Politics Elections Donald Trump Calls Kamala Harris the R-Word at Dinner with Billionaire Donors: Report The former president reportedly lashed out about donors not appreciating him at the dinner, according to 'The New York Times' By Marina Watts Marina Watts Marina Watts is a Digital News Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Bustle, The US Sun, Newsweek and OK! Magazine. People Editorial Guidelines Published on October 13, 2024 01:52PM EDT Comments Donald Trump; Kamala Harris. Photo: Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty; David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump reportedly called Kamala Harris the R-word during a dinner with billionaire donors, according to The New York Times. Trump, 78, reportedly used the term re------ while hosting a gathering that took place at his Trump Tower penthouse on Sunday, Sept. 29, the outlet said. Airing grievances about the 2024 presidential race, the Times reported that Trump lashed out about donors not appreciating him. Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, hedge fund manager Paul Singer and investment banker Warren Stevens were present at the dinner party, according to the outlet. A representative for Trump did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Donald Trump in 2024. Win McNamee/Getty Trump Secretly Shared COVID-19 Tests with Putin and Stayed in Touch After Presidency, Bob Woodward Claims Trump's reported use of the r-word comes less than a month before Election Day, when he will go up against Harris, 59, on the presidential ballot. The former president's recent stops on the campaign trail included a visit to Detroit, where he called the midwestern city a "mess." "We're a developing nation, too. Just take a look at Detroit," he said during a speech for the Detroit Economic Club on Oct. 10. Days before, Trump told a News Nation reporter that should he be elected president, he would "remove" Haitian immigrants from Springfield. "It has nothing to do with Haiti or anything else. You have to remove the people, and you have to bring them back to their own country,” Trump said at the time. Meanwhile, Harris appeared on 60 Minutes on Oct. 7 to speak with Bill Whitaker about the economy, immigration and her time in Washington, D.C., among other topics. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to CNN, on Sunday, Oct. 13, both candidates will be making stops in battleground states. Harris will campaign in Greenville, N.C. following a visit in Raleigh the day before. Trump, meanwhile, will be hosting a rally in Prescott Valley, Ariz. Kamala Harris in 2024. Win McNamee/Getty The 'October Surprise,' Explained: A History of Late-Campaign Scandals That Impacted Elections The New York Times' polling statistics show that Harris is leading the national average at 49% to Trump's 47% as of Oct. 13. Close