Harris emphasizes transparency and accountability while urging Trump to join the electoral conversation

Vice President Kamala Harris took aim at former President Donald Trump during a rally at East Carolina University on Sunday, highlighting his reluctance to disclose personal medical records and engage in political debates.

Harris’s remarks came as she seeks to galvanise support in a key battleground state where Trump currently holds a narrow lead in the polls. “He refuses to release his medical records. I’ve done it. Every other presidential candidate in the modern era has done it,” Harris stated, contrasting her own transparency with Trump’s evasiveness. “He is unwilling to meet for a second debate,” she added, referencing Trump’s refusal to commit to further discussions before the upcoming election.

In a recent move to demonstrate her own fitness for office, Harris publicly released her medical history, asserting she is in “excellent health” and possesses the physical and mental resilience necessary for the presidency. Trump, aged 78, had previously stated in August that he would “very gladly” make his medical records public; however, he has yet to do so.

Harris questioned the reasoning behind Trump’s absence from the public eye, implying that his staff might be concerned about revealing his “weak and unstable” condition. “Why does his staff want him to hide away?” she pressed. “It makes you wonder.”

The Vice President also condemned Trump for what she described as the serious implications of his return to the White House, stating, “I do believe Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the effects of him being back in the White House would be brutally serious.” The crowd responded with chants of “Lock him up,” to which Harris replied, urging attendees to let the courts manage such matters while focusing on the upcoming election.

Harris did not shy away from addressing the impact of recent hurricanes either, calling out Trump for spreading disinformation during the crisis following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Her comments resonated with rally attendees, many of whom wore illuminated wristbands and held signs advocating for voting rights and participation.

In the lead-up to the election, early voting in North Carolina begins Thursday, and the campaign is keen on mobilising voter turnout. Harris shared the stage with Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) and Rachel Hunt, a candidate for North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, who both spoke passionately about the importance of engagement and community support.

Current polling shows Trump leading Harris by a slim margin of 0.7 percentage points in North Carolina. The state has been a Republican stronghold, with Trump having won it in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. The last time a Democrat secured a victory in North Carolina was under former President Obama in 2008.

Earlier in the day, Harris attended a Sunday service in Greenville, where she made a heartfelt appeal to Black voters, discussing the need for unity and collective action, and reinforcing the biblical teachings of helping those in need.