It looks like former President Donald Trump has decided to take the phrase “no more Mr. Nice Guy” to heart, and has set his sights on tearing down Vice President Kamala Harris.
“You know, when I got hit, everybody thought I was going to be a nice guy, and they thought I changed – remember just before the Republican convention?” Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, asked the crowd gathered Wednesday in Harrisburg, Pa.
He was, of course, referring to his narrow escape of an assassination attempt just a few weeks ago in the same state. Within two days of sustaining an injury to his ear, Trump attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisc.
“They all said ‘Trump is going to be a nice man now. He came close to death,’ and I really agreed with that for about eight hours or so,” he told the Harrisburg crowd. “And then I realized they were trying to put me in prison for doing absolutely nothing wrong. They went to judges who are crooked judges, they went to judges who are fake.”
Trump was in fact found guilty of 34 felony charges by a jury this May, some that could potentially lead to jail time. He also faces other legal challenges as the November election looms closer.
He was telling the truth about ditching any plans for adopting a “nice guy” persona after the shooting, although he did preach about unity during the GOP convention. Around a week ago, CNN reported that Trump said something similar in an interview with FOX News, adding that his political opponents were “garbage.”
“She’s the worst ever, and she’s going to be your president?” Trump said of Harris Wednesday during the Pennsylvania rally.
In fact, just a week after the assassination attempt, he called Harris “crazy” and “nuts” during a campaign rally in Michigan. Audacy reported this week on a new slew of nicknames and jabs he has for the vice president, who is likely to be at the top of the Democratic ticket following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race. These include “Laffin’ Kamala,” a dig at the way she laughs, and “Lyin’ Kamala” as well as “dumb as a rock.”
Another insult – “DEI hire” – targets both Harris and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that aim to decrease discrimination in the workplace. Even as he uses that term, Trump questioned Harris’ Black heritage this week during an event for the National Association of Black Journalists.
“I’ve known her a long time indirectly. Not directly very much,” Trump said. “She was always of Indian heritage. And she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black. And now she wants to be known as Black.”
This comment was immediately met with fact checks from many news organizations, including CNN, the Associated Press and Newsweek.
POLITICO said: “Trump’s first try at pivoting to Harris blows up in his face,” about the comments.
Harris is of Indian and Jamaican heritage and notably shared her experience as a bussed student in California’s first integrated classrooms during a debate with Biden during the 2019 presidential primaries. She is also a graduate of Howard University, America’s oldest historically black university.
Despite the fact that his comments were obviously and demonstrably false, Trump appeared to double down on them with a Thursday Truth Social post.
“Thank you Kamala for the nice picture you sent from many years ago! Your warmth, friendship, and love of your Indian Heritage are very much appreciated,” said the caption of a photo that shows Harris in what looks like traditional Indian garments.
In other posts Thursday, he trotted out another nickname, “Border Czar Harris,” and criticized her work on immigration and border issues.