Trump Faces Harris but Continues Attacking Biden in Campaign

Despite the recent entry of a new Democratic contender into the race, former President Donald Trump remains laser-focused on President Joe Biden, who is no longer running. The situation marks a shift in the political landscape, particularly as Vice President Kamala Harris has taken over the top of the Democratic ticket.

The Trump campaign aims to adjust its strategy to target Harris, but Trump has continued his barrage of attacks on Biden instead. He appears to struggle with effectively defining his new rival. At various campaign rallies and during interviews, Trump has referred to Biden’s exit as a “coup,” even though the Democratic party has embraced the new ticket without significant resistance.

Trump’s recent dialogue with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk on social media highlighted his fixation with Biden. He stated, “We have somebody that hasn’t received one vote for president, and she’s running,” expressing doubt about Harris’ legitimacy as a candidate.

Furthermore, Trump has made unfounded claims that Democrats might have invoked the 25th Amendment if Biden hadn’t resigned willingly. This constitutional provision allows for the vice president to assume the presidency under specific circumstances, such as resignation or incapacity. Trump himself faced discussions among his allies about the 25th Amendment following the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.

Although Trump suggests that he finds Harris to be an easier opponent, he continues to spread baseless assertions about her potential replacement. He has posited that Biden could bounce back or that the Democratic Party might select a different nominee altogether.

On the campaign trail, Trump’s criticisms of Harris seem to recycle his past attacks on Biden. He has positioned Harris as being even more extreme, labeling her as “more radical” than the former president.

Trump maintains that his campaign hasn’t shifted to focus solely on Harris, reiterating, “It’s the same policies: open borders, weak on crime.” This indicates that he is attempting to keep his messaging consistent while addressing the newly adjusted Democratic landscape.

Trump has specifically targeted Harris by incorrectly asserting that she was appointed as the “border czar.” This term has been associated with her since Biden assigned her the task of spearheading diplomatic efforts to tackle the root causes of migration from Central America.

In addition to this, Trump has criticized her support of a ban on fracking and her endorsement of single-payer healthcare like “Medicare for All.” He has also pressed issues regarding inflation and the economy in connection with her policy stances.

The Trump campaign’s strategy includes distinguishing themselves from Harris by highlighting her absence from media engagements since becoming the Democratic nominee. Trump used social media to claim, “Kamala refuses to do interviews because her team realizes she is unable to answer questions, much like Biden was not able to answer questions, but for different reasons.”

In the more than three weeks following Harris’ nomination, her campaign has not arranged for significant media interactions. In striking contrast, Trump conducted a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida, recently and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, actively engaged with the press throughout a busy week, paralleling Harris’ campaign activities with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.