Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (D-N.Y.) is expected to take aim at President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in a speech kicking off her 2020 presidential campaign in front of one of his New York properties on Sunday.
Gillibrand will blast Trump as a “coward” who “punches down” and label the Trump International Hotel as a “shrine to greed, division and vanity,” according to excerpts of her prepared remarks obtained by multiple news outlets.
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“President Trump is tearing apart the moral fabric of our country,” she plans to say, Reuters noted. “He demonizes the vulnerable and he punches down…Our president is a coward.”
Gillibrand, who announced she was forming an exploratory committee for a 2020 run in January, officially launched her campaign last week. The Democratic senator announced her candidacy in a video that criticized Trump and highlighted a number of progressive causes.
“Brave doesn’t spread hate, cloud truth, build a wall,” Gillibrand said in the video. “That’s what fear does.”
The New York senator, who is calling for universal health care, paid family leave and an end to gun violence, has repeatedly criticized Trump during his presidency, and is using her campaign kickoff speech to directly confront him.
“We’re bringing the fight to Trump’s doorstep,” the event’s page reads. Reuters notes that Gillibrand’s speech is also expected to focus on what it means to be brave.
Gillibrand is one of many prominent United States senators vying for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president. She is also one of six women who have announced runs so far.