Trump makes appeal to seniors over economy: 'they have destroyed you'

Former President Donald Trump on Friday night attempted to appeal to senior voters in Reno, Nevada, by claiming that the Democratic Party "destroyed" them by ruining the economy with high inflation while seniors are still on a fixed income.

The speech comes as Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris focus their campaigns on seven critical swing states ahead of next month's presidential election. The election appears to largely be coming down to Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Trump joked that he was "not a senior" for at least 10-15 more years, despite being 78-years-old, and said that he would eliminate taxes on things like social security and help build the economy back up.

"For the seniors, think of it. You've been destroyed on fixed incomes with inflation, they have destroyed you because of energy and because of the way they spent, like so stupidly, on the green new scam," Trump told the crowd. "But you've been destroyed. Now, we have no tax on Social Security benefits for seniors. We owe that to you."

The former president focused his message on the economy, urging Nevadans to vote for him because he would "end" inflation, boost wages, and reduce taxes.

"You're going to be so much more prosperous, you're going to be more secure, you're going to be safer. You can have a much better life," Trump said. "Under Kamala, it will be massive inflation, massive layoffs, massive tax hikes and massive misery and depression. Kamala Harris will kill the American dream."

The economy is considered one of Trump's strongest subjects as a long-time businessman, and is rated as one of the Harris-Walz campaign's weakest topics. Harris has, however, proposed an "opportunity economy" that would focus on tax cuts and relief for the middle class.

"The most practical thing we can do right now is to cut taxes for middle class families and individuals, and that's what we will do under my plan. More than 100 million Americans will get a middle class tax break," Harris promised in a speech last month. 

"[That] includes $6,000 for new parents during the first year of their child's life," she continued. "We'll also cut the cost of childcare and elder care, and finally, give all working people access to paid leave, which will help everyone caring for children, caring for aging parents And that sandwich generation, which is caring for both."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage