ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Former President Donald Trump continued his quest at a St. Cloud rally to find demonizing words to humiliate his newly minted Democrat opponent, Kamala Harris. Trump called her “evil,” “lying,” “an absolute radical” “a crazy liberal” and having “no clue.” The crowd, 5,100 adoring fans, loved the cuts. But whether any of Trump’s epithets will have staying power remains to be seen. So far, since the sudden ascendency of Harris to replace President Biden in the presidential race, Trump has road-tested numerous demeaning labels for Harris. None have stuck.
Playing to the crowd
For 90 minutes Trump kept his followers energized despite fumbling, confusing argumentation, and incomplete thoughts. The crowd seemed not to care about the lapses and cheered and cheered and cheered and waved signs supporting police and calling for the deportation of migrants. Trump repeated his charge from a North Carolina rally last week that tried to link Harris with a Minnesota rapist who had been released on bail and then committed murder. The alleged link has been widely discredited, but Trump has been undeterred in keeping it going.
Aiming at Harris
Trump suggested Harris had failed as Biden’s “border queen” as vice president: “Kamala Harris’ deadly destruction of America’s borders is completely and totally disqualifying for her to be president.” He didn’t detail his charge. Trump attacked Harris inaccurately on abortion. He said that Harris favors abortion “right up until birth and after birth.” Fact check: Harris has never advocated infanticide, which is illegal everywhere.
Rough Trump transition
Much of Trump’s presentation was ad-libbed rehash of material he’s used against Biden even though the president ended his candidacy two weeks ago and endorsed Harris. Critics have read this as Trump being slow to change gears, and also as being unsettled with Harris as a strong woman from mixed race parentage and a successful career in law enforcement and politics.
Vance opening act
Trump was preceded at the rally by his running mate, freshman U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Vance focused on issues to animate the GOP base, particularly security at the Mexico border and crime. Also: Vance faulted news media for likening Harris to the 1960s civil leader Martin Luther King Jr. It was unclear whether this was an appeal to black voters or an indirect slap at Harris being of black Jamaican and Asian subcontinent heritage.
Trump. Campaign nearing final 100 days.
Vance. In St Cloud warm-up comments.