OAKS, Pa. — Donald Trump’s “town hall” gathering last night in this Philadelphia suburb strayed from concerning to outright strange, even for a leader more focused on sensationalism than substance.

This event was part of the Republican presidential candidate’s bleak tour. You’ve likely heard this narrative before. In Trump’s overly simplified view of America, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are to blame for the nation’s decline.

He reiterated his plan to supposedly revive the economy by deporting millions and promoting increased oil drilling.

However, two individuals in the crowded venue seemed to experience heat exhaustion, causing a 20-minute interruption in the rally. The moderator, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, appeared unsure of how to move forward.

The former president took charge, urging his team to play recorded music, as if he were casually asking a smart speaker to play songs by Luciano Pavarotti, Elvis Presley, and more.

“Would anyone else like to faint?” Trump quipped as the second person was escorted out and the audience began to dwindle. He remained on stage, dancing to the music while some in the crowd stayed to observe.

Trump’s light-hearted campaign demeanor contrasted with the increasingly dark tone of his messages.

Trump has escalated his fear tactics right on time

The atmosphere of the campaign seems to be focused solely on supporters, while most other presidential candidates would be working to attract undecided voters.

Harris is aware of this, and her campaign is actively improving upon her previously limited policy positions. She held a more conventional rally in Erie, located on the opposite side of Pennsylvania, that same evening.

Trump has consistently shown little ability or desire to present detailed plans. For nearly ten years he has campaigned on a platform focused on dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Yet, during a recent debate, when asked what he would replace it with, he hesitantly mentioned having “concepts of a plan.”

Trump’s straightforward strategy now seems to hinge on escalating feelings of fear and animosity, trying to create division while still positioning himself as the sole remedy for those issues.

Will this approach resonate with voters again, as it did in 2016? Or will it alienate undecided voters, reminiscent of 2020?

Trump routinely repeats the same falsehoods at his rallies

Let’s quickly fact-check some of the common inaccuracies Trump repeats at his rallies, including this town hall before it became notably bizarre.

He depicts a country overwhelmed by illegal immigration. To reinforce this narrative, Trump often makes grossly inaccurate statements about places like Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, despite local Republican leaders urging him to refrain from such misleading comments.

Fact: Detentions of migrants at the southern border decreased again last month, reaching levels similar to those during Trump’s presidency.

He also holds Biden and Harris personally accountable for inflation, specifically targeting grocery and gas prices.

Fact: Inflation recently hit a three-year low.

Moreover, Trump insists that any economic challenges faced by Americans can be resolved using his simplistic “drill, baby, drill” solution.

Fact: U.S. oil production is currently at an all-time high during Biden’s presidency.

Clearly, the simplistic solutions Trump offers fall apart under scrutiny. This might explain his disdain for fact-checking.

Trump, now a convicted criminal, keeps branding Harris a criminal

Trump appears to be feeling anxious lately, resorting to desperate tactics as the election approaches in three weeks. His actions seem designed to divert attention.

He received backlash for withdrawing from a CBS News interview on “60 Minutes.” On Thursday, Trump erupted on his social media platform, Truth Social, insisting that Harris “should be forced to concede” the election because “60 Minutes” edited her answers.

Kamal Harris, who will celebrate her 60th birthday next week, visited North Carolina this Sunday and criticized Trump, who is 78, for lacking transparency regarding his health records.

Meanwhile, Trump was on Fox News, where he answered Maria Bartiromo’s queries about possible election violence by blaming it on “radical left lunatics,” suggesting they could be dealt with by the National Guard or, if necessary, the military.

Trump has valid reasons to feel anxious. He has already been sentenced on 34 felony charges in New York related to his fraudulent business practices. Additionally, he faces a federal trial in Washington for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing that case, is also working to recharge another federal charge against Trump for retaining and refusing to return classified documents.

If Trump were to become president and appoint an attorney general of his choosing, those federal cases could be dismissed. However, they would likely continue if Harris were to win the presidency.

Due to this, during a campaign stop in Aurora on Friday, Trump labeled Harris as a “criminal” for the Biden administration’s approach to migrants and issues along the southern border.

If you listen closely to Trump, you can catch the underlying fears he projects onto others. This is similar to how his campaign’s peculiar choice of music was used to divert attention from the unusual situation during his dwindling rallies.