In a series of derisive social media posts on Saturday, former President Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, targeting her intellect following a week where she out-fundraised him and led in some battleground state polls.
Trump’s string of posts on Truth Social came after he canceled the planned ABC debate with Harris. He labeled Harris “low IQ,” “dumb,” and claimed she lacked the “mental capacity” to debate him. These attacks indicate a continued escalation in rhetoric against Harris, which many in Trump’s own party have warned against, preferring to focus on issues like immigration and inflation.
Trump’s Debate Switch and Attacks
Trump’s latest outburst began Friday evening when he backed out of the September 10 ABC debate, instead proposing a Fox News debate on September 4 in Pennsylvania, complete with a “FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!” His refusal to participate in the ABC debate drew sharp criticism from the Harris campaign. Harris spokesperson Michael Tyler accused Trump of running scared, stating, “Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th.”
Harris responded directly on social media, confirming her attendance at the previously agreed upon ABC debate, regardless of Trump’s participation. Trump countered with an ultimatum, stating he would only debate Harris on Fox News or not at all, while continuing to insult her intelligence.
Republican Concerns and Strategy
Republican strategist Barrett Marson expressed concern over Trump’s focus on personal attacks rather than key issues like the economy and immigration. “Going after Harris’ intellect isn’t going to move middle-of-the-road voters,” Marson said. “They want to hear about a plan to rein in inflation and bring down interest rates.”
Despite some Republicans urging a focus on policy rather than personal attacks, Trump has struggled to settle on a consistent line of attack against Harris since Biden dropped out of the race. Trump’s comments questioning Harris’ racial identity during a conference of Black journalists in Chicago earlier this week drew widespread criticism and diverted attention from policy-based critiques.
Harris’ Strong Week and Polling Gains
Harris had a successful week, announcing a massive fundraising haul of $310 million in July, significantly outpacing Trump. She also surpassed Trump in polls in key states like Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. A Susquehanna Polling survey found Harris leading Trump by 4 percentage points in Pennsylvania.
Democratic Response to Trump’s Attacks
Democrats argue that Trump’s identity-based attacks could ultimately harm Republicans. Michael Trujillo, a strategist from Clinton’s 2008 campaign, suggested that Trump’s rhetoric mirrors the unsuccessful attacks used against Obama. “If I’m a Republican, I’d rather win on my better policy ideas, not because of racist memes,” Trujillo said.
Harris has not directly addressed Trump’s race- and gender-based insults, but her prospective running mates have. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly criticized Trump’s comments about Harris, calling his divisiveness a sign of a weak campaign. “That’s why he doesn’t want to get on a debate stage with her — he’s scared,” Kelly said. “And I understand why he’s scared.”
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