On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign fired back at Donald Trump after he claimed that photos of her recent rally in Michigan were “fake.” The event, which took place at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, attracted around 15,000 supporters, where Harris shared the stage with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
In a playful jab, the campaign posted videos on Truth Social, the former president’s social media platform, showing the enthusiastic crowd that welcomed Harris as she arrived. One of the posts cheekily warned, “Warning: The content of this video may upset @realDonaldTrump,” while another stated, “In case you forgot @realDonaldTrump: This is what a rally in a swing state looks like.”
Trump responded by alleging that Harris had cheated to create a fake image of the crowd. He claimed there was no one present at the airport when she landed and that the crowd was artificially generated. Trump’s assertion was met with skepticism, as he continued to imply that this is part of a larger strategy by Democrats to manipulate election outcomes.
In his words, “This is how the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATING.” He insisted that anyone who alters images is likely to cheat in other areas, calling for Harris to be disqualified over it.
Snopes assessed Trump’s claims, stating that while the image he shared might have been altered, there was no substantial evidence that the Harris campaign’s photos or videos were fake. Meanwhile, Harris’ team continued to poke fun at Trump, sharing clips from his Montana rally that showed many empty seats compared to the excitement in her own gatherings.
This ongoing back-and-forth has become a hallmark of the 2024 election, with both sides competing not just on policies but also on who can draw bigger crowds. Trump has often criticized the media for allegedly downplaying his rally sizes while overhyping Harris’. He noted how the press reacted differently to the crowd sizes at Harris’ events, reinforcing his belief that they favor the Vice President.