WILKES-BARRE, PA. — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reverted to primary contest fighting form during a rally Monday night, continuing his attacks against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after Sunday’s debate and new revelations from WikiLeaks.
For the vast majority of the nearly hour-long rally, Trump pointedly didn’t bother using the teleprompters that have been staple of his events since August, giving those in attendance a flashback to his free-wheeling primary rallies as he read aloud new poll numbers in Pennsylvania and other states, attacked the media and read “The Snake,” a fable that became staple of his primary rallies as he discussed immigration.
“I’m in such a great mood,” Trump told the crowd halfway through the event before reading the poem. At one point later on, Trump brought on stage a toddler dressed up as the GOP nominee, donning a suit and a red power tie. As he held the kid, he asked him if he wanted to go back with his mom and dad or hang with Trump, to which he responded by saying “Trump.”
Most notably though, Trump railed against Clinton, specifically over the WikiLeaks revelations. The two nominee’s sparred over the leaked emails during Sunday’s debate, including over her call during a paid speech for “open borders.”
“This just came out: WikiLeaks! I love WikiLeaks,” Trump told the crowd, before panning Clinton, saying she’s as crooked “as a three dollar bill.” As supporters chanted “lock her up,” Trump offered up a rare response, saying “lock her up is right.” The remark came less than 24 hours after Trump told Clinton during the debate that she should be in jail.
Trump went on to talk about the revelations in WikiLeaks, particularly Clinton’s past comments on terrorism, her relationship with Wall Street and bankers, as well as various remarks she made in paid speeches. Trump also laid blame at the media for Clinton’s chances of winning in November, pointing at reports that CNN’s focus group during the debate was coached — a charge the network vociferously denies.
“Without the media, Hillary Clinton couldn’t be elected dog catcher,” Trump said as chants of “CNN sucks” rained down from his supporters.
At one point, Trump reitered his worry that the election could be “stolen” from him, using Philadelphia as a prime example. Trump’s rally Monday night was held just over 100 miles north of the biggest city in Pennsylvania, a state Trump has made known is crucial to his electoral prospects.
“I just hear such reports about Philadelphia,” Trump said. “And we have to make sure we’re protected. We have to make sure the people of Philadelphia are protected, that the vote counts are 100 percent. Everybody wants that. But I hear these horror shows … and we have to make sure that this election is not stolen from us and is not taken away from us.”
Trump currently trails Clinton in his push for the Keystone State’s 20 electoral votes. According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Clinton leads in the state by 8.6 percent.
Trump’s rally took place only hours after House Speaker Paul Ryan told the House Republican Conference that he will no longer defend Trump and urged his fellow Republicans to do what they need to do to win re-election next month. Toward the end of his speech, Trump took brief aim at the speaker.
“You have people who can’t fix a budget and then they start talking about the nominee,” Trump said. The two GOP leaders were set to campaign together on Saturday in Wisconsin, but Ryan disinvited Trump following the emergence of a video Friday in which Trump made lewd remarks that were caught on a hot microphone during a chat with then-“Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush in 2005.
Trump’s next event is slated for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Panama City, Fla.
