How Donald Trump plans to steal the limelight from Kamala Harris during the DNC

Donald Trump plans to flood the airwaves with rallies, press conferences and campaign events in a massive response to this week’s Democratic National Party Convention.

The former president will hold events in key swing states every day this week, and his running mate Sen. J.D. Vance also plans to hold events in the swing states on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday — and it will all culminate in a rally on Friday.

Meanwhile, Trump’s allies will hold press conferences each day of the DNC at the Trump Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

Republican alternates coming to town for the convention include Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.) and Ron Johnson (Wisc.) and Reps. Byron Donalds and Mike Waltz of Florida. Thursday’s news conference will feature a “surprise special guest.”

During a call with reporters, Trump’s campaign said they were “making sure we’re available” to the press, while Harris has not given a press conference or interview in nearly a month since announcing her candidacy.

As Democrats travel to Chicago for their convention to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for vice president for their 2024 ticket, Trump and Vance will visit all seven swing states that will determine the outcome in November.

“At the DNC, Kamala Harris will hide behind celebrities because ordinary families know she has been an unmitigated disaster for our country, and real Americans are worse off now than they were four years ago,” Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement about the counterprogramming.

“Harris has not answered media questions for 28 days because she cannot explain her history of supporting policies that cause inflation, bans on private health insurance, destroying American energy, and raising taxes,” they added. “As they meet Americans where they are in swing states across the country, President Trump and Senator Vance will remind voters that under their leadership, we can end inflation, protect our communities from violent criminals, secure the border, and make America great again.”

Trump will first head to York, Pennsylvania on Monday to focus on economic issues at an intimate event with about 150 people at a manufacturing warehouse. Senator Vance will also be in Pennsylvania on the first day of the DNC with about 200 factory workers and business owners in Philadelphia.

On the same day, President Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker for the DNC, after Reps. Harris and Walz officially nominate.

The United Center has cleared the way for the convention, which begins on Monday, August 18 and ends on Thursday, August 21.

On Tuesday, Trump heads to Detroit, Michigan for a meeting with 100 police officers and their families to discuss rising crime under Democratic leadership.

Vance will also focus on crime and safety at an event for crime victims in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday.

In Chicago, former President Barack Obama will deliver the keynote address after his wife and former first lady Michelle Obama delivers a speech.

Trump and Vance are scheduled to appear together on Wednesday for an event focused on national security at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Asheboro. It falls in the same month as the third anniversary of Biden’s botched troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.

Representative Donalds will also be at the rally, along with about 3,000 veterans, Gold Star families and elected officials, who will deliver speeches about preserving American sovereignty and military power.

Walz will continue the tradition of speaking and formally accepting his nomination as the Democratic vice presidential nominee on the penultimate day of the convention, and Harris will speak on Thursday.

Trump will head to the border on Thursday — the final day of the convention — for an immigration meeting in Montezuma Pass, Arizona, while his running mate will be in Valdosta, Georgia, to also focus on immigration issues at the local sheriff’s office.

Trump’s campaign says the week’s themes are purposefully aligned with the convention’s speakers.

When Biden and Hillary Clinton speak Monday, Trump’s campaign will focus on economic policy with “Make America Wealthy Again.”

While the Obamas speak Tuesday, the theme for Republicans is “Make America Safe Again.” And when Walz speaks Wednesday, Trump’s team will focus on national security and military strength with “Make America Strong Again.”

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be officially named the 2024 Democratic nominee during the DNC this week in Chicago, Illinois

When Harris finishes on Thursday, Trump and Vance will take aim at the vice president over her role as “border czar,” tasked with leading the Biden administration’s efforts to address migrant issues and secure the southern border.

After the DNC wraps up on Thursday, Trump continues his schedule with a stop in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will tout his tax-free gratuities proposal Friday morning. He will head back to Arizona that evening for a rally in Glendale.

Along the way, Trump and Vance will give reporters the opportunity to ask them questions, as the Republican candidates increasingly emphasize the contradiction between their press strategy and that of Harris-Walz.

Since taking over Biden’s campaign on July 21, Harris has not given any interviews or held a press conference with reporters.

Trump’s team has accused the media of giving Harris a “free pass” and covering her positively without her having to be interviewed, thereby prolonging the “honeymoon phase.”