Former President Donald Trump defended his decision to launch personal attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming he is “entitle” to do so out of frustration and in response to Harris’s previous remarks about him. Trump, who is currently trailing Harris in polls after previously leading in the race, has made a series of disparaging comments about her, questioning her ethnicity, mispronouncing her name, and mocking her intelligence and laughter.
During a news conference at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, Trump expressed his anger towards Harris, accusing her of weaponizing the justice system against him and others. Although he did not specify, his remarks seemed to be a reference to the criminal charges brought against him by the Justice Department under the Biden-Harris administration. There is, however, no evidence linking Harris or President Joe Biden directly to these prosecutions.
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“I think I’m entitle to personal attacks. I don’t have a lot of respect for her. I don’t have a lot of respect for her intelligence, and I think she’ll be a terrible President,” Trump said. He also cited Harris’s previous use of the term “weird” to describe him as a provocation for his remarks.
Harris campaign to criticize Trump
Harris had indeed described Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, as “weird,” a term initially coined by Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, and used by the Harris campaign to criticize Trump. This has resulted in Trump reacting strongly, despite advice from his allies to focus on policy issues like the economy and illegal immigration—areas where he reportedly has an advantage.
Peter Navarro, a former Trump adviser, noted that Trump’s personal attacks on Harris have inadvertently increased her support among swing voters, particularly women. Former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has also suggested that Trump’s strategy should involve fewer insults and more focus on policy contrasts.
Trump, however, remains resolute in his approach, asserting that defining his opponents as extreme leftists or anti-American is central to his strategy. Despite the counsel of his advisers to concentrate on policy, Trump’s continued personal attacks reflect his intent to shape the narrative on his terms.
