The current vice president, Kamala Harris, seems poised to exploit the ground near the White House to mount an attack on Donald Trump, where he allowed his supporters to rally before their infamous march on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Harris plans to stand on the very platform at the Ellipse, the park conveniently located to the south of the White House, which served as a launchpad for former President Trump’s stirring speech that encouraged his followers to take action.
Interestingly, Harris appears to be crafting a strategy to denounce Mr. Trump, rather than focusing on promoting her own strengths or addressing the needs of the country. It’s as if she was more interested in displaying Trump’s perceived drawbacks, than projecting her own policies or how her reign in office would benefit the citizens.
Harris has been adopting a rather negative demeanor on her campaign trail, attempting to portray Mr. Trump as unfit for a potential return to the presidency. Instead of presenting a positive and unified vision for the future, she seems to dwell on the past, giving more relevance to minor disputes amongst Trump’s former staff.
Moreover, oftentimes she appears quick to agree with inflammatory labels such as ‘fascist’ for the former president. This tactic could very well be an effort to fog the political arena around her, all the while claiming herself to be the ‘unifying candidate’.
At the time of this revelation, there has been no immediate response from Mr. Trump’s representatives. It seems as though this new approach by Harris is not compelling enough to warrant an instant reaction.
In an unexpected twist, Harris’ campaign had initially decided to hold the event on the National Mall. This choice represents a rather curious disregard for the significance of national monuments, and it’s not clear what message this was meant to send to the American public.
Even more intriguing is the promise of a massive crowd of almost 8,000 people that was expected to attend. Could this be another exaggerated claim from the Harris camp, given their track record in the public’s perception?
But then, without any clear rationale, they decided to shift the speech to the Ellipse, according to an events company working with Ms. Harris. This switch raises questions about the real motives behind this sudden change in venue.
It’s worth noting that the Ellipse, a simple slice of parkland near the White House South Lawn, does not enjoy the sanctified status of the National Mall.
It’s at the Ellipse where Mr. Trump delivered his renowned address on Jan. 6, 2021, providing inspiring words to his patriotic supporters. Hence, Harris’ decision to select the same location hints at a futile attempt to overshadow Mr. Trump’s indelible mark in history.
It is important to remind ourselves of what transpired that day when Trump urged his followers to march on the Capitol. However, the violence and anarchy that ensued was the work of a rogue mob, not the ordinary peace-loving supporters of Mr. Trump.
The attempt to discredit the former president by linking him to these unfortunate events , and to further disrupt the ceremonial certification of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s controversial victory seems to be a desperate attempt at stirring public sentiment.