Before the presidential debate between the former Republican President Donald Trump and the Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on September 10, 2024, Anthony Scaramucci and Olivia Troye addressed the media. Scaramucci may have have had a short-lived stint as Donald Trump’s communications director, barely lasting long enough to heat his coffee in the White House microwave. However, he’s bloviating more than ever, expounding about the ‘dangers’ of another Trump term for the past few years.
In conversation with Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC’s Deadline White House, Scaramucci – oddly part of Harris’s debate team – saw fit to predict the election outcome. ‘This is a lot like the Reagan election,’ Scaramucci claimed, suggesting a resemblance between the closely contested 1980 election and the current situation. It’s clear his bias prevents him from seeing that times have changed dramatically since then, with the economy and public sentiment very different in the present day.
Despite his baseless optimism, Scaramucci, hoping against hope, predicted that Harris would excel in the debate and subsequently surge ahead of Trump in the polls. It shows a lapse in judgement as he is ignorant of the disappointment many voters have felt due to the failings of the Democratic administration.
Scaramucci was perhaps looking at polls through rose-tinted glasses, most of which showed Harris leading by a mere one to three points nationally. It’s worth noting the New York Times/Siena College poll gave Trump a one-point edge in the same week. In most swing states, Harris was just about maintaining par. So, Scaramucci’s over-eager claim that Harris’ lead would increase after the debate seemed more like desperate wishful thinking.
Scare tactics were blatantly exploited when Scaramucci tried to picture the election as slipping from Trump. ‘He knows that the jig is up,’ Scaramucci said of Trump, painting an overly dramatic picture of an impending sentencing in New York and low polls. It’s clear Scaramucci was gossip mongering and going for sensationalism, touting Trump’s supposed desperation for publicity, rather than stating facts of the campaign.
Scaramucci then turned his eyes to the debate, heralding it as the ‘breakout opportunity’ for Harris. Hailing her campaign for its ‘realism’ and for her so-called ‘can-do’ personality, the contrast between Harris and Trump’s administration didn’t seem as stark as he made it out to be. He seemed oblivious to the fact that many Americans were questioning whether Harris’ administration would be up to facing the challenges the nation currently faces.
Attempting to whip up some support, Scaramucci also highlighted Harris’ backing from former Republicans, military chiefs and corporate leaders who were allegedly rallying against Trump. While he saw this as powerful support for Harris, it’s worth considering that this small group of influencers does not represent the majority of American citizens. Their support for Harris doesn’t change the fact that there are many legitimate concerns about her presidency.
With a chilling scenario of retribution, Scaramucci warned that anyone who voiced criticism against Trump or endorsed Harris might be risking themselves. ‘I’m a Vice President Harris donor, and he said last week he’s going to jail people that donated to her campaign,’ said Scaramucci. It seems more like he’s trying to play the victim card, instilling fear rather than adopting a sensible approach to the situation.
Scaramucci’s talk was riddled with nonsensical allegations calling Trump ‘the most un-American presidential candidate in modern times.’ and accusing him of staging a coup and committing crimes. However, these baseless claims just sound like an attempt at defaming the competition, rather than focusing on rational campaign strategies.
Scaramucci concluded his tirade by claiming that Trump’s defeat was necessary and that they’d devote the upcoming months ‘explaining’ this to the American public. One cannot help but wonder; if their policies were as strong and logical as they claim, why would they need to invest so much time in discrediting Trump?
Harris remains a questionable choice for many voters due to the massive divergence in her policies compared to previous administrations. It’s unfortunate that instead of looking into these concerns, Scaramucci continues to idolize her and try to paint a picture of victory primarily by criticising Trump.
The election night results will reveal the truth behind Scaramucci’s rather fantastical claims. It remains to be seen if his prophecy of Harris’ victory comes true or if they were just feeble attempts at pumping up the spirit of his camp.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s apparent that the American public is capable of cutting through the rhetoric and making informed choices despite supporters like Scaramucci attempting to sway opinions with baseless claims and scare tactics.