The Kamala Harris campaign recently posted a statement misrepresenting Donald Trump’s comments from a speech on Friday, claiming he promised to “end American democracy.” The campaign used a selectively edited clip from Trump’s speech at a Turning Point USA event, implying he wants to eliminate elections.
The Harris campaign’s statement included an out-of-context video clip suggesting Trump aims to end elections. However, in the full speech, Trump was discussing election integrity and encouraging people to vote in 2024 to ensure secure elections under his presidency.
Trump emphasized the importance of voter ID, saying, “We have to have voter ID, it’s called voter identification,” and advocated for paper ballots and other measures to secure the voting process. The clip posted by the Harris campaign omitted these details.
Trump criticized Democrats for opposing voter ID, stating, “Now there’s only one reason they do that, they want to cheat… In their National Convention, they have a voter tag on them bigger than their chest.” He pointed out that Democrats require identification at their conventions but oppose voter ID for elections. “But with voting — one of your most important things you can do, maybe in many ways your most important — they don’t want to approve voter ID. That’s because they want to cheat.”
Trump then urged Republicans to win the election, calling it the “most important election ever” and encouraging everyone to vote to secure a landslide victory. He addressed Christians specifically, saying, “If you want to save America, get your friends, get your family, get everyone you know, and vote. Vote early, vote absentee, vote on Election Day. I don’t care how, but you have to get out and vote. And again, Christians get out and vote just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore, four more years you know what it’ll be fixed it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore my beautiful Christians, I love you. Get out, you got to get out and vote. In four years you don’t have to vote again we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”
Trump’s hyperbole was used to stress the importance of voting in the upcoming election and ensuring strong election integrity. His comments were misrepresented by the Harris campaign to falsely claim he intended to end elections and American democracy.