants living in New York and declaring, 鈥淵ou got homeless and veterans 鈥 Americans 鈥 sleeping on their own feces on a bench in Central Park. But the f—ing illegals, they get whatever they want, don鈥檛 they?鈥
Trump鈥檚 speech bristled with falsehoods and conspiracy-laden claims. Echoing his 2016 rhetoric, he argued that migrants are to blame for economic woes, pushing the narrative that his leadership alone could restore prosperity.
鈥淎re you better off now than you were four years ago,鈥 he asked, promising to end inflation and 鈥渂ring back the American dream鈥 despite his previous term鈥檚 failure.
Harris鈥 final rally, scheduled for Tuesday, will occur on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., a deliberate echo of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that Trump incited.聽
The vice president鈥檚 campaign has drawn strength from powerful allies who recognize the stakes of the election.
Reflecting on Trump鈥檚 divisive legacy, Tyler Perry said, 鈥淚n this Donald Trump America, there is no dream that looks like me.鈥
Springsteen considered American values and principles when speaking to the audience at the Harris rally.
鈥淭here is only one candidate in this election who holds those principles dear: Kamala Harris. 鈥 Trump is running to be an American tyrant. He does not understand this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American,鈥 Springsteen declared.
Samuel L. Jackson, standing firmly behind Harris, reminded audiences of the Democratic presidential nominee鈥檚 background, from California鈥檚 attorney general, to the Senate, and now as vice president.
鈥淪he鈥檚 running on a proven track record of fighting for the people … of taking on the toughest fights,鈥 Jackson said.