Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ramped up his personal attacks on Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Trump repeated his claim that Harris is “mentally impaired,” going as far as to suggest she should be “impeached and prosecuted.” These remarks followed a rally from the day before, which he described as a “dark speech.” At the Erie event, Trump told the enthusiastic crowd that Harris was responsible for an “invasion” at the U.S.-Mexico border and should face legal consequences for her actions.
“Crooked Joe Biden became mentally impaired,” Trump added. “Sad. But lying Kamala Harris, honestly, I believe she was born that way. There’s something wrong with Kamala. And I just don’t know what it is, but there is definitely something missing. And you know what, everybody knows it.”
With the election fast approaching, Trump has increased his use of personal and inflammatory attacks, despite some Republicans suggesting he should focus on policy issues. His calls for the prosecution of political opponents mark a break from U.S. norms, where the judicial system is typically kept separate from political influence. Recently, Trump has threatened to prosecute entities like Google, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and others he accuses of engaging in questionable conduct related to the upcoming election.
Trump’s harsh words for Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman to lead a major party ticket, are another example of how the race has turned personal. He has labeled her “stupid,” “weak,” “dumb as a rock,” and “lazy,” signaling the kind of tone that may define the final stretch of the campaign.
Some of Trump’s allies have urged him to pivot toward policy discussions. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said on CNN’s *State of the Union*, “I just think the better course to take is to prosecute the case that her policies are destroying the country. They’re crazy liberal.”
When asked about Trump’s personal attacks, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., avoided direct criticism during an appearance on ABC’s *This Week*. He described Harris as the “wrong choice for America” and suggested that Trump should focus on the issues. “I think we should stick to the issues,” Emmer said. “The issues are, Donald Trump fixed it once. They broke it. He’s going to fix it again.”
Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, running for Senate as a moderate Republican, criticized Trump’s attacks on Harris. Hogan reminded CBS’ *Face the Nation* viewers of Trump’s past remarks questioning Harris’ racial identity. “I’ve already called him out when he had the one interview where he was questioning her racial identity, and now he’s questioning her mental competence,” Hogan said. “And I think that’s insulting not only to the vice president but to people who actually do have mental disabilities.”
Harris has largely refrained from responding directly to Trump’s recent comments, previously dismissing similar attacks as part of the “same old show” and “tired playbook” with no real plan to address the concerns of the American people.
Despite Trump’s often offensive rhetoric, some of his supporters remain loyal, citing his immigration policies and economic leadership. Jeffrey Balogh, a rally attendee, acknowledged that while Trump’s comments are sometimes inappropriate, “he did the job. He did very well at it.” Another supporter, Tamara Molnar, praised Trump’s immigration stance but called for more decorum in political discourse.
At the Erie rally, Trump vowed to end the “invasion” at the southern border and begin deportations if re-elected. “Thousands of migrants from the most dangerous countries are destroying the character of small towns and leaving local communities in anguish and in despair,” he said, referencing key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Last month, Trump defended his personal attacks against Harris, claiming he was “entitled” to criticize her. “As far as the personal attacks, I’m very angry at her because of what she’s done to the country,” he said at a news conference. “I’m very angry at her that she would weaponize the justice system against me and other people. I think I’m entitled to personal attacks.”
By: Big Sky Headlines staff