The Democratic National Committee took a bold step on Monday night by digitally projecting various phrases onto Trump Tower in New York City, in an effort to troll former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance. The projections included Vance’s past criticism of Trump, with one message reading, “Vance on Trump: ‘What an idiot’,” referencing a tweet from Vance in 2016 where he called Trump an idiot.
These projections appeared shortly after Vance arrived at Trump Tower ahead of the first and only vice presidential debate of 2024, where he would face off against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The debate was scheduled to take place at the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan.
In addition to targeting Vance, the projections also took aim at Trump for refusing to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, with one message calling Trump a “chicken.” This follows similar messages displayed on billboards near a Trump rally in Pennsylvania last week.
The DNC’s projections also labeled Trump Tower as “Project 2025 HQ,” a reference to a line displayed on Chicago’s Trump International Hotel and Tower during the Democratic National Convention in August. This was part of the DNC’s efforts to tie Trump and Vance to a conservative blueprint known as “Project 25,” despite Trump’s attempts to distance himself from it.
Despite the focus on trolling Trump and Vance, the DNC also emphasized the importance of the upcoming debate between Vance and Walz. DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman stated that the projections were meant to remind Americans that Trump has refused to agree to any further debates, while also highlighting Vance’s attempt to make up for Trump’s lackluster debate performance.
However, these projections may not have been entirely legal. David Schwartz, a trial attorney in New York City, pointed out that it is illegal to project digital signs in the city for longer than 60 seconds without a permit. While violating this law could result in a fine, Rahman assured that the DNC was in compliance by rotating through individual messages that were not displayed for more than 60 seconds.
The vice presidential debate between Vance and Walz was set to be the only one of the 2024 cycle, with CBS News hosting the event on Tuesday night. The debate was scheduled to air at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and CBS News 24/7, with live coverage, post-debate analysis, fact checks, and more available on the free CBS News app.
Overall, the DNC’s digital projections on Trump Tower served as a provocative statement ahead of the vice presidential debate, combining political messaging with a touch of controversy. As the 2024 election cycle continued to unfold, the interactions between the two major parties promised to be filled with tension and drama.
