Ex-Trump Adviser Calls for Fox News to Stop Using Harris’s First Name

A former adviser to Donald Trump has called on Fox News personalities to stop using Vice President Kamala Harris’s first name, arguing that it personalizes her and may hinder Trump’s re-election campaign.

Peter Navarro, who served as Trump’s trade adviser, expressed his view during a segment on Steve Bannon’s War Room. He spent nearly three minutes criticizing the media’s tendency to refer to Harris simply as “Kamala.”

Navarro emphasized the importance of using full names in political discourse. He stated, “Never refer to Kamala Harris only by her first name. She is not a soccer star. Pelé, Messi, I get it, but when you use Kamala these days, it does not do us any good. It works in the other direction. It personalizes her and creates a favorable impression.”

Having recently completed a four-month prison sentence, Navarro offered fellow conservatives alternative ways to address Harris. “The only exception to that rule is if you use it with a Trump-like nickname. Kamachameleon… that’s not bad. Kamaliar… that’s not bad,” he suggested.

Navarro’s remarks also included a reminder about how people refer to Trump himself. He stated, “When was the last time you heard somebody refer to Donald John Trump favorably or affectionately, simply as ‘Donald’? So cut the Kamala crap.”

Navarro has garnered attention not only for his past role in the Trump administration but also for facing charges of contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with subpoenas from the January 6 House panel investigating the Capitol riots. He has been active in the current presidential race, advising that aggressive personal attacks against Harris are unlikely to benefit Trump.

Despite the intense scrutiny Harris has faced from Republican circles since her presidential campaign against Joe Biden began, Navarro cautioned that personal attacks could backfire. He emphasized in a recent Substack column that to defeat Harris effectively, Trump should focus on policy rather than personal insults.

“To beat Harris in November, we must use the policy stick, not gratuitous personal attacks,” Navarro remarked in his writing. He pointed out that attacks targeting her background or personal demeanor could inadvertently enhance her appeal.

Navarro warned that comments aimed at mocking Harris could create sympathy for her, especially when those attacks come from male commentators. “Such personal attacks build a misplaced sympathy for Harris, particularly when the invective comes from men – like it or not, it’s a Mars vs. Venus world,” he said.

In his analysis, Navarro urged Republicans to focus their efforts on issues that resonate with voters, particularly women and independents. He suggested that a winning strategy would involve emphasizing the Trump policy agenda, which includes economic issues, immigration policy, and international relations.

His recommendations reflect a broader strategy for the Republican Party as they prepare for the upcoming election. By centering their message on policy rather than personal drama, Navarro believes Republicans can better position themselves to appeal to swing voters who might feel disillusioned by negative campaigning.

As the political landscape continues to shift, Navarro’s perspective offers an insight into the ongoing debate within the GOP about how best to engage with the current administration and its representatives.