Former President Donald Trump expressed his belief on Thursday that he is “entitled to personal attacks” against his Democratic rival, citing his deep-seated anger toward Vice President Kamala Harris due to the criminal charges he faces.
During a news conference at his New Jersey golf club, Trump addressed the need for more campaign discipline while simultaneously attributing his ire toward Harris to what he perceives as her role in weaponizing the justice system against him.
“As far as the personal attacks, I’m very angry at her because of what she’s done to the country. I’m very angry at her that she would weaponize the justice system against me and other people, very angry at her. I think I’m entitled to personal attacks,” Trump stated emphatically.
He further questioned Harris’s qualifications, saying, “I don’t have a lot of respect for her intelligence and I think she’ll be a terrible president.”
Trump, who initially adhered to a scripted economic message for over half an hour, soon diverted into familiar anecdotes often shared at his rallies. This departure from the prepared remarks comes just a day after he struggled to maintain focus on economic policies during a speech that was intended to serve as a significant policy address for his campaign.
“Kamala Harris is a radical California liberal who broke the economy, broke the border, and frankly, broke the world,” Trump told reporters, reinforcing his narrative against the Vice President.
Surrounded by popular grocery items like instant coffee and sugary breakfast cereals, Trump sought to highlight the rising costs of essentials, from food to housing. At one point, in a moment that mixed nostalgia with his trademark populist touch, he remarked upon seeing a box of cereal, “I haven’t seen Cheerios in a long time,” adding with a smile, “I’m going to take them back to my cottage.”
This appearance came shortly after the Labor Department reported that year-over-year inflation had hit its lowest point in more than three years in July—a key indicator that the unprecedented price surge of the past four decades is beginning to ease. However, Trump’s campaign continues to leverage the lingering effects of inflation, aiming to mobilize voters discontented with the current economic climate.
Harris, in response, is set to deliver her own economic policy speech in North Carolina, where she intends to advocate for a federal ban on price gouging in grocery stores—a critical issue for many voters.
As Trump spoke before a modest gathering of supporters at his New Jersey event, he maintained a tighter adherence to his prepared remarks than in previous addresses. However, during a speech the day prior in Asheville, North Carolina, Trump’s commentary often strayed into personal attacks, overshadowing the policy differences he sought to underscore between himself and Harris.
“For four years, she’s cackled while the economy burned,” Trump said of Harris, deriding her as “crazy” and dismissing her and President Biden as “stupid.” He also took the opportunity to ridicule Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, referring to him as “a clown.”
Trump’s campaign continues to evolve, with recent announcements of an expanded staff that includes former aides and external advisors joining the senior leadership. Among those brought on board are Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first campaign manager from 2016, and Taylor Budowich, who transitions from MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC. This shakeup comes as the campaign adapts to the new political landscape following President Joe Biden’s decision to forgo a reelection bid, endorsing Harris instead.
Trump expressed confidence in his team’s leadership, praising campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles as “THE BEST.”
As the campaign heats up, Trump has intensified his criticism of Harris, pointing out her lack of media engagement since assuming the role of the presumptive Democratic nominee. His remarks underline the strategic shifts in what is shaping up to be one of the most contentious and closely watched elections in recent history.
