OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Arizona Police Association President Justin Harris got a curtain call during a speech as attendees started chanting for former President Donald Trump to speak instead.
Guest speakers often speak at Trump events and are usually the first ones that people hear before the main event. But sometimes, a person will come on stage with Trump. At Trump’s rally in Glendale, Arizona, Harris took the stage to make an important statement while Trump stood right behind him the whole time.
In his introduction of Harris, Trump joked that his last name was the same as his opponent’s and said, “I will always back our law enforcement heroes in blue.” Trump often calls the people who were arrested on January 6 “patriots” and “hostages.”
Harris spent about 11 minutes making his case before his group backed him. People in the room were getting antsy and making noise, so Trump told Harris to hurry up: “Gotta go!” Need to go!”
While the crowd yelled for Trump, Harris said he was almost done before speaking for two more minutes before handing the stage to Trump:
DONALD TRUMP: I will always back our law enforcement heroes in blue!
We are pleased to be joined tonight by the president of the Arizona Police Association, Justin Harris. Oh, no, he’s not a relation. Justin, you a relation?
Last name is Harris spelled the same. I’m very concerned about this. I’m not really, but Justin Harris is a great gentleman who has a special announcement. Justin, would you please come up? Thank you. It’s just — I’m not worried about it.
JUSTIN HARRIS: Well, good evening everyone. I’m a little concerned about that illegal immigration chart you put out there. Yeah. Was that a spike in immigration or the inflation? Sort of both. Right?
…
JUSTIN HARRIS: Illegal drugs are flowing into this country at an alarming rate, with only 5% being intercepted at the border.
DONALD TRUMP: Gotta go! Gotta go!
CROWD: We love you Trump! TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP!
JUSTIN HARRIS: Let me finish up here, please. This country, our family, our communities, and everything that each of us holds dear and near to our hearts cannot endure another four years of a clueless president who cares more about the color of our curtains than the safety and prosperity of our great country, its people.
It is clear who supports law enforcement, law and order, and that’s President Trump.
…
On track and making America great again. Vote Donald J. Trump for president. And this is why the Arizona Police Association and our 12,000 members, family and friends, are proud to extend our endorsement to Donald J. Trump for president of the United States of America. Thank you. God bless.
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. Wow, that’s a great endorsement. Means a lot.
WATCH:
‘Gotta Go! Gotta Go!’ Trump Rushes Cop Speech As Fans At Rally Get Restless — Chant For ‘Trump!’ https://t.co/FmAoEZQwNl via @mediaite pic.twitter.com/QSB788jDVH
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) August 27, 2024
This comes as a new survey found that nearly 40% of Americans are worried about being able to pay all of their bills on time, a higher percentage than during the Great Recession of 2008-09.
A CNN poll revealed that 39% of Americans are concerned about consistently paying their bills, a 33% increase from the peak of Bidenflation and exceeding the 37% during the 2008 crisis, when unemployment was nearly 10%, the outlet reported, citing the polling results.
Inflation during the Biden-Harris administration has reached new heights in the modern era, and while it has eased somewhat in recent months, it remains stubbornly high, raising the costs of food, gasoline, housing, and other basic amenities like utilities. CNN added that “consumers are still trying to catch up to the price spikes of the last few years.”
The Daily Signal, citing the survey, added:
Still trying to catch up is an understatement. The gap between nominal wages and inflation-adjusted wages since 2021 is more than 20%. So, it looks like you’re making a lot more, but even accounting for official inflation, workers have lost thousands in income.
Of course, if official inflation is a lie, which seems likely, going by real-world prices from housing to restaurants and groceries, then workers have lost a lot more.
To illustrate, official inflation since COVID-19 is 21%, but fast-food menu prices—a standard finance proxy for true inflation—are up more than twice that, while housing costs have doubled since COVID-19, between rising house prices and rising mortgage rates.
If those real-world numbers are closer to true inflation, then workers have lost potentially thousands per month.
CNN reported that 35 percent of respondents, or over one-third, have had to take on additional part-time work to make ends meet. This includes 44% of Black individuals, 52% of Latinos, and nearly half of workers under age 45.
“That explains why jobs are rising on paper, yet the actual number of employed Americans is plunging—down 600,000 in the past eight months alone,” the Daily Signal added.
The poll also revealed that over two-thirds of Americans are reducing their grocery spending, and almost half are driving less to save on gas.
Furthermore, 4 in 10 Americans use credit cards to cover essential expenses such as groceries and gas.