Former President Donald Trump continued his counterprogramming efforts during the Democratic National Convention week in Howell, Michigan, on Tuesday. His speech, intended to focus on crime and safety, frequently targeted Vice President Kamala Harris' prosecutorial record while reiterating his support for law enforcement.

"We're here today to discuss the alarming rise in crime that is unprecedented. Kamala is the most radical leftist ever considered for high office, let alone the presidency. People don't know the real Kamala, but I do," said Trump as law enforcement officials stood behind him.

However, once again, Trump's lack of focus prevented him from advocating for specific policy changes, which were expected of him during his speech.

According to speech experts obtained by
before Trump delivered his remarks, the former president was supposed to call for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers, advocate for stop-and-frisk policies, as well as making "it a felony for any medical professional to perform surgery on a minor without parental consent."

Trump, without offering evidence, painted a grim picture of America's future under the Harris-Walz ticket during his remarks. He argued that, in contrast, he would create a "crime-free America."

"Mothers will no longer lose their children due to weak, liberal policies and politicians who have abandoned their commitment to a crime-free America. We demand a crime-free America. We will eradicate violent crime in the United States. And individuals like these are exceptionally qualified to accomplish this, exceeding all others. They will uphold justice and fairness," stated Trump, commending the law enforcement officers present.

According to FBI data, during the first quarter of 2024, violent crime saw a 15.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Murder declined by 26.4%, rape by 25.7%, robbery by 17.8%, and aggravated assault by 12.5%.

The former president accused Harris of neglecting to address crime in the United States, seizing on her past comments about police funding to assert that, as president, she would "defund the police."

"She wants to dismantle law enforcement in general, and they ruin your lives, your jobs, and they ruin everything you've worked for, everything you've dreamed of making great," Trump said talking to the sheriffs. "You want to make our country great. When I'm president of the United States again, we will never even think about or mention the words defund the police."

In a series of interviews conducted amidst widespread demonstrations across the nation following the murder of George Floyd, where there was an increase in calls for police reform, Harris occasionally expressed support for some of the principles underlying the "defund the police" movement and advocated for a "reimagining" of policing nationwide.

Harris campaign spokesperson James Singer previously told
Harris has "supported increased funding to keep our communities safe and hold convicted felons like Trump accountable -- which is why America is currently seeing a near 50-year low in violent crime."

Trump also emphasized Harris's support for eliminating cash bail, arguing it led to a surge in crime. He then drew a connection between the protestors arrested during the murder of George Floyd and the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol by a Trump-led mob.

"When violent mobs of looters and anarchists attempted to destroy Minneapolis in 2020, Kamala Harris raised money to release the arsonists, rioters, and killers on bail. People were killed. Many people were killed," said Trump.

"Compare that to J6, no one lost their life. No one was killed. There were no fires started. They ravaged the city. They were setting Minneapolis ablaze. And she stepped in. And not only did she show some support, she actively supported them. She worked to get them released and to make them– to set them free," Trump asserted falsely, as lives were lost on Jan 6.

Amidst protests in Minnesota, Harris urged her supporters to contribute to a bail fund for those arrested after bond on the social media platform Twitter, now known as X. Republicans have frequently cited this post in their criticisms.

On Tuesday, Trump pledged to "make a substantial investment in recruiting, retaining, and training police officers," further accusing Democrats of neglecting the well-being of officers.

At one point, while commending Michigan law enforcement, Trump expressed his desire to have them present during the election in "various parts of your state" to ensure things remain "under control" similar to their efforts in their home areas.

"I don't want to specify particular locations, but I can think of a major one in this state. I'd love to have them deployed there during the election, I can tell you."

The former president said he wouldn't explicitly name specific locations, but throughout the campaign he has consistently criticized voting procedures in predominantly Democratic areas such as Detroit.

Trump's visit to Howell has faced criticism from the Harris campaign, who are capitalizing on reports of demonstrations last month in the city. During these demonstrations, masked individuals marched through the downtown area, chanting "We love Hitler. We love Trump," according to local newspaper Livingston Daily.

This march occurred on the same day Trump was campaigning in Grand Rapids, just 100 miles west of Howell. Two demonstrations took place, with at least a dozen individuals waving flags displaying swastikas, the term "KKK", and other antisemitic messaging, and chanting "Heil Hitler," Livingston Daily reported.

However, Trump isn't the only presidential candidate to hold a campaign event in Howell. Notably, President Joe Biden also visited the town in 2021 to discuss infrastructure.

On Wednesday, as Trump was concluding his speech, a reporter asked him about the criticism he received for holding a campaign rally in Howell. Trump responded with a playful: "Who was here in 2021?"

"Joe Biden," the reporter replied, prompting laughter from Trump, who then left.

The Harris campaign criticized Trump for not explicitly condemning the protesters.

"Today, Donald Trump refused to condemn white supremacists who marched in his name," said Harris-Walz Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika in a statement to
. "Donald Trump can't bring us together so he tries to drive us apart. The American people will reject his failed leadership and divisive agenda this November."

Livingston County, where Howell is located, is one of the few counties surrounding the liberal Detroit metropolitan area that has consistently remained a Republican stronghold in recent elections.

While several neighboring counties in southeast Michigan gradually shifted towards the Republican party over time, Livingston County became increasingly solidly Republican. Trump secured more than 60% of the vote in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Howell, with a white population of about 96%, significantly higher than Michigan's overall white population of 73%, has had a "complex past" when it comes to race, the Livingston Daily reported last month.

The local newspaper recounted the town's history of racial tensions, tracing them from the 1800s to the present. This includes notorious Ku Klux Klan member Robert Miles' violent rallies and protests in the 1960s and 70s, and recurring racial accusations that have emerged in recent years.