It was talk show great Oprah Winfrey who issued the most dire warning about former President Donald Trump winning Tuesday’s election during a star-studded rally in support of Vice President Kamala Harris late Monday night in Philadelphia.
“If we don’t show up tomorrow, it’s entirely possible we’ll never get the chance to vote again,” Winfrey warned the crowd, who waited for hours for a lineup that included Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Will.i .am, Fat Joe and the Roots.
Winfrey told Democrats: “Any worry and fear you feel, you feel because you feel the danger.”
“And you change that with your vote,” she said. “You are voting for healing over hate.”
Nearly every metric shows Tuesday’s presidential race between Harris and Trump will be a nail-biter as seven battleground states will decide who gets to move into the White House in January.
Oprah Winfrey (left) issued the most dire warning about former President Donald Trump’s re-election on Monday evening at the final rally of 2024 in support of Vice President Kamala Harris at the ‘Rocky Steps’ in front of the Museum of Art in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania is the prize, and Harris spent her last day on the campaign trail hopping around the Keystone State, with her final stop in Philly at the foot of the “Rocky Steps,” in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Democratic nominee walked onto the stage hand-in-hand with Winfrey and spoke openly about the symbol of that city and place.
“It’s good to be back in the City of Brotherly Love, where the foundation of our democracy was laid,” Harris said. “And here, at these famous steps, a tribute to those who start as the underdog and rise to victory.”
If Harris wins the White House, it will be a remarkable end to one of the most dramatic presidential elections in modern history. She was given just 13 weeks to try to defeat Trump, who announced his 2024 election earlier than any candidate ever.
The Democrat did it with plenty of Hollywood clout — with a surprise performance from Will.I.Am and a patriotic salute from Lady Gaga, who also knocked Harris’ supporters out of the park on Benjamin Franklin Parkway with her hit The Edge of Glory.
“Today I carry in my heart all the tough, tenacious women who made me who I am,” Lady Gaga told the crowd. “I cast my vote for someone who will be a president for all Americans, and now, Pennsylvania, it’s your turn. The country depends on you.”
Gaga’s own father has publicly spoken out in support of Trump.
Lady Gaga performed God Bless America and asked Pennsylvanians to vote Vice President Kamala Harris president. “The country depends on you,” the pop star said
Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris stand on the iconic ‘Rocky Steps’ in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to mark the Democratic nominee’s final campaign rally before Election Day
Fat Joe spoke Monday night at Vice President Kamala Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia, where he called out former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement for disparaging comments about Latinos
The pop star played God Bless America before introducing second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Earlier in the evening, Bronx-born rapper Fat Joe — who is of both Puerto Rican and Cuban descent — criticized former Trump and his MAGA allies for insulting not only Puerto Ricans, but also Haitians and Mexican-Americans.
“I heard they needed a Puerto Rican in Philadelphia!” Fat Joe said as he took the stage on the famous “Rocky Steps” outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Fat Joe appeared in Philadelphia on Monday night as part of Vice President Kamala Harris’ final campaign rally.
He introduced Ricky Martin — another Puerto Rican who has become more vocal in his support of the Democratic candidate after last week’s rally at Madison Square Garden, where a Trump-affiliated comedian called the U.S. territory a “floating pile of trash.”
Fat Joe argued to all Latinos: ‘Where’s your pride? When is enough enough?’
‘Tonight I will be short and sweet. It’s all about pride,” he said. “A few years ago, when I saw Donald Trump come down the escalator and call my Mexican brothers and sisters drug dealers, he clearly didn’t know the contributions of Mexican-Americans to this country.”
He then recalled how Trump threw paper towels “like they were basketballs” at Puerto Ricans in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Maria.
Ricky Martin shakes his hips during an appearance Monday night in Philadelphia as part of Vice President Kamala Harris’ final rally before Election Day. Martin is one of a few prominent Puerto Ricans who have become more active with the Harris campaign after the rally at Madison Square Garden
Jazmine Sullivan performed early in the night in Philadelphia, singing a cover of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On
‘A few weeks ago I looked at these people again. They told my Haitian brothers and sisters that they were eating cats and dogs,” Fat Joe continued.
He then turned to Madison Square Garden and called it a “hate rally.”
“I gotta let you know that I’m the guy they kicked out of the comedy show because I laugh too much. I think I’m going to die laughing. I find everything funny. But when they get there and call Puerto Rico an island of trash, tell me how you really feel, huh?”
“I didn’t think that was a joke,” the rapper continued. “Disrespected Jewish people, black people, talking about cutting watermelons. I mean, this has gotten out of hand, but I asked my people… where’s your pride?’
Harris’ supporters lined up for hours to enter the rally site, located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s iconic “Rocky Steps.”
At some points during the night, other rallies held around the country were beamed onto the jumbotrons.
It didn’t always go smoothly.
Crowds of Vice President Kamala Harris’ supporters wait in line to pass through security to appear at her final rally of the 2024 presidential campaign cycle in Philadelphia Monday evening
Hours before Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in Philadelphia on Monday evening, supporters lined up for her final rally of the 2024 campaign cycle
At one point, DJ Cassidy said attendees would see vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s remarks Monday in Milwaukee.
It took a moment before Walz’s words could be heard.
Another longer delay occurred when DJ Cassidy announced that audiences in Philadelphia would get to see what’s happening in Pittsburgh.
The screens didn’t immediately show the western Pennsylvania scene, so DJ Cassidy was forced to dance onstage to Black and Yellow.
Finally, they were beamed into Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia audience watched Cedric the Entertainer’s introduction of Harris – and Harris’ speech.
Additionally, the crowd in Philadelphia could hear Katy Perry – the headliner of the rally and concert in Pittsburgh – being introduced, but the sound cut out before Perry began her first song.
The audio turned back on before Perry started her second tune – Part of Me – but cut off again before she packed up.
Later that night, the Philly crowd started shouting “noooo!” to shout. when the audio briefly cut out during Jon Bon Jovi’s performance, which took place in Detroit.
Then they sang along to Livin’ on a Prayer.
As 11 p.m. approached, those in the Philly crowd also began to grow concerned.
“Take her outside!” shouted a female supporter. “Where’s Gaga?” shouted another.
The crowd then started shouting “Philly!” to try to bring the action to the Philadelphia stage.