WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Donald Trump commented that if Vice President Kamala Harris were to win the presidency, China’s leader would treat her “like a baby.” This remark reflects a trend among Trump and his supporters to undermine the Democratic candidate in juvenile terms.
During an exchange with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, who inquired how Xi Jinping might interact with Harris if she became president, Trump responded, “Like a baby,” elaborating that he would quickly take away her “candy,” illustrating a scenario where she would be completely unprepared for the political landscape. Trump likened it to a grand chess master competing against a novice.
Trump has a history of disparaging his opponents, having coined nicknames during his initial presidential campaign in 2016, such as “Low Energy” for Jeb Bush and “Little” for Marco Rubio. His tendency to belittle women has continued, and his recent comments about Harris have been particularly harsh and often condescending. He has labeled her as “lazy,” “stupid,” and “slow,” along with questioning her mental state.
These remarks come on the heels of the upcoming Election Day, where Trump has intensified his negative rhetoric. He held a rally later that day in Tempe, Arizona, criticizing Harris’s handling of immigration issues. Trump accused her of committing a “wicked betrayal of America,” despite a decline in crime rates. His campaign also organized an event in Las Vegas later that evening.
Harris has not refrained from retaliating against Trump, branding him as “increasingly unhinged and unstable,” and went so far as to describe him as a “fascist” during a CNN town hall. She was also scheduled to participate in a rally in suburban Atlanta later that evening alongside former President Barack Obama and musician Bruce Springsteen.
During his conversation with Hewitt, Trump mirrored his previous sentiments by stating he perceived Harris as “like a child, almost,” referring to her as “an empty vessel” who is manipulated by the Democratic Party, which he labeled as “very smart” and “viciously liberal.”
Supporters of Trump have echoed similar tones in their remarks. At a rally in Georgia, former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson animatedly suggested that Trump was poised to reprimand Harris. “Dad is pissed,” he told the audience, indicating she’d be reprimanded for her behavior.
Brenden Dilley, a devoted Trump supporter and frequent social media commentator, also criticized Harris’s performance in the town hall, suggesting that she might fail significantly in the election if voters respond negatively to her presentation. While not affiliated with Trump’s campaign, Dilley’s posts are often shared among Trump circles.