Former President Donald Trump recently held a rally in Minnesota where he continued to criticize President Joe Biden, despite no longer being his opponent for the 2024 election. Trump mockingly commented on Biden’s golf game, cognitive abilities, and performance at events, as well as targeting his son, Hunter Biden, and making derogatory remarks about the president himself. Trump also took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, portraying her as a “radical left lunatic” and criticizing her record on the U.S.-Mexico border.
During the rally, Trump alluded to the assassination attempt that he experienced and stated that he has not changed since then, except possibly getting angrier at what he perceives as incompetence in the country. He criticized the Democrats and accused them of staging a coup to replace Biden with Harris as the new target of his attacks. Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, also joined in the criticism of Harris, calling her “whacky,” “out-of-touch,” and a member of the “lunatic fringe.”
The Harris campaign responded to Trump’s rally by blasting him as a “bitter, unhinged, 78-year-old convicted felon” and expressing disbelief at his focus on past opponents and golf. They accused Trump of wanting to drag the country backward and undermine democracy, referring to his “Project 2025 agenda” which they claim would infringe on freedoms. A New York Times/Siena poll conducted after Biden exited the race showed a neck-and-neck race between Trump and Harris among likely voters.
Despite the changing dynamics in the 2024 race, with Biden stepping aside and Harris becoming a target for Trump’s attacks, the former president continues to focus on his familiar themes from his past campaigns. Trump’s rally in Minnesota echoed his earlier campaign events, mirroring the style and rhetoric that was present before the attempted assassination and the start of Harris’ candidacy for president. The enthusiastic crowd at the rally cheered him on as he ridiculed his opponents and criticized the current administration.
As Trump took the stage to address the crowd, he meandered about and made derogatory comments about Biden and Harris, attempting to portray them in a negative light. His campaign and supporters have conflated the records of Biden and Harris, holding them both responsible for various issues including the border crisis, inflation, and unrest on the world stage. Trump’s continued focus on attacking his opponents and rallying his base underscores his determination to remain a central figure in the political landscape.
