Former President Donald J. Trump has been seen airing his sentiments about Vice President Kamala Harris in various rallies and online platforms, consistently painting a less than flattering picture of her. As the Republican Party endeavors to recast Trump in a softer glow in preparation for the impending election, Lara Trump has afforded an alternative perspective of the former president’s ongoing and rather harsh criticism of Kamala Harris’s IQ. This strategy seems to align with the broader attempt to present his aggressive commentary as humor. Trump appeared to harbor a keen interest in mocking Harris’s intelligence during the campaign cycle, defining her as having the wits of a stone and an utter inability to form coherent sentences.
The ex-president took his discourse to another level in Wisconsin, implying that Harris had mental issues since birth. A claim that seems considerably misguided, considering Harris’s impressive academic and professional resume. Armed with a law degree, she made her mark as San Francisco’s district attorney, ascended to the position of California’s attorney general, expanded her influence as a U.S. senator, and finally made history by becoming the United States’ first female Vice President. It is clear that these accolades present a stark contrast to Trump’s derogatory depictions.
However, not every Republican appears to be in sync with Trump’s narrative. Some members, such as Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Senator, and former Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan who is currently running for Senate, diverge from Trump’s line of thought, offering admonishments in response to his offensive comment about Harris. The Trump campaign didn’t provide a prompt response about whether the belittling comments concerning Harris’s intellect were intended as jest.
Never one to back down, Harris responded to questions about Trump’s attempts to undermine her racial identity with poise and confidence during an August CNN interview. She illustrated it as nothing more than a tired, orthodox demeaning move that has grown all too familiar. This response further showcased the persistent dismissal by Harris of Trump’s attempts to belittle her.
Trump’s advisers have futilely encouraged him to shift his attention towards policy-based commentary instead of personal jibes. However, Trump’s inherent tendencies tend to steer the conversation towards his familiar territories of personal deprecations. In an almost predictable manner, Trump can’t seem to resist the urge to launch offensive attacks, even after the conclusion of a Vice Presidential debate involving his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. However, Vance himself was focused on refining the former president’s aggressive posture during the debate.
The debate saw a respectable performance from Senator JD Vance, who was engaged in a generally polite dialog with Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota on Tuesday night. Unlike his associated counterpart, Vance made significant effort to polish the blunt edges of the party’s representation. Yet it seems the debates and civilized discourse do little to temper Trump’s unabashed tirades.
Even after the debate, Trump persisted with his characteristic scornful social media commentary. His ridicule didn’t omit Governor Walz, whom he termed a ‘Low IQ Disaster’, drawing parallels to his usual description of Kamala Harris. It’s clear that Trump’s aversion to the Democratic candidates continues unabated.