Today is the day that many people in the US and worldwide have waited four years for as the 2020 US election comes to a close.
Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have been campaigning tirelessly to win over voters and secure the keys to the White House for the next four years. The polls are still firmly in Biden's favour but the memory of 2016 is still very pertinent so neither candidate is taking any chances and both men are pulling out all the stops in their own unique way. The contrast between their final rallies couldn't have been larger.
Trump held five rallies on the last day of campaigning talking in battleground states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, whereas Biden spoke in Ohio and three rallies in Pennsylvania, a state that is likely to be decisive in the result of the election. Biden was also backed up by Barack Obama who spoke in Georgia and Florida. Meanwhile, Trump had most of his family talking for him elsewhere in America.
Biden's rally saw musicians like Lady Gaga and John Legend make an appearance whereas Trump used his time to hurl insults at Gaga, Jon Bon Jovi and NBA superstar LeBron James, while also getting rapper Lil Pump on stage (and getting his name wrong in the process), with almost no evidence of social distancing or face masks being in place.
Here are a few highlights from both candidates' final day of campaigning.
Speaking in Fayetteville, North Carolina just after midday, the president resurrects his feud with Hillary Clinton, as if it's 2016 all over again, prompting 'lock her up chants' from his supporters.
"Hillary was a criminal. She deleted her emails," Trump says, prompting (another) "lock her up!" chant https://t.co/4FdMtvSyuc— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604337240
In Ohio, Biden lambasted Trump and Republican efforts to suppress voters saying: "Presidents don't determine who gets to vote, voters determine who is gonna be the president."
Biden at Ohio rally: "There's nothing [Trump] can do to stop the people in this nation from voting." https://t.co/pIQGftGE7M— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604336831
Meanwhile in Avoca, Pennsylvania, Trump raises eyebrows by saying "we're gonna win" and "we have some big surprises."
Trump: "It's not gonna happen -- we're gonna win. We have some big surprises." https://t.co/zZd4fXXdej— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604346515
Moments later, Trump calls the disputed Hunter Biden story 'the second biggest scandal' in American history. You'll never guess what the first is.
Lol -- Trump argues that Hunter Biden's (purported) emails are a bigger scandal than Watergate https://t.co/akY1e4MnXZ— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604347587
Trump continues and starts to complain about having a "disadvantage with the electoral college" – the very system that helped him win in 2016.
Trump, without a shred of irony, is out here whining about "the disadvantage we have with the electoral college" https://t.co/TsLV4ny3tv— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604348510
Elsewhere, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Donald Trump Jr appears to speak from experience and says "you can't fix stupid."
Donald Trump Jr: "You can't fix stupid as the saying goes, OK?" https://t.co/kKSp8M2r1N— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604340022
Meanwhile, in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Ivanka Trump repeats a line she said last week where she calls for a culture of debate and differing opinions to be encouraged.
Ivanka Trump decries cancel culture and says her father is fighting for a future where "our country's rich diversit… https://t.co/R42Csnj9iP— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604343145
Back in Avoca, Trump begins to call out LeBron James, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Jon Bon Jovi and Lady Gaga, who he says 'he could tell plenty of stories about.'
"LeBron James sucks!" chants at the Trump rally https://t.co/XbSZrhn961— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604349243
"I can tell you stories about Lady Gaga. I know a lot of stories, Trump says cryptically, then immediately adds: "J… https://t.co/eypJcpgYXg— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604349920
At Obama's rally in Georgia, rapper 2 Chainz gives his support to Biden and Kamala Harris and seamlessly transitions into his hit song 'I'm Different'.
Rapper 2 Chainz describes Biden & Harris as different, transitioning from that into his song “I’m Different.” https://t.co/2AptGfoNyD— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604344195
Obama then travels to Miami, Florida where he makes comments about Trump suggesting that he might fire Dr Anthony Fauci after the election. When his crowd begins to boo, Obama tells them "don't boo - vote."
Obama in Miami: "Last night, this is last night on his Covid spreader tour ... because nothing is more important to… https://t.co/NSBsM2fFVY— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604357718
In Huntersville, North Carolina, first lady Melania Trump blames the media, without evidence, for promoting "divisive language" which creates "disdain and hostility towards voters."
Melania Trump: "While they like to blame my husband for his behavior, the media's promotion of divisive language an… https://t.co/QpIkrlxWOD— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604353684
Melania adds, again without evidence, that Trump supporters are afraid to wear MAGA merchandise and express who they are voting for.
Melania says Trump supporters are afraid of wearing Trump clothing or putting campaign signs in their yard for fear… https://t.co/cTVx0DkKOv— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604356472
Back in Florida, Obama tells voters to not be fooled by Trump's rhetoric about Biden being a socialist and points out some of the world leaders that the president has become pally with.
"Here in South Florida, you see these ads -- 'Joe palling with communists, palling with socialists' -- you'd think… https://t.co/C1PdsZiDAz— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604358551
Trump moves on to a rally in Traverse City, Michigan where a key point of discussion for him is NFL ratings and the sport's changing rules.
Trump's closing message is that there should be even more concussions in the NFL https://t.co/JCMCDgVO33— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604359491
Trump goes on a rant about officials not investigating Obama and Biden and claims "We have information. You wouldn’t even believe it."
Trump accuses Obama and Biden of treason, then mocks law enforcement officials who resist politicizing investigatio… https://t.co/D2sKWjV1Nm— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604359671
Speaking in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris says "we will confront, not condone, white supremacy" an issue which has blighted America under Trump's presidency.
Harris: "We will confront, not condone, white supremacy ... we will begin the work of healing and repairing and uni… https://t.co/dxb8braidM— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604367921
Over in Pittsburgh, Lady Gaga sings and speaks at a Biden rally, which is bound to delight Trump.
Lady Gaga walks out to Childish Gambino's "This Is America" to kick off her performance at tonight's Biden event. https://t.co/ZwskKW6PEh— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604368580
Lady Gaga at the Biden rally in Pittsburgh: "It's gonna be very clear what this country is, tomorrow, so you gotta… https://t.co/U6Om7N7ISM— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604368397
Trump's speech in Kenosha, Wisconsin starts with technical difficulties thanks to a broken mic stand.
"We're supposed to pay these people, right?" -- antifa is apparently running sound at Trump's rally in Kenosha, Wis… https://t.co/EN5ivlATUG— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604369264
"I'll give you the name of his company. Never use that company." -- Trump's Kenosha rally is still being beset by m… https://t.co/L5lGGIxeZV— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604369707
Meanwhile, Biden begins talking in Pittsburgh and strikes a resilient cry against Trump claiming he will "heal this country" if he is elected.
Biden in Pittsburgh: "My message is simple -- the power to change this country is in your hands, in your hands! ...… https://t.co/SiNY9LtJLy— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604369395
Biden also hits out at Trump's tax avoidance scandals saying "I'm sick of the wealthy guys gaming the system."
At his final rally in Philadelphia, Biden slams Trump in a fiery hit on his tax avoidance: "I'm sick of the wealt… https://t.co/8FuB2TxTTA— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604371849
Biden closes his last campaign speech by telling his supporters "We choose hope over fear. We choose unity over division. We choose science over fiction. And yes, we choose truth over lie lie after lie after lie."
Biden closes his last campaign speech with this: "Folks, everybody knows who Donald Trump is. Let's keep showing th… https://t.co/B2pCC4dvhe— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604372155
In contrast, Trump complains about doctors 'grabbing different parts of his body' during his bout with coronavirus.
Trump: “Each doctor grabbed a different part of my body and I said, ‘I don’t like this at all.’” Shit is getting w… https://t.co/7lw85VwCOY— The Recount (@The Recount) 1604372274
Trump is joined on stage by his eldest son Donald Jr and his partner Kimberly Guilfoyle whose unique selling point for voting this his dad is that they can "make liberals cry again."
Don Jr just summarized the goal Trumpism in one 12-second soundbite https://t.co/k3SIdydrtT— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604373081
Trump's potentially final stop as president was in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he begins by saying that Biden is "against God."
"He's against God" -- Trump on Joe Biden https://t.co/yOHqJ8eP0Z— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604379873
He also jokes that he won't speak to his children again if he loses.
Trump jokes that he won't speak to his kids anymore if he loses https://t.co/CQg2Xbl3Xe— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604380019
Trump accuses Obama and Biden of 'treason' and calls himself "the most innocent man anywhere in the history of the United States."
Individual 1 describes himself as "perhaps the most innocent man anywhere in the history of the United States." https://t.co/UdLi2uXE95— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604380656
Trump pats himself on the back for saving the suburbs and mocks ABC News reporter, Martha Raddatz.
Trump's closing message is that poor people will destroy the suburbs if Biden is elected and by the way Martha Radd… https://t.co/xtxMjgUDi0— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604381480
The president makes up an award called 'Michigan Man of the Year' which he claims that he won.
Reminder: The "Michigan Man of the Year" award Trump brags about winning here doesn't exist. He totally made it up. https://t.co/vcaGuX2D4p— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604381746
Trump claims, without irony, that he doesn't do 'tweeting' but instead does 'social media' which is definitely not the same thing.
Trump: I don’t do tweeting. What I do is social media https://t.co/AiNLzhJuog— Acyn (@Acyn) 1604382274
The president praises hundreds of his supporters who needlessly caused a traffic jam in New Jersey.
"Something today I read where 100 miles of cars all with the flag, the American flag, the whole Trump thing." -- Tr… https://t.co/1FZX3Zh0UR— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604382492
Trump suggests that if he loses the election he'll be "so angry, I'll never come back."
"I can't believe this is even happening ... the concept of losing to this guy. You better get out there and vote to… https://t.co/WaW5Ui0zcR— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604383298
Trump gets the music part of his speech where he calls out Republican rock star Ted Nugent and rapper Lil Pump, who gets on stage and says "MAGA 202020." That's not a typo.
"I love your sound. I love your music" -- Trump shouts out Ted Nugent, who threatened to kill Barack Obama and Hill… https://t.co/0iBvDcgdKZ— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604383442
Lil Pump gets on stage and says a few words in support of Trump https://t.co/3QIiR3tEpR— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604383535
Trump thanks Lil Pump but doesn't appear to know who he is and calls him 'Little Pimp' instead.
"One of the big superstars of the world -- Little Pimp!" https://t.co/UBjVP0QL45— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1604384007
Trump closes out potentially his last ever rally speech by repeating his routine MAGA spiel.
So there you go folks, four years and it all comes down to this. Who will America choose? We can only wait and see.