Washington, August 18, 2024 – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again directed personal attacks at Vice President Kamala Harris, this time claiming that he is “much better looking” than her. The remarks were made during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, where Trump criticized a recent *Time Magazine* cover featuring Harris.
At 78, Trump did not shy away from disparaging Harris’s appearance, asserting that the magazine’s illustrator was “too generous” with the portrayal of the 59-year-old Vice President. “I’m much better looking than her,” Trump declared, before adding, “Time Magazine doesn’t have a picture of her. They have this unbelievable artist drawing her. They took a lot of pictures that didn’t work out, so they hired a sketch artist.” This comment follows a pattern of personal insults aimed at Harris, which have featured prominently in Trump’s speeches as he campaigns for a return to the White House on November 5.
Despite repeated calls from his allies to refocus his campaign on policy issues, Trump has insisted that he is “entitled” to personally attack Harris because he “doesn’t have a lot of respect for her.” These personal digs are often mixed with critiques of Harris’s policies, such as her recent economic plan aimed at reducing the cost of food and housing. Trump dismissed these proposals, saying, “Yesterday, Kamala laid out her so-called economic plan. She says she’s going to lower the cost of food and housing starting on day one. But day one for Kamala was three and a half years ago.”
Trump’s strategy of targeting Harris personally rather than solely on policy matters has drawn criticism. His comments extend beyond appearance, with past remarks questioning Harris’s intelligence and even her racial identity, which has sparked backlash from various quarters. During Saturday’s rally, Trump also reiterated his unfounded claims that Harris “stole” President Joe Biden’s presidential bid, accusing her of undermining Biden and implying that Biden is “angry” and “hates” Harris. “Joe Biden hates her. This was an overthrow of a president. This was an overthrow,” Trump stated, adding that he looks forward to debating Harris in September, a debate he claimed would be “easier” than facing Biden.
Pennsylvania, where the rally was held, is expected to be a critical battleground in the upcoming election, with its 19 Electoral College votes up for grabs. Trump narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2016, contributing to his victory, but lost the state to Biden in 2020. As such, Trump’s focus on Pennsylvania is part of a broader strategy to reclaim key states that were pivotal in his earlier electoral successes.
In response to Trump’s latest attacks, the Harris campaign issued a statement dismissing the former president’s rhetoric. “Another rally, same old show,” said Joseph Costello, a spokesperson for the campaign. “Donald Trump can’t sell his dangerous Project 2025 agenda to raise taxes on working families by $3,900, terminate the Affordable Care Act, and rip away our freedoms, so he resorts to lies, name-calling, and confused rants.”
