Donald Trump’s campaign has raised eyebrows after making an unexpected adjustment to his schedule just weeks before Election Day. On Friday, Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Greg Bluestein reported that Trump canceled a keynote address at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Georgia, opting instead for a roundtable with Latino voters in Florida.
The sudden change sparked a wave of speculation on social media, with many questioning the strategy behind the move. Critics suggested that it may be an attempt to recover from Trump’s recent town hall with Univision, which some viewed as less than successful. A screen capture of one of the town hall participants, who seemed dissatisfied with Trump’s response, circulated online as part of the conversation.
Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried weighed in, tweeting, “Trump canceled an NRA event in GA to go to FL and pander to Latino voters. Seems like someone is worried about FL and the Latino vote nationally.” This sentiment was echoed by others who were puzzled by Trump’s focus on Florida—a state many political analysts consider a safe win for him.
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A Strategic Gamble or an Overcorrection?
National security lawyer Bradley P. Moss expressed confusion over Trump’s decision to prioritize Florida at this stage in the campaign. “WTF is he doing wasting time in Florida? If he wins this thing, it won’t be because of 2016-like focus on repeated events in battlegrounds,” Moss commented on X, formerly known as Twitter.
While Trump has enjoyed strong support from Florida’s Latino voters in the past, many analysts believe the state is already a lock for him. However, some speculate that the campaign sees the need to solidify Latino support, particularly in Miami, a region with a significant Cuban-American voter base.
Kamala Harris’ rapid response director, Ammar Moussa, also seemed perplexed, tweeting an eyes-looking emoji and stating, “Two weeks out from election day and Trump will be in … Florida.”
Florida in Play?
Allen Orr Jr., an immigration attorney and past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), offered a different perspective. Orr suggested that Trump’s schedule shift could indicate the campaign’s belief that “Florida is in play.” Although many pundits are certain that Trump will carry Florida, the focus on Latino voters highlights the crucial role this demographic could play in the outcome of the election nationwide.
Adding to the urgency of Trump’s decision, early voting has already started in Georgia, with over 1 million ballots cast. Meanwhile, most counties in Florida will begin voting on Monday, October 21, giving the campaign limited time to make an impact on undecided voters in these key states.
