By Nicholas Nehamas
On Saturday in Detroit, Vice President Kamala Harris let her T-shirt convey her message.
The dark shirt — worn beneath a gray blazer while she spoke to a few hundred campaign volunteers inside a gym at Western International High School — featured the phrase “Detroit vs. Everybody.” This choice of clothing was a direct reply to former President Donald Trump, who recently made disparaging remarks about Detroit, a major city with a predominantly Black population, characterizing it as a decaying symbol of America’s future under Harris.
During her brief address on the first day of early voting in the city, Harris called on her supporters to reject the division and insults propagated by Trump.
“We believe the true test of a leader’s strength is determined not by who you put down but by who you uplift,” she stated, emphasizing that her campaign was seeking the type of “grit” and “excellence” that “the people of Detroit” embody.
“He dedicates his time to discussing himself and fictional characters, rather than focusing on working families, on you, on uplifting you,” Harris further noted.
Trump had criticized Detroit at an economic forum in the city on October 10, attracting considerable backlash from Democrats and providing material for a Harris campaign advertisement. He cautioned that “Our entire nation will become like Detroit if she’s your president,” referring to Harris.
Black voters, particularly Black men, are exhibiting less enthusiasm for Harris compared to previous Democratic nominees, and Trump is attempting to exploit this. The Harris campaign has stepped up efforts to reach Black voters, including an economic policy agenda specifically tailored for Black men. Voter turnout in Detroit might prove crucial for the race in Michigan, a key battleground state where polls indicate a competitive landscape.
Over 1 million voters in Michigan have already cast their absentee ballots, as per state officials. Both candidates are encouraging their supporters to vote early while vying for the remaining undecided voters.
As more Americans choose to vote early, campaigns are focusing on reaching harder-to-engage voters. However, Trump has wrongly criticized mail-in voting as fostering electoral fraud, complicating his party’s efforts to connect with voters.
On Friday, Trump campaigned in the Detroit area, a stronghold for Democrats, with the aim of winning support from blue-collar workers concerned about the economy, as well as among Arab American and Muslim American voters who are upset with the Biden administration’s stance on Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In an effort to move past his critiques of the city, Trump argued that his policies would lead to an economic revival there, claiming that Harris’ tax plans would bring about “economic Armageddon.”
Trump also made a stop in Hamtramck, Michigan, located just north of Detroit, which has a significant Arab American and Muslim population; its Democratic mayor endorsed him the prior month. He expressed to supporters his urgent desire for peace in the Middle East while also praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza situation, stating that he was “doing a good job.”
On Saturday, Trump held a rally with supporters in Pennsylvania, another crucial state that could influence the election outcome. Both candidates and their allies are actively campaigning in pivotal areas as the election approaches in under three weeks.
Trump has notably directed his unfounded accusations of voter fraud towards cities with large Black populations such as Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. In an interview with commentator Roland Martin this week, Harris suggested that race plays a subtle role in Trump’s choice to target those cities.
“If you observe the stars, don’t merely see them as random objects,” Harris remarked. “Consider the constellation: what story does it tell?”
On the campaign trail, she has started leveraging the influence of celebrity to energize her supporters. In Detroit, she was accompanied by pop star Lizzo, a local resident. Later that evening, she will hold a rally in Atlanta featuring R&B artist Usher.
Before Harris spoke at the Detroit rally, Lizzo also confronted Trump’s criticisms of the city.
“They claim if Kamala wins, the entire country will mirror Detroit,” she stated. “Well, I say proud like Detroit. I say resilient like Detroit. This is the same Detroit that revolutionized the auto industry and the music industry. So let’s put some respect on Detroit’s name.”
