The Trump campaign is attempting to recover from the recent setbacks caused by Vice President Kamala Harris’s elevation to the position as the Democratic National Convention begins in Chicago.
Trump plans to undermine the Democrats’ celebration by holding events every day in swing states, all related to issues where Republicans believe they have a leg up in the race. This is his busiest campaign week since the Republican primary in the winter, when he faced opponents.
While Trump has claimed to have delivered policy speeches at various points in the campaign, his addresses have more closely mirrored his trademark meandering rally speeches. Throughout his political career, Trump has consistently undermined his own message through his explosive outbursts and relentless attacks.
It would appear that the former president and Republican candidate is still trying to ignore the fact that Harris, and not Joe Biden, is now his opponent. He has attacked her personally, falsely claimed that her audiences were created by AI, and used racist stereotypes to cast doubt on her racial identity as she seeks to become the first Black female and first South Asian president of the country.
Allies are worried that Trump is hurting his chances in the election, which they see as easily winnable, due to his outbursts. They are becoming increasingly concerned about Harris’ competitiveness and have privately and publicly advised him to extend his appeal with swing voters by focusing on policies rather than his personality.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina made the following statement on Sunday’s NBC “Meet the Press”: “If you have a policy debate for president, he wins.” “The unpredictable and charismatic Donald Trump might not come out on top in this election.”
Trump will visit Pennsylvania on Monday to address energy and the economy, Michigan on Tuesday to discuss crime and safety, and North Carolina on Wednesday to discuss national security during a joint event with his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Before visiting Arizona and Nevada on Friday, he will visit the southwest border in Arizona on Thursday to address immigration.
“Policy is the key to the White House,” Graham stated, urging Trump to center his campaign platform on economic policy and the U.S.-Mexico border. That was sound advise, according to some attendees at his rallies.
Kory Jeno, a 53-year-old from Swannanoa, North Carolina, who was waiting to see Trump speak last week in neighboring Asheville, voiced her opinion that Trump should stop mentioning Biden and focus on Harris riding on those policies. “He should refrain from going off on irrelevant topics, such as attacking her, and instead focus on the issues and his efforts to help the American people.”
Injured veterans are brought up at the end of a news conference about the economy.
Last Thursday, Trump held a press conference at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, to discuss the economy, highlighting the difficulty Republicans have. In the first half of his address, Trump mostly adhered to his script, criticizing Biden and Harris for policies he said were to blame for the spike in inflation, and discussing increasing prices while he stood before a variety of grocery store items.
He displayed an uncommon level of tact when addressing the concerns raised by former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley had previously stated that Trump would be better served by diverting his attention away from his base and toward attracting voters with college degrees, independents, moderate Republicans, and conservative Democrats.
“I hope this campaign comes out on top. Speaking on the size of the crowd, however, will not help the campaign win. Discussing Kamala Harris’s race is not going to help. Discussing whether or not she’s stupid will not win, Haley remarked.
When asked separately if Trump should run a more disciplined campaign and stop attacking Harris personally, Haley advised him to do so, but Trump ignored her.
“I’m furious with her,” he declared. “I believe it’s fair game to target me personally. She isn’t someone I hold in high regard. In addition to my low opinion of her intelligence, I also believe she would be an awful president.
Miriam Adelson is the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson; she is projected to spend tens of millions of dollars helping Trump regain the White House. Later that night, at an event, he provided Democrats more fodder. He gushed over the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the country, saying it was “much better” than the nation’s highest military distinction, the Congressional Medal of distinction.
Trump told an audience that warriors who receive the Congressional Medal of Honor are either in terrible condition from being shot multiple times or have died. “She understands, and she’s a gorgeous, healthy woman.”
The Harris campaign and certain veterans wasted little time in denouncing the remark as demeaning to service members; similarly, Trump and his running partner, Ohio Senator JD Vance, have attempted to cast doubt on Harris’ and Walz’s National Guard records.
Trump, during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, once again diverted his speech from an economic theme to an assault on Harris, calling her ugly and said he is “much better looking” than she is.