Election Live Updates: Trump, Harris and Surrogates Fan Out in Frenetic Day of Campaigning
New York TimesJul 19
Republicans Condemn Trump Over Insults of Harris
Above: Donald Trump and Harris's first Presidential Debate is displayed on a TV screen in Foster City, California, on Sept. 10, 2024. Image copyright: Tayfun Coskun/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Some Republicans, including former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, have urged Donald Trump to avoid making personal attacks on Kamala Harris.
Minnesota representative Tom Emmer, a member of Trump's running mate JD Vance's debate team, said that the GOP presidential candidate should "stick on the issues" during the campaign.
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
Donald Trump's attacks on Kamala Harris reflect a disturbing pattern of demeaning personal rhetoric. His refusal to focus on policy debates, instead resorting to deeply personal jabs, illustrates his tendency to bypass norms of political discourse. They reveal an attempt to regain control through nastiness rather than substantive engagement.
Pro-Trump narrative
Kamala Harris has opened herself up to personal attacks through her actions, particularly her role in "weaponizing the justice system" against Donald Trump. She, too, targets him personally, calling him "weird." Harris' calls for civility during the campaign deserve to be dismissed given her behavior towards her opponent.