President Joe Biden recently visited Mary Mac’s Tea Room in Atlanta, where he downplayed polls predicting his loss in the upcoming election, emphasizing that the race is not just about him but also about the alternative. Biden has been engaging in a campaign strategy that involves trolling former President Donald Trump with insults and one-liners. He has taken to calling Trump a “loser,” in reference to the 2020 election that Trump lost and refused to accept. Biden has also mocked Trump’s suggestion of injecting disinfectant to treat COVID, poking fun at Trump’s personal low points.
Despite the ongoing insults and jabs at Trump, it remains unclear whether Biden’s attacks are having a significant impact, as Trump continues to dominate the media landscape. Some experts suggest that Biden’s approach may not be as effective as Trump’s tactics, as Biden is perceived as being too nice for such tactics. However, Biden has continued to poke fun at Trump in his recent speeches and public appearances, using humor to criticize Trump’s actions, including his financial struggles with Truth Social and his attempt to sell a Bible.
Biden’s insults and name-calling are a part of a long tradition in American politics, dating back to the early days of the Republic. Insults against political opponents have been a common practice throughout US history, with presidents often resorting to clever insults to undermine their rivals. The arrival of the Reagan era in the 1980s saw a resurgence of mean-spirited campaign rhetoric, with politicians becoming less restrained in their attacks on each other. The 2016 election marked a turning point in campaign rhetoric with Trump’s insults towards opponents and the rise of derogatory labels.
As Biden continues to trade insults with Trump, the dynamics of the 2024 election remain largely unchanged, with most polls showing Biden trailing behind Trump. However, Biden’s strategy may be two-fold, aiming to show that Democrats are willing to engage in a battle of insults with Republicans and hoping to provoke Trump into making damaging statements. If insulting Trump helps achieve these goals, it may prove to be an effective strategy for Democrats. By engaging in a war of words with Trump, Biden is attempting to beat him at his own game and disrupt the political landscape in the run-up to the election.
