Former President Donald J. Trump made it clear that his focus on national unity is over at a rally in Minnesota on Saturday. He escalated his attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris, painting her as extreme and mocking her demeanor.
“I want to be nice,” Mr. Trump said. “They all say, ‘I think he’s changed.
I think he’s changed since two weeks ago. Something affected him.'” But to a cheering crowd of thousands, Mr. Trump quickly conceded the point.
“No, I haven’t changed,” he said. “Maybe I’ve gotten worse. Because I get angry at the incompetence that I witness every single day.”
Mr.
Trump’s comments come after he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania two weeks ago.
Trump attacks Harris at rally
At the time, he made an appeal for national unity.
However, his speech in Minnesota made it clear that he has quickly jettisoned that message. During his speech, which lasted roughly 90 minutes, Mr. Trump called Ms.
Harris “evil,” “unhinged,” and “sick.” He accused her of extreme views on abortion and mocked her laugh and demeanor. “We have a brand-new victim,” Mr. Trump told the crowd.
“And, honestly, she’s a radical left lunatic.”
Ms. Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee after President Biden decided to end his campaign six days ago. The upheaval in the presidential race caused by President Biden’s decision has propelled Mr.
Trump to once more escalate his attacks against Ms. Harris. In stating that his focus on national unity is over, Trump made clear that the next phase of his political strategy will be defined by sharp attacks and divisive rhetoric aimed at his political opponents. This marks a departure from the reports that suggested the assassination attempt would lead Trump to moderate his tone and make efforts to unite a divided America.
