Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House

The former president made the remarks during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Tal Axelrod, Meredith Deliso, David Brennan, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: November 4, 2024, 8:26 AM EST

With two days to go until Election Day, the candidates making in their final appeaks to voters over the weekend.

After popping up on "Saturday Night Live," Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign in battleground Michigan on Sunday. Former President Donald Trump is hitting three swing states on Sunday: Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news developed:
Nov 4, 4:26 am

More than 78 million Americans have voted early

As of 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, more than 77 million Americans have voted early, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

Of the total number of early votes, 42,654,364 were cast in person and 35,348,858 were returned by mail.

A man waits in line with other community members in East Tampa to enter the C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library at a early voting polling precinct to cast their ballots in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 2, 2024.
Octavio Jones/Reuters

Nov 03, 2024, 7:47 PM EST

Harris doesn't mention Trump by name during Michigan rally

While addressing a crowd of mostly young people on the Michigan State University campus, Vice President Kamala Harris chose to not mention her opponent, former President Donald Trump, by name.

The decision is something she hasn't often done since becoming the Democratic nominee for president.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak during a campaign rally at Jenison Field House on the campus of Michigan State University, Nov. 3, 2024, in East Lansing, Mich.
Paul Sancya/AP

A senior campaign official told ABC News it's part of a strategy to close out the race in a "fully positive" manner.

"So, Michigan, I am here to ask for your vote," Harris said at the East Lansing rally, just two days before Election Day.

"And here is my pledge to you: As president, I pledge to seek common ground and common-sense solutions to the challenges you face," she added. "I am not looking to score political points. I am looking to make progress."

Nov 03, 2024, 7:05 PM EST

Harris comments on Gaza, Lebanon during Michigan campaign rally

Vice President Kamala Harris opened her remarks in Michigan by acknowledging the ongoing war in the Middle East, saying, "It is devastating."

Harris held a rally at Michigan State University on Sunday with just two days left in the 2024 presidential race.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at Jenison Field House on the campus of Michigan State University, Nov. 3, 2024, in East Lansing, Mich.
Paul Sancya/AP

"This year has been difficult, given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and given the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon," Harris said.

The vice president said that if elected, she "will do everything" in her power to bring the conflict to an end.

"It is devastating, and as president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, to bring home the hostages, end the suffering in Gaza, ensure Israel is secure and ensure the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination," Harris said.

Nov 03, 2024, 6:39 PM EST

Trump loses crowd after arriving 2 hours late to North Carolina rally

At his second campaign stop of the day, former President Donald Trump lost the crowd after arriving two hours late to his rally -- with a massive number of people leaving just minutes into his speech.

It’s common to see supporters trickling out toward the end of his speeches, but the surge of supporters that headed for the exit at this rally, especially so early on, was unprecedented.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump dances at a campaign rally at Kinston Jet Center, Nov. 3, 2024, in Kinston, N.C.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Hundreds of people continued to leave the rally throughout his speech, even those seated in the prime bleacher spots right behind Trump. Seated sections noticeably thinned out, and the standing section only had a few rows of people.

Many people exiting said they were leaving early because they had other commitments to get to or had just been standing outside in the sun for too long.

-ABC News' Soorin Kim, Lalee Ibssa and Kelsey Walsh

Nov 03, 2024, 6:14 PM EST

Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House after last election

During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday, former President Donald Trump said that he "shouldn't have left" the White House after losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.

“I shouldn’t have left. I mean, honestly, because we did so, we did so well,” Trump said while discussing U.S.-Mexico border security.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, while stumping ahead of Gov. Tim Walz at a rally in metro Atlanta on Sunday, reacted to Trump's comments, saying "I couldn't believe it."

"Trump said he shouldn't have left the White House at the end of his term. He said that. He just said it an hour or so ago -- imagine that," Emhoff said.

"We need to take this very seriously right now. I mean, we're right at the end, and I know you all see that, and what we need to talk to some of these folks that just don't quite get it yet... what an actual threat this guy is, because you gotta listen to what he's saying," Emhoff added.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray