Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Tuesday after he survived another apparent assassination attempt, while also condemning him for spreading “hateful” misinformation about Haitian migrants allegedly eating pets. As Trump prepared to return to the campaign trail following the incident at his Florida golf course, Harris revealed she had reached out to check on him.
“I wanted to see if he was OK and reiterated that there is no place for political violence in our country,” Harris said during an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). The White House described their exchange as “brief and cordial.”
This call came amidst heightened tensions between the two, with each camp accusing the other of fueling division ahead of the approaching election. In the NABJ interview, Harris also addressed Trump’s promotion of false claims that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating local pets, a rumor that led to numerous bomb threats and school closures in Springfield.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the impact on families and children in that community,” Harris said, adding, “We must put an end to such hateful rhetoric. You can’t be trusted with the presidency if you’re engaging in such behavior.”
Trump has blamed Harris and President Joe Biden for rhetoric that he claims has inspired recent attempts on his life. The vice president, meanwhile, has criticized Trump’s inflammatory statements, which have labeled her as an “evil” radical intent on destroying the nation.
Last Sunday, Trump was rushed to safety by Secret Service agents after gunman Ryan Routh was found near his Florida golf course. This marked the second close call for Trump, following a shooting incident at a Pennsylvania rally in June that left one person dead. Trump, reflecting on the Florida incident, quipped on social media that he “would have loved to finish that putt” before being whisked away.
Harris and Trump are both campaigning in critical swing states, with Harris leading Trump in a recent poll in Pennsylvania. Harris has focused on issues like reproductive rights, condemning Georgia’s strict abortion laws following the death of a woman reportedly due to delayed medical care.
