Nervous Republicans urge Trump to stick to the message and avoid conspiracies

Supporters and associates of former President Donald Trump are increasingly worried that his tendency to indulge in conspiracy theories and personal attacks is undermining his prospects against Vice President Kamala Harris. As the political landscape shifts following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race, many see Trump’s approach as counterproductive.

Since Harris has now become the main contender, Trump’s fixation on abusive rhetoric and unfounded claims appears misaligned with the nature of this new political battle. Alarmed allies believe he should concentrate on significant policy issues such as immigration and the economy instead of resorting to personal insults directed at Harris.

“Guess what? This is a different race now,” a Trump associate relayed, emphasizing that the Democrats are mobilized and Harris is not just an emerging figure; she is effectively organizing and raising funds. The source suggested that the focus should shift to straightforward topics like the economy and immigration.

On Monday, Trump made a return to X for a live interview with Elon Musk, which was marred by significant technical difficulties and delays. During the broadcast, Musk claimed without evidence that there are efforts to silence Trump on the social media platform.

Despite these disruptions, Trump’s account on X displayed a rare degree of message consistency, featuring a series of videos. One post provocatively asked, “Are you better off now than you were when I was president?” This pivotal question aligns with the central theme of his campaign but was only mentioned later in his two-hour conversation with Musk. Instead, Trump stuck to his unfounded assertions about the 2020 election being stolen and critiqued Harris’s recent prominence on the cover of Time magazine.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, defended the former president’s performance in the interview, stating that Trump clearly articulated the case against Harris throughout their discussion, labeling her position as weak and dangerously liberal.

Since Biden’s withdrawal from the race, Trump has criticized prominent figures such as Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. This strategy comes in a crucial state that Trump needs to win. He has also accused Harris of obscuring her racial identity during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists event in Chicago. Trump even controversially compared the size of his crowd during the January 6 rally to that of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic march on Washington.

Conservative commentator Steve Deace remarked on the complexity of Trump’s role, noting that while he can disrupt narratives that could otherwise benefit Republicans, he also has the capacity to undermine his own campaign through self-destructive behavior. Deace remarked that continuity in messaging is essential, yet Trump has veered away from simple narratives.

Larry Kudlow, a Trump ally, advised on a recent Fox Business segment that Trump should refrain from personal attacks and focus solely on the issues at hand, while Kellyanne Conway pointed out a clear strategy: fewer insults and more substantive policy discussions.

In recent days, Trump has circulated various conspiracy theories, including unfounded claims that nobody attended Harris’s rally in Michigan, despite clear evidence of a substantial turnout. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy echoed the sentiments of many, urging Trump to stop fixating on crowd sizes and instead challenge Harris’s policies.

Advisers have observed that certain conspiracy theorists have direct access to Trump, often reaching him via phone or in his private spaces at Mar-a-Lago and his clubs. These interactions may be influencing his narratives in ways that are detrimental to his campaign goals.

One insider expressed concern over Trump’s current state, suggesting he is “in a spiral” and would benefit from refocusing his strategy and message in order to regain command of the political narrative.