PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With one week to go until Election Day, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump made some of their last trips through swing states like Pennsylvania. On Tuesday Trump appeared at a roundtable discussion hosted by Building America's Future in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.
The discussion was supposed to focus on issues affecting seniors, but before panelists could address him, Trump rehashed his stance on several subjects that he has frequently repeated throughout his campaign — on interest rates, energy costs and, largely, the border.
“We've been set back badly in every single way with inflation. I mean the costs are way too high. Inflation is still higher than it's supposed to be with all that they've done to try to get it down,” he said.
Trump promised to drive down energy costs.
“We're going to drill, baby, drill. We're going to use our stuff. We don't need anybody else's.”
He also made some jabs at his opponent.
“This is an election that's really a choice between whether or not we'll have four more years of total failure,” Trump said. “This has been the worst four years I've ever seen.”
A number of people from the Philadelphia area asked questions and commented on issues including crime, inflation, cost of living, and Medicare, while sharing a stage with the former president. Some of the panelists talked about the impact of inflation and savings for retirement, being a caretaker for an elderly parent, and how policies would affect those that are retired.
One of the roundtable participants said she was from Puerto Rico. Before talking about her experience with Medicaid as a provider and customer, she addressed Trump directly:
“Mr. President, I just wanted to tell you that I moved here in 1981 from Puerto Rico, and I want you to know that Puerto Rico stands behind you and Puerto Rico loves you.”
Her comment comes after a comedian at a Trump campaign event at Madison Square Garden on Sunday called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage.
In reply, Trump did not mention the controversial joke, but instead spoke briefly about what he did after Hurricane Maria devastated the island.
“No president's done more for Puerto Rico than I have, so, thank you, that's really nice of you to say, I appreciate it.”
According to ABC News, Trump has insisted that he did not hear the joke and has denied knowing the comedian.
Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have been in the Philadelphia region several times over the past couple of weeks encouraging supporters to get out and vote.