Veteran columnist Rex Huppke of USA TODAY has raised significant concerns about former President Donald Trump’s recent behavior, suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential bid may have finally broken him.
Since Harris became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee on July 21, Trump’s actions have increasingly appeared erratic and unstable.
According to a USA TODAY news article published on Monday, August 5, 2024, Huppke notes that Trump has shown signs of flailing and glitching, with his campaign losing its earlier sense of inevitability.
At last week’s National Association of Black Journalists convention, Trump bizarrely suggested Harris only recently “happened to turn Black,” a statement that was widely criticized for its insensitivity and inaccuracy.
Following this, Trump held a rally in Atlanta that Huppke describes as a festival of ranting and raving, arguably the worst display of Trump’s snarling seen in some time.
During this rally, Trump launched vitriolic attacks on Harris, calling her “Crazy Kamala,” a “lunatic,” and a “radical left freak.” He falsely labeled her as a “low-IQ individual,” adding, “We don’t need a low IQ.”
Trump’s erratic comments extended beyond Harris. He claimed Harris opposed people saying “Merry Christmas,” referencing a 2017 news conference where Harris, then a senator, criticized the termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and its impact on children during the holiday season.
In a surprising turn, Trump also attacked Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp, criticizing his handling of Atlanta’s crime rate and recalling a personal grievance with Kemp’s wife.
These comments underscored internal divisions within the GOP and highlighted Trump’s contentious relationship with key party figures.
Huppke suggests that Harris’s rise has significantly unsettled Trump. His decision to withdraw from a scheduled September 10 debate on Reuters, opting instead for a September 4 debate on Fox News with a full audience, suggests a candidate struggling to regain control.
This move has been interpreted as a retreat to a more favorable media environment amid growing pressure.
Before Harris’s nomination, Trump’s campaign was gaining momentum, especially after surviving an assassination attempt.
However, Harris’s nomination and President Joe Biden’s subsequent endorsement shifted the political landscape.
Harris’s surge in the polls and increased fundraising have energized Democratic voters, contrasting sharply with the internal conflicts and strategic missteps within the Trump campaign.
Huppke highlights that Harris’s candidacy has forced Trump to confront a new and formidable opponent, one whose background as a prosecutor and senator poses a direct challenge to his political narrative.
As Trump resorts to familiar tactics of insults and divisive rhetoric, Harris’s composed campaign continues to gain traction, presenting a stark contrast to Trump’s increasingly erratic behavior.
The coming months will be crucial for both campaigns. While there is ample time for shifts in public opinion and strategic adjustments, the current trajectory shows a Trump campaign grappling with internal discord and external pressure.
The contrast between Harris’s disciplined campaign and Trump’s erratic responses may well shape the outcome of the upcoming election.
As the election draws nearer, the dynamics between Harris and Trump will be closely scrutinized.
Huppke’s concerns about Trump’s flailing, glitching, and running scared reveal a candidate under strain, struggling to adapt to a political landscape reshaped by his opponent’s rise.
