Former U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a series of attacks against his rival Kamala Harris, characterizing her as a left-wing “extremist.” Trump, who is now the Republican nominee for the presidential election, claims that Harris is the “ultra-liberal driving force” behind President Joe Biden’s policies.
During his first public campaign rally since Biden, 81, withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed his vice president, Trump accused Harris of being the most left-wing occupant of the White House and warned that she would be “ten times more” extreme if elected in November.
“If you want socialist healthcare, nation-destroying inflation, the death of American energy, and a lying, radical left-liberal extremist from San Francisco as your top leader, then Kamala Harris is your candidate,” Trump stated at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday.
Trump repeatedly mispronounced Harris’s first name and noted that she had been ranked as the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, making Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, appear moderate by comparison. The Republican candidate particularly highlighted Harris’s views on abortion and immigration, asserting that she supported the “execution” of babies and had overseen the “deadly destruction” of the U.S. border in her role as Biden’s diplomatic leader responsible for building relationships with Central American countries.
Harris, who previously served as a prosecutor and Attorney General of California, accused Trump of supporting a nationwide ban on abortion and wanting to take the country back to a time “before many of our fellow citizens had full freedoms and rights.”
“She is a radical left-wing lunatic who will destroy our country if she ever gets the chance to come to power. We will not allow that to happen,” Trump added.
At 78 years old, Trump also accused Harris of deceiving the public about Biden’s mental capability. “For three and a half years, Harris has shamelessly lied to the public to cover up Joe Biden’s mental incompetence, claiming that corrupt Joe was at the top of his game. I don’t believe it,” he said.
Trump’s rhetoric, filled with superlatives, coincided with Harris, 59, campaigning as the de facto Democratic nominee after securing a significant portion of delegates leading up to next month’s national convention. Following weeks of uncertainty surrounding Biden’s faltering candidacy, Harris’s performance has infused new energy into the campaign, with donors pledging record contributions and several polls indicating that she performs better than the president against Trump.
However, Harris has still fared worse than Trump in most polls conducted since Biden’s exit, and the question of her appeal among the general electorate remains central, given that much of her political career has been spent in the solidly Democratic state of California.
In remarks addressing his reasons for not seeking re-election on Wednesday, Biden, whose age and health have become growing concerns among Democrats, reiterated his support for Harris, praising her as “experienced,” “tough,” and “capable.” “She has been an incredible partner for me and a leader for our country,” Biden stated shortly after Trump’s rally concluded.
Harris, who would be the first female president in U.S. history, spent Wednesday campaigning in Indiana, where she visited a historically Black sorority to mobilize support for her campaign against Trump. “At this moment, I believe we are faced with a choice between two different visions for our nation—one that focuses on the future and one that focuses on the past,” Harris said. “And with your support, I am fighting for the future of our nation.”