Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has once again taken aim at his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a series of personal attacks that have drawn widespread criticism. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump made disparaging remarks about Harris’s appearance, claiming that he was “much better looking” than her. This latest comment comes as part of a broader pattern of attacks that Trump has directed at Harris throughout his campaign.
The former president’s comments were sparked by a recent cover of Time Magazine that featured Harris. Trump, who is known for his often caustic rhetoric, criticized the magazine’s choice of cover art, saying that the illustrator had been “too generous” in their portrayal of the Vice President. “I’m much better looking than her,” Trump, 78, told the crowd, adding that the magazine had resorted to using an artist’s rendition of Harris because “they took a lot of pictures that didn’t work out.”
This isn’t the first time that Trump has fixated on Harris’s appearance. The former president has repeatedly brought up the topic at previous rallies, often using it as a springboard for broader attacks on her and other Democratic leaders. During his nearly two-hour speech in Pennsylvania, Trump briefly addressed Harris’s economic policy rollout before veering off-script to once again criticize her looks, according to a report from The Hill.
The attack on Harris was just one of many that Trump launched during the rally. He also took aim at President Joe Biden, questioning why he had supposedly dropped out of the presidential race. “What happened to Biden? I was running against Biden and now I’m running against someone else,” Trump said, sarcastically asking the crowd, “Who the hell is Harris?”
Trump’s remarks reflect a strategy that has become a hallmark of his campaign: using personal attacks to rally his base and dominate the news cycle. His comments come as Pennsylvania, with its 19 Electoral College votes, is set to play a critical role in the upcoming November election. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, only to lose it to Biden in 2020. With the stakes high, Trump appears to be doubling down on the tactics that have defined his political career.
Harris was not the only target of Trump’s ire. He also criticized her newly unveiled economic plan, which she introduced on Friday. “Yesterday, Kamala laid out her so-called economic plan. She says she’s going to lower the cost of food and housing starting on day one. But day one for Kamala was three and a half years ago,” Trump said, mocking her efforts to address rising prices. He went on to claim, without offering specifics, that he could bring prices down by expanding U.S. oil production. “After causing catastrophic inflation, Comrade Kamala announced that she wants to institute socialist price controls,” Trump added.
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Trump’s attacks on Harris have not been limited to her economic policies. He has also questioned her qualifications, suggesting that she “stole” Biden’s presidential bid and claiming that Biden “hates” her. “Joe Biden hates her. This was an overthrow of a president. This was an overthrow,” Trump declared, according to ABC News.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches, Trump has continued to belittle Harris, questioning why she is attending and asserting that she “never earned any votes as a presidential candidate.” Trump also expressed confidence about a potential debate with Harris on September 10, saying, “She’ll be easier.”
Trump’s continued focus on Harris has drawn criticism, not only for the personal nature of his attacks but also for the inconsistency of his messaging. While he and his Republican allies have argued that they have a strong case against Harris on issues like the economy and immigration, Trump has often undermined these arguments by resorting to mockery and name-calling. His previous questioning of Harris’s racial identity further fueled backlash, as many saw it as an attempt to delegitimize her.
In response to Trump’s latest rally, the Harris campaign issued a statement dismissing his remarks as more of the same. “Another rally, same old show,” the campaign said. Joseph Costello, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, criticized Trump’s rhetoric, saying, “Donald Trump can’t sell his dangerous Project 2025 agenda to raise taxes on working families by $3,900, terminate the Affordable Care Act, and rip away our freedoms, so he resorts to lies, name-calling, and confused rants.”
As the campaign season heats up, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s personal attacks will resonate with voters or backfire, as they have in the past. What is clear is that the former president shows no signs of softening his approach as he seeks to reclaim the White House.w
