LITTZ, Pennsylvania. – Donald Trump delivered a blasphemous, conspiracy-laden speech two days before the presidential election, talking about journalists being shot and suggesting he “shouldn’t have left” the White House after his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

In remarks Sunday that bore no resemblance to his usual speech during the final stretch of the campaign, the former president repeatedly questioned the integrity of the vote and resurrected old grievances about being sued after trying to overturn his defeat four years ago. Trump has stepped up his verbal attacks on “grossly incompetent” national leaders and the U.S. media, at one point directing his rally in Pennsylvania to the theme of violence against members of the press.

The GOP White House nominee pointed to ballistic glass placed in front of him at events after a gunman’s attempted assassination in July at a rally in Butler, Pa., and Trump spoke about the locations where he saw openings in this protection.

“I have this piece of glass here,” he said. “But all we have here is fake news. And to catch me, someone would have to debunk the fake news. And it doesn’t bother me that much.

It was the second time in recent days that Trump has spoken about guns being pointed at people he considers enemies. he suggested Former Rep. Liz Cheney, a prominent Republican critic, would not be willing to support foreign wars if she had “nine barrels shooting at her.”

His remarks also reflect the fact that with less than 48 hours until Election Day, Trump continues to promote lies about the election and claims he can only lose to Democrat Kamala Harris if he is deceived, even if the Polls suggest a close race.

Some of his allies, including former chief strategist Steve Bannon, have encouraged him to prematurely declare victory on Tuesday, even though the race is too early to call. That’s what Trump did four years ago, launching a process of fighting the election results that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

His campaign then sought to clarify his point by talking about the media.

“President Trump spoke brilliantly about two assassination attempts on his own life, including one that nearly killed him, something the media constantly talks about and jokes about,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said. in a press release. . “The president’s statement regarding the placement of protective glass has nothing to do with harm to the media, or anything else.”

Harrismeanwhile, told a congregation at a Michigan church Sunday that God offers America a “divine plan strong enough to heal division.”

The two leading candidates struck very different tones as the campaign drew to a close, with Harris saying voters could reject “chaos, fear and hatred.”

She was focused on Michigan, starting the day with a few hundred parishioners from Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. It was the fourth consecutive Sunday that Harris, who is Baptist, spoke to a black congregation, reflecting how critical black voters are in several battleground states.

“I see faith in action in remarkable ways,” she said in remarks quoting the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. “I see a nation determined to turn the page on hatred and division and chart a new path forward. When I travel, I see Americans from so-called red states and so-called blue states who are willing to bend the arc of history toward justice. »

She never mentioned Trump, although she is sure to return to her more conventional partisan speech during stops later Sunday. But Harris told his friendly audience that “there are those who seek to deepen division, to sow hatred, to sow fear and to cause chaos.” The election and “this moment in our nation,” she continued, “must be about much more than partisan politics. It has to be about the good work we can do together.

Harris finished her remarks in about 11 minutes — beginning and ending during Trump’s roughly 90-minute speech at a cold outdoor rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump usually jumps from one topic to another, discursive style that he called “weaving”. But outside Lancaster Airport, he walked long distances and barely mentioned his usual points about the economy, immigration and rote criticism of Harris.

Trump also called John Bolton, his former national security adviser and now a vocal critic, a “stupid son of an ab…”. And he repeated familiar, debunked theories about voter fraud, alleging that Democrats could only win by cheating. Public polls indicate a close and competitive race in battleground states that will determine the Electoral College outcome.

“This is a crooked country,” Trump said. “And we’re going to set the record straight. We’re going to set the record straight.”

Harris objected to Trump’s characterizations of the U.S. election, telling reporters after the church service that Trump’s comments “are intended to distract from the fact that we have and support free and fair elections in our country.” Those “good systems” were in place in 2020, Harris said, and “he lost.”

The vice president said she had confidence in the upcoming vote count and urged voters, “especially those who have not yet cast their ballots, not to fall for this tactic, which I think includes suggesting to people that if they vote, their vote won’t matter. »

Separately, the vice president tacitly acknowledged the importance of Michigan’s Arab American population and voters in that community who are angry at the Biden administration for continuing the U.S. alliance with Israel amid the war of the Netanyahu government against Hamas in Gaza.

“I have been very clear that the level of mortality of innocent Palestinians is unconscionable,” Harris told reporters Sunday after the church service. “We must end the war and get the hostages out. And as President of the United States, I will do everything in my power to achieve that goal. »

Trump, for his part, acknowledged that he was circumventing his usual approach with his conspiratorial rhetoric. He repeatedly mentioned how he ignored the advice of his aides, telling their side of the story in a mocking voice and insisting he had to talk about election fraud.

Susie Wiles, co-campaign manager long credited with bringing order to Trump’s often chaotic political operations, watched the former president silently from the stage.

Trump suggested at one point that he would not deliver this version of his speech again: “I hope you enjoyed this,” he said, “because I only do it once.” »

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Superville reported from Detroit, Barrow from Washington and Cooper from Phoenix.