Normandy veteran delights Trump when he tells him of his support in key 2020 presidential state of Pennsylvania
- Presidential politics came into play on the beaches of Normandy
- A World War II veteran delighted President Donald Trump by reassuring him he has several supporters in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania is a key state in the 2020 presidential election
- In 2016, Trump was the first Republican in more than 20 years to win
- Trump's sons Don Jr. and Eric, along with White House staff, were also happy to hear the remark, made at the 75th anniversary of D-Day celebration
- Trump and Biden are already bickering about Pennsylvania
Presidential politics came into play on the beaches of Normandy when a World War II veteran delighted President Donald Trump by reassuring him he has several supporters in Pennsylvania - a key state in the 2020 election.
'There's a lot of people back in Pennsylvania who want to vote for you,' the veteran told Trump when the president came over to thank them during the 75th D-Day commemoration ceremony.
Members of the president's staff and his two sons - Eric and Donald Trump Jr. - also were delighted with the remark, the White House pool report noted.
President Donald Trump interacted with many veterans during his visit to Normandy and one of them assured him he has many supporters in Pennsylvania, a key 2020 state
Trump spent several minutes thanking veterans for their service
Trump was at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer for the 75th anniversary of D-Day
Trump staff in attendance included acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, National Security Adviser John Bolton, Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway and press secretary Sarah Sanders.
The man's identity was not revealed. Trump had one-on-one interactions with several of the American and French veterans present.
Other veterans shouted, 'We love you' and 'God Bless you, President Trump.'
The president and first lady Melania Trump joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron at the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France to mark the solemn occasion.
The two couples spent several minutes walking around to greet the American and French military veterans on stage.
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In 2016, Trump became the first Republican in more than 20 years to carry the state of Pennsylvania, a victory that helped put him in the Oval Office.
That state - along with the Midwest states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan - will play a key role in determining the winner of the 2020 contest.
But expect Pennsylvania to be heavily contested.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, who was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Delaware as a child, has established his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia.
He held several campaign rallies in the state already.
Biden currently leads the polls to win the Democratic nomination.
Trump examines a veteran's hat
Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, National Security Adviser John Bolton and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway were at the ceremony
Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney (far left) was also at the ceremony
Biden has emphasized to blue collar workers in the state - who helped elect Trump - the importance of their support.
'Quite frankly folks, if I'm going to be able to beat Donald Trump in 2020, it's going to happen here. It's going to happen here in western Pennsylvania. With your help,' he told a cheering crowd in Pittsburgh in April, at his first campaign rally after he officially announced his presidential bid.
Many Republicans fear Biden will appeal to blue-collar workers, who could switch their allegiance to the former vice president.
Trump has already demonstrated he's going to fight hard to win the state again next year, lashing out at Biden at a campaign rally Montoursville, Pa., in May.
'Biden deserted you,' the president told the crowd. 'I guess he was born here, but he left you, folks. He left you for another state.'
At a Pennsylvania rally, President Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden for leaving the state
Former Vice President Joe Biden struck back at Trump's charge that he 'deserted' Pennsylvania, saying his family left when the coal industry died
Biden hit back, saying his family left the state when the coal industry died and unemployment spiked.
'He left Scranton!' Biden said a private fundraiser in Florida Tuesday night, quoting Trump. 'I did, I was 10 years old, man. My dad left for a reason [Trump] couldn't possibly understand. He left when coal died and there were no jobs, like thousands of people, he had to leave to do better for his family.'
Biden repeatedly refers to his Scranton, Pennsylvania, roots on the campaign trail.
