By Fatma Younis
Former President Donald Trump made a rare reference to Jeffrey Epstein during a campaign rally as part of dueling midterm election events with former President Barack Obama. The competing appearances highlighted the contrasting styles of the two former presidents ahead of the congressional elections.
Trump raises Epstein at rally
Trump broke his usual pattern of avoiding public discussion of Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019. The comment came during a rally supporting Republican candidates in the midterm contests.
Obama addresses Cheesecake Factory remark
At a separate rally for Democratic candidates, Obama responded lightheartedly to what was described as "Cheesecake Factory drama," drawing laughter from the crowd. The former president focused on mobilizing voters for Democratic congressional hopefuls.
Dueling midterm events
The simultaneous rallies underscored the high stakes of the midterm elections, with both former presidents deploying their political capital to influence key races across the country. Live updates tracked the competing appearances throughout the day.
