Donald Trump unleashed a series of attacks on US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, labeling her a "radical left lunatic" during his first rally since she became the de facto Democratic Party nominee for the November election. In his speech, Trump also accused Harris of supporting the "execution" of babies due to her stance on abortion. The former president and Republican nominee stated: "She is a radical left lunatic who will destroy our country." "We're not going to let that happen," he declared to a crowd in North Carolina, frequently mispronouncing Harris's first name.
Trump's speech occurred as Harris, 59, embarked on her campaign trail with President Joe Biden's endorsement, following his historic decision over the weekend not to seek re-election. The 78-year-old Republican had previously criticized Biden's age but now faces the challenge of being the oldest nominee in US history. Trump shifted his focus to Harris on Wednesday, describing her as "the ultra-liberal driving force behind every single Biden catastrophe." He referred to her as "Lyin' Kamala" and accused her of allowing communities to be "ravaged by migrant crime" due to her border policies, asserting that "she's unfit to lead."
Trump also addressed the contentious issue of abortion, highlighting Harris's pledge to make abortion rights a central part of her campaign and to advocate for the right to control one's own body. "She wants abortions in the eighth and ninth month of pregnancy. That's fine with her, right up until birth and even after birth, the execution of a baby," Trump claimed. Harris has previously accused Trump of attempting to ban the procedure, stating that "we trust women to make decisions about their own bodies."
On Wednesday, Trump alleged that Democratic Party leaders had removed Biden in an "undemocratic" manner, saying: "Now we have a new victim to defeat." "If we start beating her in the polls by 10 or 15 points, are they going to bring in a third candidate?" he added. Trump also accused Harris of concealing Biden's "mental unfitness." Earlier Wednesday, the White House denied any cover-up of a possible decline in Biden's health prior to his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
Harris's nomination has ignited enthusiasm among Democrats following weeks of turmoil over Biden, who faced pressure after a poor debate performance against Trump last month. On Tuesday, Harris energized a fervent crowd at her first rally since securing the Democratic presidential nomination, while launching new attacks on Trump for trying to "take the country backward." While Biden previously targeted Trump as a threat to democracy, Harris has taken a more personal and focused approach, emphasizing his record as a felon. She highlighted her experience as a California prosecutor dealing with what she described as "predators" and "fraudsters," concluding: "So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump's type."
