Donald Trump's last dance as he makes desperate plea to US election voters

In possibly his final act on the political stage, pleaded with voters to put him back in the White House as America goes to the .

Rallying supporters in the swing state of North Carolina, the former president delivered a trademark address, which included a torrent of conspiracy theories.

As the curtain came down on Mr Trump’s campaign, the watched as he threw caution – and facts – to the wind, urging Americans to as he took aim at what he described as the forces working against him.

He vowed to “fix” America, urging people to stop Democratic candidate winning. Republican Mr Trump said: “You have to stand up and tell Kamala that you’ve had enough.

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“You’re going to say, ‘You’ve done a terrible job, you’re grossly incompetent, we’re not going to take it any more. Kamala, you’re fired. Get the hell out of here’.”

He told the 7,000 crowd at the J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh that the election is his to lose. Despite the momentum being with his opponent, Mr Trump said: “Hopefully, everything will work out well. We’re way leading. All we have to do is close it out. If we get everybody out and vote, there’s not a thing they can do.”

He also seemed to reference the infamous Access Hollywood tape, which almost cost him the 2016 election. On the tape he boasted about “grabbing” women intimately without consent.

As he spoke about one of his backers, billionaire tech boss Elon Musk, Mr Trump expressed amazement at how two giant mechanical arms recently caught the SpaceX owner’s reusable rocket “like you grab your beautiful baby”.

Mr Trump added: “See, I’ve gotten much better. Years ago, I would have said something else.

“But I’ve learned. I would have been a little bit more risqué.”

He also dismissed the influence of former Democratic president Barack Obama, who has campaigned for Ms Harris in several battleground states, calling him the “divider in chief”.

Mr Trump rambled for large parts of his speech. The property mogul’s voice was hoarse and his gestures were erratic as he railed against Democrats, the media and what he called the radical left.

Accusing them of trying to destroy the US, he brought up debunked conspiracy theories and inflamed cultural divisions in an effort to energise his base.

Meanwhile, some businesses in Washington, DC boarded up their windows amid fears the city could descend into violence after the election. Extra security measures include anti-scale fencing around the White House.

Mr Trump’s North Carolina rally – one of four he was undertaking yesterday – felt as much like a referendum on his polarising legacy as it did a plea for votes.

As Trump spoke, Ms Harris was also carrying out her final rallies, focusing purely on Pennsylvania. The celebrities campaigning for her across battleground states included chat show host Oprah Winfrey and music stars and .

Ms Harris’ decision to remain in Pennsylvania came amid a reinvigorated Democratic campaign.

Officials have sensed an opportunity to capture North Carolina for the first time since Mr Obama’s narrow victory there in 2008.

Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said: “It’s that 2008 feeling all over again.” The contrast between Trump’s rallies and Harris’ closing efforts could not be more stark.

While Trump continued to lean on grievance politics, Harris held rallies focused on unity and renewal, emphasising policies that appeal across the political spectrum.

Her focus on healthcare, economic stability and education reform was in sharp contrast to Trump’s speeches, which relied on division.

As Trump left the stage in Raleigh, it was clear he had given his all in a last bid to sway voters. With the election now upon America, it remains to be seen if his familiar tactics will be enough to claim North Carolina and, potentially, a path back to power.

But in an election in which demographics, enthusiasm and momentum seem to favour Harris, Trump’s final gambit may mark the end of his political career and the beginning of a new chapter for the US.