WASHINGTON DC, USA – With Election Day one day away, senior campaign officials for Vice President Kamala Harris voiced confidence that former President Donald Trump’s attempts to disrupt the transition process will fail.
Unlike 2020, they noted, Trump is no longer in office, which limits his ability to mobilise resources or influence key security agencies.
One senior Harris campaign official said the campaign is “ready for it” if Trump tries to replicate his post-2020 tactics, noting that extensive security measures have been in the works to protect the integrity of the election results.
Planning for election security has been underway for months, with the U.S. Secret Service collaborating with federal, state, and local law enforcement to prevent incidents similar to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, according to Eric Ranaghan, head of the Secret Service’s Dignitary Protective Division.
“To get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much.” It’s gone beyond jailing journalists, now Trump fantasizes about them being shot. (Video: C-SPAN) pic.twitter.com/900duyQ6IA
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 3, 2024
Trump’s Campaign Rhetoric Raises Concerns
Over the weekend, Trump stoked tensions, falsely claiming that states were “adding 12 more days to the election” and alleging that voters dressed in suits and ties were being denied entry to polling places.
Harris campaign officials called the statements “unhinged” and warned that Trump’s rhetoric is meant to cast doubt on election integrity, even as voting is still underway.
One Harris aide highlighted recent Trump comments that the Harris campaign sees as escalating the former president’s “darkness and anger.”
The aide pointed to Trump’s jokes about gun violence toward the media and disparaging remarks about former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney, whom he said should be “standing there with nine barrels shooting at her.”
Cheney, a prominent critic of Trump, recently endorsed Harris, amplifying Trump’s attacks.
Early Voting Trends Provide Encouragement for Harris Campaign
With voting already underway, Harris’s team remains optimistic, citing strong early turnout from women and college students in key battleground states.
“Obviously and ultimately this is a very close race,” said one Harris official.
“But we currently have a president in the White House who respects elections, respects the will of voters, and instead of supporting a coup, will use the federal government to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition of power.”
January 6, 2025: A “National Special Security Event”
To avoid the chaos seen in 2021, President Biden’s administration has designated January 6, 2025—a day when Congress will meet to certify the election results—a “National Special Security Event.”
Unlike January 6, 2021, when Trump controlled the D.C. National Guard but did not deploy it during the Capitol attack, this time federal agencies will work under Biden’s command to secure the certification process.
As election day draws near, Harris’s campaign team expressed confidence that they will not only be prepared for potential post-election challenges but that their candidate has positioned herself as a trustworthy leader committed to upholding the democratic process.
