Trump's insult trap: Republicans hunt for elusive Harris attack line
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Former President Trump after speaking at a Turning Point Action summit in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday. Photo: Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
One week into the new presidential race, Donald Trump and his allies are struggling to find a coherent counterpunch that works against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Why it matters: Trump — attempting to mount a counter-offensive against Harris' momentum — suddenly finds himself out of the spotlight with a dwindling lead in the polls.
The big picture: The MAGA universe that surrounds Trump, ranging from conservative influencers to his campaign, is grasping for new attack lines that won't alienate women or Black voters they need to win.
- Black voters could be sensitive to attacks on Harris' identity, including quotes from multiple Republican lawmakers last week labeling her a "DEI vice president."
- Years-old comments from J.D. Vance calling Harris a "childless cat lady" have become a rallying cry for women voters, a group that's already motivated by the demise of Roe v. Wade. Vance said last week he has "nothing against cats."
- Right-wing anger over Biden's decision to drop out also unleashed a flood of conspiracy theories tied to the narrative that the Democratic establishment engaged in a "coup."
Zoom in: Quotes about Harris' identity have quickly emerged as a tricky topic for Republicans.
- Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told reporters at a rally in Charlotte: "I don't know if it's off-limits, but it's not something that we've done. So, it is not even on our radar."
- House Speaker Mike Johnson asked Republican members of Congress to "focus on policy, not personality."
- Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) encouraged them to "hold off on 'editorializing' on Kamala."
Between the lines: Trump himself hasn't leaned on DEI for new insults. Instead, he's nicknamed his opponent "Laffin' Kamala Harris" and leaned into the "coup" language. He's called Harris "crazy," "nuts" and "dumb as a rock."
- At a Turning Point Action summit in Florida on Friday, he said her campaign takeover was "a coup. Nothing else. He got 14 million votes. I hate to stick up for Biden, but, you know, he didn't want to do what he did."
- Trump joined some more conspiratorial-minded Republicans and large X accounts by twice posting on Truth Social that Biden never actually had COVID.
- "I want to be nice," Trump told a rally in Minnesota on Saturday. "They all say, 'I think he's changed.' ... No, I haven't changed. Maybe I've gotten worse. Because I get angry at the incompetence that I witness every single day."
While seeking out attack lines against Harris, Trump has continued to court groups that are closely aligned with his base.
- At the Turning Point Action summit, he said Christians "won't have to vote anymore" if he reclaims the White House in November.
- He told the world's largest crypto conference on Saturday that he'd turn the U.S. into a "Bitcoin superpower" and make America "the crypto capital of the planet."
The other side: Republicans are also hammering Harris over the border.
- Polls found voters trusted Trump more than Biden on the economy and immigration, so Harris is likely starting from behind on those crucial issues.
Zachary Basu and Juliegrace Brufke contributed reporting.
