Donald Trump raises 25pc tariff threat for Mexico on poll’s eve

The Republican made the ­announcement, which would up-end North American free-trade deals, during the first of four rallies on the last full day of campaigning.

Donald Trump at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday. Picture: AFP

Donald Trump has promised to impose a tariff of at least 25 per cent on Mexican imports if he wins re-election unless the Mexican government stops illegal migrants entering the US.

The Republican made the ­announcement, which would up-end North American free-trade deals, during the first of four rallies on the last full day of campaigning.

“If they don’t stop this ­onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country I am going to immediately impose a 25 per cent tariff on everything they send into the United States of America … You’re the first ones I’ve told it to,” he told thousands of supporters at an arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, a critical and traditionally Republican state.

“If that doesn’t work, I’ll make it 50, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll make it 75 … then I’ll make it 100.”

It was the only major substantive policy announcement by the former president as he barnstormed through North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan, speaking for well over five hours in total.

Thousands of Trump supporters descended on the JS Dorton Arena on the outskirts of Raleigh, in the small hours of Monday morning to wait for the former president to speak at 10am.

A group of Chinese Americans, dressed in Trump paraphernalia and waiving a giant American flag, attracted considerable attention, while other Asian Americans ­paraded a giant Japanese flag alongside the American.

Chinese Americans supporting Trump at Raleigh. Picture: Adam Creighton

Local Elisia Cadorniga, who works in marketing, had arrived at 3.45am with her boyfriend, Austin Pivetta, to stake out an advanced spot. “For me, it’s about economy, and I like how he talks about human sex trafficking, it’s a massive issue that just goes unnoticed in this country,” she told The ­Australian. “He won the popular vote in the last election, and he has a lot more strength behind him now … I think he will win, but my biggest fear is it will take a few weeks to prove it,” she added, making the same highly disputed claim as Mr Trump about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.

Mr Trump strode onto the stage about 10.45am to wild cheers from his supporters in a venue that can hold 7600 people and which was about 80 per cent full. The crowd had earlier been was treated to the usual array of signature classic hits from the Village People, Neil Diamond and James Brown.

Sounding hoarse and looking tired after a punishing schedule of rallies, the former president barely used his teleprompter in what was a somewhat rambling address.

“That’s not rambling, it’s the ‘weave’ … the ultimate weave. Isn’t it nice that you can have a president that doesn’t need to use a teleprompter?” he joked with supporters, referring to a term he often uses to describe his characteristic speaking style.

Mr Trump, who mocked ­Kamala Harris in his remarks for her less busy schedule on the final full day of the campaign, ­addressed the crowd after warm-up speeches from his son Don Jr and his lawyer and adviser Alina Hubba.

He paused his speech half way to make way for a brief ­appearance by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Florida senator Marco Rubio.

Another attendee, Linda Laaper, a stay at home mum originally from California – “it’s not a place I wanted to raise my four kids” – said she started supporting Mr Trump after being disappointed with the presidency of Barack Obama, pointing out she had ­attending the infamous rally in Washington on January 6, 2021.

“It’s horrific how the media has portrayed that because we were there, they made it sounds like blood and violence, but I didn’t see any of that … It was such a patriotic day,” she told The Australian.

“I can’t get my head around how people could vote for Harris given the direction of the country.”