Donald Trump is invoking a vision of an extreme new White House term that would transform America and rock the world, with Vice President Kamala Harris having only three weeks to avert it as she struggles to restore momentum in a neck-and-neck race to Election Day. The Republican nominee is escalating toxic anti-immigrant rhetoric and making baseless claims, such as warning that if Harris were elected, the entire country would be turned into a migrant camp. Trump also threatened to begin the largest deportation operation in US history and vowed to close the border to stop the invasion of illegals into the country.
Amid escalating threats against political opponents and using presidential power for personal and political whims, Trump threatened to withhold federal disaster aid to Democratic-run California and called for CBS to lose its license. His allies also raised concerns about how a new administration might deal with big business by threatening to cancel Deloitte’s federal contracts. Additionally, new details emerged of Trump sending Covid-19 tests to a Russian authoritarian, raising concerns about his genuflection to foreign tyrants like Vladimir Putin.
The deepening extremism of Trump is increasing the pressure on Harris, with senior Democratic leaders pleading with voters not to let Trump return. Harris sharpened her attacks on Trump for failing to release his medical records and refusing to meet her in a second debate or be interviewed by “60 Minutes.” There is growing dread among Democrats that Harris’s successes have not translated into a decisive lead over Trump, with no clear leader in national polls and fears of another Electoral College defeat.
The close contest between Harris and Trump suggests that despite Trump’s extremism, Democrats have failed to produce a candidate and message that can reassure voters. While Trump is winning on the top election issue of the economy, Harris’s incumbency as vice president is seen as a liability, and her failure to articulate a powerful rationale for her campaign is a misstep that Trump will exploit. Trump’s extreme promises to deport migrants, implement tariffs, and address world issues may look forceful compared to Harris’s policies.
History suggests that Trump doesn’t always act on everything he says, but his past behavior indicates that his threats should be taken seriously. A Supreme Court ruling granting presidents substantial immunity suggests few impediments to imperial executive power. Despite Trump’s unapologetic extremism, Democrats have not been able to produce a candidate and message that can reassure voters, with Trump winning on the economy, even though the job market is robust. In contrast, Harris’s incumbency as vice president is seen as a liability, with her failure to provide a strong rationale for her campaign being a potential issue Trump will exploit.
