In his final scheduled rally before the presidential debate, former President Donald J. Trump mocked President Biden’s preparations, insinuating that his opponent may be using medical supplements.
“Right now, crooked Joe has gone to a log cabin to ‘study,’” Mr. Trump said at a rally in Philadelphia, gesturing with quotation marks. “He’s sleeping now, because they want to get him good and strong. So a little before debate time, he gets a shot in the ass.”
Mr. Trump and his campaign have been challenging Mr. Biden for months to debate, even taunting him with an empty lectern. However, since the candidates agreed to two debates in May, Mr. Trump has been reframing the low expectations he has set.
During his rallies and speeches, Mr. Trump has consistently attacked Mr. Biden’s mental capacities, claiming that the president cannot string “two sentences together.”
At the rally, Mr. Trump seemed to be preparing his supporters for the possibility that Mr. Biden might be a formidable opponent by accusing him of using a chemical boost.
‘I’m sure he’ll be prepared’
“I say he’ll come out all jacked up, right?” Mr. Trump said, referring to Mr. Biden. Moments later, Mr. Trump, who had previously demanded a drug test from Mr. Biden, seemed to suggest that Mr. Biden was using illegal drugs.
“I’m sure he’ll be prepared,” Mr. Trump said. He then jokingly mentioned an incident involving a bag of cocaine found in the White House last year.
Despite building anticipation for the debate, Mr. Trump criticized the debate rules his campaign had agreed to, including the lack of a live audience.
“It’s like death,” Mr. Trump said. “This could be the most boring — or it could be the most exciting. Who knows?”
While the Biden campaign has set aside time for structured debate preparations, Mr. Trump prefers looser conversations over formal coaching.
Targeting Philadelphians
Before the rally, Mr. Trump stopped at a cheesesteak restaurant in South Philadelphia and indicated that he believed the rally was sufficient preparation for the debate.
During the rally, he sought strategy advice from the crowd and joked about being tough and nasty during the debate.
The event in Philadelphia was Mr. Trump’s first rally in the city, which played a crucial role in both his 2016 victory and his 2020 defeat.
Ahead of the rally, protesters demonstrated across the street from the arena, chanting “lock him up.”
As the Trump campaign aims to draw a contrast with Mr. Biden, events have been scheduled in Democratic urban areas to reach Black and Hispanic voters.
‘I might just flip a coin’
Emanuel Morales, a Philadelphia resident, attended the rally to hear Mr. Trump speak in person, considering his vote for the upcoming election.
Shabazz Boone, a Black Trump supporter from North Philadelphia, welcomed Mr. Trump’s visit to his neighborhood.
Inside the arena, the crowd was predominantly white, not reflecting the demographics of the surrounding neighborhood.
An exchange on immigration
During his speech, Mr. Trump criticized Mr. Biden’s handling of inflation, energy, and the border, making unsubstantiated claims about the impact of undocumented immigrants on Black and Hispanic Americans.
Mr. Trump often portrays migrants as a threatening force in his speeches and suggested a separate fighting league for migrants coming to the U.S.
Philadelphia and its suburbs are key battlegrounds for both campaigns, with a focus on winning over Black voters.
The Democratic National Committee has countered with billboards attacking Mr. Trump as a “disaster” for Black Americans.
