Harris dunks on Trump, Vance at Flint rally with an help from Magic Johnson

Vice President Kamala Harris dunked on former President Donald Trump and his working mate, Sen. JD Vance, notably on the auto business at her rally Friday night time, with an help from NBA star and Michigan native, Magic Johnson.

“When it got here to constructing the vehicles of the longer term, Donald Trump sat on the sidelines and let China dominate after which he talks right down to American employees, saying ‘we will not compete with Chinese language employees,'” Harris mentioned. “And make no mistake, Donald Trump is not any buddy of labor.”

Harris’ assaults centered on what she mentioned was her rival’s unkept guarantees on manufacturing and placing Michigan auto jobs in danger one thing her marketing campaign attacked Trump on the identical subject in a digital advert launched final month.

The vp additionally highlighted feedback that Vance made earlier this week about whether or not the Trump administration would honor a $500 million grant going to Common Motors to transform a Lansing plant to make electrical automobiles.

“So, two days in the past, Donald Trump’s working mate recommended that if Trump wins, he may let the Grand River meeting plant in Lansing shut down, the identical plant that our administration helped save earlier this 12 months, together with 650 union jobs,” Harris mentioned. “Michigan, we collectively fought arduous for these jobs, and also you deserve a president who will not put them in danger.”

Requested by the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday whether or not Trump would honor or cancel the Biden administration grant, Vance did not give a direct reply.

“To begin with, the $500 million grant got here together with some actually ridiculous strings and no protections for American jobs not getting shipped to overseas international locations as a result of a whole lot of not simply the vehicles themselves, however the battery parts, the minerals, these things is all produced in China, and so once we write large checks on American taxpayer expense to those firms, a whole lot of occasions what we’re doing is promoting American center class jobs to the Communist Chinese language, and we should be doing precisely the alternative,” Vance advised the Detroit Free Press.

“We should be rebuilding the American center class and investing in our personal employees, not transport our tax {dollars} off to electrical automobiles made in China,” Vance added.

In Michigan, Trump is working a brand new advert focusing on auto employees, accusing Harris of eager to “finish all fuel powered vehicles” and power Individuals to drive electrical automobiles. Harris shot again Friday night time.

“Allow us to be clear: Opposite to what my opponent is suggesting, I’ll by no means inform you what sort of automobile you must drive,” Harris mentioned. “However this is what I’ll do, I’ll spend money on communities like Flint.”

Johnson, who’s from Lansing and went to Michigan State, spoke in this system forward of Harris, and praised her as “sturdy,” “good” and “passionate.”

“No one’s going to outwork her. She’s dedicated to you because the individuals United States, the individuals of Michigan. She’s dedicated to you,” Johnson mentioned. “She’s going to be a president for everyone. And one factor she’s going to do is lastly unite us, convey us collectively, that different occasion is making an attempt to tear us down.”

However the five-time NBA Finals champion took time to immediately deal with Black males, a demographic whose help for Democrats has softened.

“There’s a whole lot of Black males in right here. I do not imply to not discuss to different individuals, however that is essential,” Johnson mentioned. “Our Black males, we have got to get them out to vote, that is primary.”

“Kamala’s opponent promised a whole lot of issues final time to the Black neighborhood that he didn’t ship on,” Johnson added. “And we gotta make certain Black males perceive that. So, that is why I am right here: To ensure I assist Black males perceive, first, get out and vote, after which vote for the subsequent president of the US Kamala Harris.”

Johnson additionally referred to as on America to take inspiration from Mexico, which swore in its first lady president on Tuesday.

Earlier Friday, forward of the Flint rally, Harris stopped by a firehouse in Redford Township, proper exterior Detroit, the place she labeled Trump “an existential menace” to labor.

“Donald Trump’s observe report is a catastrophe for working individuals, and he is making an attempt to gaslight individuals throughout our nation, however we all know the information and we all know the reality: He’s an existential menace to America’s labor motion,” Harris claimed.

In a brief assertion Thursday, Edward Kelly, the president of the firefighters’ union, introduced his board voted to not endorse a candidate for president — following the Teamsters’ lead.

“This choice, which we took very significantly, is one of the best ways to protect and strengthen our unity,” Kelly mentioned.