Conservatives are worried that party leader Donald Trump is having a “public nervous breakdown” after he made a series of hostile remarks about VP Kamala Harris as he slips behind her in the polls.
The former president has made various offending personal attacks against his Democratic rival since she moved to the top of the ticket.
Trump’s Accusations
Last week, Trump made accusations about Harris’ racial identity at the National Association of Black Journalists conference. He said over the weekend that Harris had a “low IQ.”
According to recent polls, Trump is trailing the vice president in the popular vote, and races are getting closer in states that could decide the election.
Republican Strategist Weighs In
Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist and a former Trump state department appointee, told Politico, “This is what you would call a public nervous breakdown.”
“This is a guy who cut through the Republican primary like a knife through butter. This is a guy who pummeled a semi-conscious president in a debate and literally out of a race. And now this is a guy who cannot come to grips with a competitive presidential race that would require discipline and effective messaging. And we’re seeing a candidate and a campaign absolutely meltdown.”
Losing Support
Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont Republican Party, predicted that Trump allies would begin to lose their support for the former president.
Dame stated to USA Today, “I think we’re starting to see the old Trump that a lot of Republicans got tired of in 2020 and got tired of defending him. If the next three months is defined by more examples like this I think he’s going to see some of that soft centrist support deteriorate.”
Negative Remarks
One GOP expert proposed Trump’s negative remarks are the first time he has had the opportunity to cut through the media buzz around Harris’ campaign since he survived the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
Alex Conant stated to USA Today, “We’re talking about Trump for the first time in two weeks. The risk is he’s reminding voters of the things they didn’t like in 2020, the reason why he’s not president now.”
Prisoner Swap Comments
Trump also attacked Harris and congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin over the historic prisoner swap this past weekend.
But at a Georgia rally on Saturday, he criticized Joe Biden for the deal and said that high-ranking GOP officials were hurting his chances of winning the state.
Republicans for Harris
Adam Kinzinger, a former congressman who has signed on to the Republicans for Harris initiative, offered a statement on the matter.
“This is a man who is incapable of controlling his emotions. Against all advice, against all sanity, he is attacking the Republican governor of Georgia… Donald Trump is losing his marbles.”
Running Mate Problems
Trump’s running mate JD Vance has also managed to produce his own negative press with his “weird” antics.
He caused debate when his previous remarks, labelling the VP as a “childless cat lady”, reemerged.
“Trump Fatigue”
An anonymous GOP strategist likewise told the outlet: “Every day Trump swipes at shiny objects — attacking the popular governor of a swing state, questioning the race of his opponent, or battling cat lady comments by his VP — is a day he is letting Harris define herself on her own terms.”
GOP political expert Mike Madrid repeated this feeling on X. “Trump fatigue is real. America is ready to move on.”
Truth Social Comments
Trump made a rambling post on Truth Social on Tuesday afternoon, probably not helping his case.
In it, he said that President Joe Biden plans to crash “the Democrat National Convention and tries to take back the Nomination.”
“Historically Tragic Mistake”
The former president contemplated whether Biden “feels that he made a historically tragic mistake by handing over the U.S. Presidency, a COUP, to the people in the World he most hates, and he wants it back, NOW!!!”
Trump added that President Biden, who is still serving as president is yet to exit the 2024 official race.
“Kamabla” Confusion
Trump claims that Biden had his “Presidency…Unconstitutionally STOLEN from him by Kamabla, Barrack HUSSEIN Obama, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Shifty Adam Schiff, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, and others on the Lunatic Left.”
The misspelling of Kamala Harris’ name to “Kamabla” has drawn confusion from social media users who are unsure of Trump’s intent.
As Tim Walz has been announced as Harris’ running mate, Trump will face further media buzz around the Democratic ticket coming up to the DNC.
