A CNN reporter’s coverage of former President Donald Trump’s less-than-packed rally in Detroit has gone viral. With just weeks until the election, both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are intensifying their campaigns in key swing states, including Michigan.
During a segment on Erin Burnett OutFront on Friday, reporter Alayna Treene described the scene at the Detroit venue, stating, “We’re in a pretty large venue. You can see the crowd behind me, but it’s actually pretty empty behind the camera. They have not been able to fill this.” Her observations, made shortly before Trump took the stage, quickly gained traction online.
A clip of her report, shared by Acyn from MeidasTouch, has amassed over 841,000 views, with the account highlighting that “CNN reports Trump is UNABLE to fill his Detroit rally.” This prompted reactions from notable figures, including former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger, who quipped on X, “Haha…times a million infinities.”
Democratic commentator Harry Sisson tweeted, “This is BRUTAL for Trump,” while supporters of Harris celebrated CNN’s findings with comments like, “Holy cow, the rally is empty tonight!”
Rally attendance has become a pivotal talking point this election cycle. Harris’ campaign has often criticized Trump’s crowd sizes while showcasing strong numbers from her own events. Trump has countered these claims, accusing Harris of using artificial intelligence to exaggerate her crowd at a previous rally, stating, “She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”
Michigan Polling Trends
In Michigan, the race is tight, with Harris holding a narrow lead of 47.6% to Trump’s 47.1%, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling averages.
National Polling Overview
On the national stage, Harris appears to have a growing advantage as well, with a 2.1% lead over Trump (48.4% to 46.3%), highlighting the competitive atmosphere as Election Day approaches.