Former President and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump returned to his home state of Florida, this time, for a campaign rally where he not only teased his pick as a running mate, but also rode the wave of infighting within the Democratic party as some members urge President Biden to reconsider his reelection bid.
Trump spoke to a crowd of several hundred supporters at his golf club in Doral, a western suburb in Miami, where he came out an hour later than scheduled.
The rally was one of his first major public appearances following the first presidential debate, after which he stayed low, letting the Democratic infighting play out in public.
He used his return to increase attacks on both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, indulging speculation that she could replace the incumbent as the Democratic nominee this year and alleging that his son Hunter Biden is "running our government" and first lady Jill Biden "is helping," the Associated Press reported.
"The radical left Democratic party is divided in chaos, and having a full-scale breakdown all because they can't decide which of their candidates is more unfit to be president, sleepy, crooked Joe Biden or laughing Kamala," Trump said at the rally.
Biden has repeatedly insisted he won't withdraw from the race. But this didn't stop Trump from focusing on the topic. He challenged his 81-year-old opponent to another debate or even a "golf-off", reviving an offbeat argument from their debate.
"Our victory was so absolute that Joe's own party now wants him to throw in the towel and surrender the presidency after a single 90-minute performance," Trump said Tuesday night. "They want 'Crooked Joe' out of the race. It's a shame the way they're treating him. But don't feel sorry for him. He's a very bad guy."
The Republican businessman also teased his imminent running mate pick. Although his campaign had previously confirmed he would not make an announcement in the Doral rally, the former president played into the speculation that he might elevate Sen. Marco Rubio to his ticket.
Rubio, a Miami native, and one of the contenders for the vice presidential post, was among the Florida politicians who spoke at the event.
At one point, Trump marveled at the number of reporters in attendance and said, "I think they probably think I'm going to be announcing that Marco is going to be vice president." Later, when he talked about his pledge to make tips tax-free, he remarked that Rubio "may or may not be there to vote for it."
The senator did not openly acknowledge any of the speculation about him joining Trump's team. But he did focus on Biden, whom he called "the figurehead of a left-wing government, shadow government," as well as Harris, whom he did not refer to by name, but called her Biden's "replacement" and "a real-life, verified left-winger."
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, is seen as a potential running mate who could help Trump as he tries to secure support from Hispanic Americans, a point the senator emphasized in his remarks as he switched several times from speaking English to Spanish.
"Together, we're not just going to make [America] great again. We elect this man as president, we will make together America greater than it has ever been," said the senator playing into Trump's signature phrase.
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