LITITZ, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump gave a profane and conspiracy-laden speech two days before the presidential election, talking about reporters being shot and suggesting he “shouldn’t have left” the White House after losing in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden.

In remarks on Sunday that were more divisive than usual, the former president revived old grievances over the prosecution as he tried to overturn his defeat four years ago. He stepped up his attacks on a “grossly incompetent” national leadership and the American media, at one point turning his rally in Pennsylvania to the topic of violence against members of the media.

The GOP White House nominee noted the ballistics glass placed in front of him at events after the attempted assassination of a gunman in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Trump talked about where he saw openings in that protection.

“I have this piece of glass here,” he said. “But all we have here is fake news. And to catch me, someone would have to go through the fake news. And I don’t mind that much.”

It was the second time in recent days that Trump has spoken about guns being pointed at people he considers enemies after he suggested former Rep. Liz Cheney, a prominent Republican critic, would not be willing to support foreign wars if she had “nine barrels shot at her.”

His remarks also reflect that, less than 48 hours before Election Day, Trump is continuing to promote falsehoods about the election and claims he can only lose to Democrat Kamala Harris if he is cheated, even though polls suggest a close race .

Some of his allies, notably former chief strategist Steve Bannon, encouraged him to prematurely declare victory Tuesday, even though the race is too early to call. That’s what Trump did four years ago, starting a process of fighting the election results that culminated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.

His campaign later tried to clarify his meaning by talking about the media.

“President Trump spoke brilliantly about the two assassination attempts on his own life, including one that came within 1/4 of an inch of killing him, something the media constantly talks about and jokes about,” the carrier said campaign spokesman Steven Cheung in a statement. . “The president’s statement about placing the protective glass has nothing to do with media damage or anything else.”

HarrisMeanwhile, he told a Michigan church congregation on Sunday that God is giving America a “divine plan powerful enough to heal division.”

The two major candidates have struck starkly different tones with the campaign nearing its end, as Harris said voters can reject “chaos, fear and hate.”

She was focused on Michigan, starting the day with several hundred parishioners at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. It marked the fourth Sunday in a row that Harris, who is Baptist, spoke to a black congregation, a reflection of how critical black voters are in several battleground states.

“I see faith in action in remarkable ways,” she said in remarks that quoted the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. “I see a nation determined to turn the page on hatred and division and chart a new path forward. As I travel, I see Americans in so-called red states and so-called blue states who are ready to bend the arc of history toward justice.”

She never mentioned Trump, though she’s sure to return to her more conventionally partisan speech during breaks later Sunday. But Harris told her friendly audience that “there are those who seek to deepen division, sow hatred, spread fear and cause mayhem.” The election and “this moment in our nation,” she continued, “has to be about much more than partisan politics. It has to be about the good work we can do together.”

Harris wrapped up his remarks in about 11 minutes — starting and ending during Trump’s roughly 90-minute speech at a chilly outdoor rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump usually moves from topic to topic, a discursive style which he called “fabric”. But outside Lancaster Airport, he went off on long tangents and barely mentioned his usual points about the economy, immigration and memorable criticism of Harris.

Trump also referred to John Bolton, his former national security adviser and now a vocal critic, as a “dumb son of ab…”. And he repeated familiar and debunked theories about voter fraud, claiming that Democrats could only win by cheating. Polls point to a close and competitive race in the battleground states that will determine the outcome of the Electoral College.

“It’s a crooked country,” Trump said. “And we’re going to make everything clear. We will make it clear.”

Harris rejected Trump’s characterizations of the US election, telling reporters after the church service that Trump’s comments were “intended to distract from the fact that we have and support free and fair elections in our country.” Those “good systems” were in place in 2020, Harris said, and he “lost.”

The vice president said he was confident in the next vote count and urged voters, “especially people who haven’t voted yet, not to fall for this tactic, which I think includes suggesting to people that if they vote, their vote won’t count.” “

Separately, the vice president tacitly acknowledged Michigan’s significant Arab-American population and voters in that community who are angry with the Biden administration for continuing the US alliance with Israel amid the Netanyahu government’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

“We have been very clear that the level of death of innocent Palestinians is unacceptable,” Harris told reporters Sunday after the church service. “We have to end the war and we have to get the hostages out. And as President of the United States, I will do everything in my power to achieve that goal.”

Trump, for his part, admitted that he sidestepped his usual approach with his conspiratorial speech. He repeatedly mentioned how he ignored the advice of his aides, telling their side of the story in a mocking voice and insisting that he had to talk about election fraud.

Co-campaign manager Susie Wiles, long credited with bringing order to Trump’s often chaotic political operation, silently watched the former president from the stage.

At one point, Trump hinted that he would not give this version of his speech again: “I hope you enjoyed this,” he said, “because I’m only doing this one time.”

___

Superville reported from Detroit, Barrow from Washington and Cooper from Phoenix.