Trump focuses on Latino vote during Allentown, Pennsylvania, rally despite backlash after Puerto Rico comments
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Former President Donald Trump made two stops in Pennsylvania Tuesday as the countdown to Election Day officially reaches one week.
The PPL Center in Allentown was filled with Trump supporters as the former president came on stage to an explosive crowd.
"If we win Pennsylvania, we're going to win the whole deal," Trump said.
Much of the rally was focused on the Latino vote.
Trump's visit comes after a comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
One of the first speakers on stage was a man from Puerto Rico who spoke to the crowd in both Spanish and English.
Shadow U.S. Senator for Puerto Rico Zoraida Buxó Santiago also took the stage just before 6:30 p.m. and addressed the controversial remarks.
"Indeed, a community very well anchored with steadfast conservative values of family, faith, economic freedom, and deep, deep love of country," Santiago said.
Although Trump did speak about the Puerto Rican community, he did not directly address the comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.
"I'm so proud we're getting support from Latinos like never before," Trump said. "Nobody loves our Latino and our Puerto Rican community more than I do."
Thousands lined up to see @realDonaldTrump at the PPL Center in Allentown today. This is the former president’s first major event since a comedian made a racist joke about Puerto Rico during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, which drew national outrage. pic.twitter.com/SBXQdxLTGJ
— Madeleine Wright (@MWrightReports) October 29, 2024
The first Latino mayor of Allentown, Matt Tuerk, said the remarks could have cost Trump voters in the Keystone State.
"Across the state of Pennsylvania, there are over 500,000 registered Puerto Rican voters," Tuerk said. "Those comments might have lost Donald Trump the election."
Despite the backlash, supporters of Trump said it was imperative they attend Tuesday's rally with just one week until Election Day.
Trump attends roundtable in Delco
Before heading to the Lehigh Valley, Trump attended a roundtable discussion about issues impacting senior citizens, including Medicare and social security, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at the Drexelbrook event center in Drexel Hill Tuesday afternoon.
Voters in Delco were excited for the opportunity to hear directly from Trump, who arrived at about 4:30 p.m. Before the event, several attendees said inflation and border security were top priorities for them.
Trump discussed crime, inflation and the economy during the roundtable discussion.
"Every poll has inflation and the economy as the No. 1 thing, and third is the border," Trump said. "I think inflation is horrible, it's destroying people, it's a country buster. But I don't think it's inflation, I don't think it's the economy, I think the No. 1 thing is the border."
Trump has said he remains in favor of a massive deportation of undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris said she would bring back the bipartisan border security bill and sign it into law.
Trump's visit forced the Upper Darby School District to dismiss all schools early on Tuesday.
The Republican candidate for president's visit to Pennsylvania comes one day after Bruce Springsteen, former President Barack Obama and John Legend took the stage at Temple University's Liacouras Center in support of Harris' campaign.
Obama talked about Trump's recent "enemies from within" comment and controversial remarks made by supporters at his Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday evening. He then went on to contrast Harris' vision for America with Trump's on issues from the economy to immigration and abortion. He also made a plea to those undecided voters who may not fully agree with the vice president.
Both the Harris and Trump campaigns have spent considerable time in the Keystone State in recent weeks courting voters. Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes up for grabs on election night, the most of the so-called battleground states.