Trump under fire again for comments on police violence and Harris' mental competence

Hurricane Helene recovery is now a focus on the campaign trail after former President Trump criticized President Biden and Vice President Harris’ response to the storm. Lisa Desjardins reports on that and other controversies the Trump campaign is facing.

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Geoff Bennett: The recovery from Hurricane Helene is now a focus on the campaign trail, with former President Donald Trump criticizing the Biden administration and spreading falsehoods about the federal response.

Amna Nawaz: Our Lisa Desjardins has more on that and other controversies the Trump campaign is facing.

Lisa Desjardins: Against the backdrop of a shattered furniture store, former President Trump stopped and hard-hit Valdosta, Georgia today, saying it was no time to campaign.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: As you know, our country is in the final weeks of a hard fought national election. But in a time like this, when a crisis hits, when our fellow citizens cry out in need, none of that matters. We’re not talking about politics now.

Lisa Desjardins: But just an hour earlier, as he arrived in the area, Trump accused the Biden/Harris administration of mishandling Hurricane Helene.

Donald Trump: They’re not being responsive. The federal government is not being responsive. But they’re having a very hard time getting the president on the phone. He won’t get on it. Of course, the vice president, she’s out someplace campaigning, looking for money.

Lisa Desjardins: That was not true. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp this morning thanked President Biden for calling him yesterday about the storm.

Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA): He just said: “Hey, what do you need?” He offered that, if there’s other things we need, just to call him directly, which I appreciate that.

Lisa Desjardins: And as for the vice president, she actually cut short a campaign and fund-raising trip, canceling events in Nevada to attend a hurricane briefing at FEMA headquarters in D.C.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: We will continue to do everything we can to help you recover and to help you rebuild, no matter how long it takes.

Lisa Desjardins: As the hurricane reshapes the campaign trail this week, former President Trump is under fire for controversial comments made Sunday.

At an event in battleground Pennsylvania, Trump used these words to propose a solution to crime:

Donald Trump: Now, if you had one really violent day, like…

Lisa Desjardins: Meaning police violence. Trump said police should be able to get rough.

Donald Trump: One rough hour, and I mean real rough, the word will get out and it will end immediately, end immediately.

Lisa Desjardins: A spokesman for Trump said the comment was made in jest, this one day after he launched a direct attack on Harris’ mental competence in a rally in Wisconsin.

Donald Trump: Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way.

Lisa Desjardins: Some of Trump’s allies sought to distance themselves from those remarks.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): I just think the better course to take is to prosecute the case that her policies are destroying the country.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN): I think we should stick to the issues.

Lisa Desjardins: As for Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, he spent Saturday in Pennsylvania for a town hall.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Vice Presidential Candidate: Let’s hope that we can take this country back and make our country better.

Lisa Desjardins: The event made headlines for being organized by a right-wing evangelist who has said Harris was being guided by demonic forces and uses witchcraft.

Those ideas didn’t come up at the town hall, but it was a chance for Vance to appeal to evangelical voters, a key part of the Trump base. Tomorrow, Vance will be in the spotlight once again, as he and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will face off for their only debate.

For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Lisa Desjardins.