'If you want Trump to win..': Harris confronts Gaza protesters
United States Vice President Kamala Harris confronted anti-Israel protesters who interrupted her campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, on Wednesday night. "You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking," the 59-year-old presidential nominee told the hecklers, who were shouting "Kamala! Kamala! You Can't Hide! We Won't Vote for Genocide!"
Harris responds to protesters: 'If you want Trump to win...'
Her warning came after a series of disruptions during which she paused to stare down the demonstrators. Earlier in the event, Harris had tried to wait out the disruption by stating, "I'm here because we believe in democracy. Everyone's voice matters, but I am speaking now." The heckling stood out as Harris had largely avoided such interruptions at her public events by those who opposed the US's support of Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip.
Videos from the rally
Protests against US support for Israel's Gaza invasion
President Joe Biden had faced similar protests before dropping out of the presidential race on July 21 and endorsing Harris as his successor. Michigan is home to large numbers of Arab and Muslim voters who could potentially swing the election. Trump won Michigan and other swing states in 2016 but was defeated by Biden in 2020 when these states flipped back to Democrat.
Harris's visit to Michigan part of broader campaign strategy
Harris's visit to Michigan was part of a broader effort to rally support among younger, diverse, and labor-friendly voters in key battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan. At an earlier rally in Wisconsin, Harris referred to herself and her running mate, Tim Walz, as "joyful warriors," and accused Trump of favoring a divisive politics. She passionately asserted that "someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution...should never again have the chance to sit behind the seal of the US."
