Donald Trump Attacked in Pennsylvania's Largest Newspaper on Election Day

Former President Donald Trump has been heavily criticized by the biggest newspaper in the key swing state of Pennsylvania in an editorial published on Election Day.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, which has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race, warned that Trump's "dark and deranged campaign—fueled by anger, lies, racism, hate, and misogyny—demonstrated he is unfit" for another term in office.

"Regardless of what many of his MAGA followers believe, a second Trump presidency is perilous for red and blue America," the editorial board wrote on Tuesday.

Newsweek has contacted the Trump and Harris campaign teams for comment via email.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has the largest circulation of any Pennsylvania newspaper, and ranked 18th in the country overall in 2023, according to Press Gazette figures. The Keystone State is considered the most vital of all the battleground states this election, with its 19 Electoral College votes key to both Harris' and Trump's election hopes.

Harris' clearest path to victory in November would be to win the three blue wall battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, barring any shock results elsewhere. Trump's most efficient path to 270 Electoral College votes would be to win the swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and flipping Pennsylvania. Polls suggest that Pennsylvania remains a toss-up.

Former President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 4, 2024.The Philadelphia Inquirer has criticized Trump in an editorial published on Election Day. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board listed a number of reasons why voters should not want Trump to return to the White House.

"Trump's previous chaotic term ended with a mismanaged pandemic and a violent insurrection," the board wrote.

"Many who worked closely with Trump—including his former vice president [Mike Pence]—are not supporting him and have warned he is a danger. Trump has talked about being a dictator on Day One."

The board also warned Trump's economic plans are an "enormous" risk which would involve "massive tax cuts for the rich and corporations that will drive up deficits, reignite inflation, and increase inequality."

"His radical plan to impose tariffs will increase prices on everything from cars to computers to clothes," the board said. "Trump's costly plan to deport millions of migrants will cause economic upheaval, as well."

The Philadelphia Inquirer spoke out against the former president's foreign policies, attacking how Trump "continues to side with dictators and criticize NATO" and will "likely ignore Russia's war crimes" during its invasion of Ukraine.

"At every turn, Trump works against the best interests of America."

The paper's board concluded by suggesting Harris will "unite the country" while praising the vice president's economic plans and fight for women's rights.

"Best of all, a vote for Harris will move the country one small step closer to the founders' vision of a more perfect union, and one giant leap away from the division and tumult of Trump," the board wrote.

"History hangs in the balance. Vote wisely."

Philadelphia is a Democratic stronghold and has a population of more than 1.5 million people. President Joe Biden beat Trump in Philadelphia in the 2020 election with 81 percent of the vote, and won Pennsylvania overall by 1.2 points.

Forecasting and polling aggregator 538 has Harris and Trump tied in Pennsylvania, with the vice president's polling average marginally ahead of the Republican by 0.2 points (47.9 percent to 47.7).

Nate Silver, who founded 538 and now uses a similar forecasting model for his Silver Bulletin blog, has Trump with an even narrower 0.1-point average lead in Pennsylvania as of Tuesday morning (48.2 percent to 48.1).