Trump's rally in Pennsylvania addressed similar themes to an event the day before that he described as a “dark speech.”
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has escalated his personal attacks on his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, repeating the insult that she was “mentally disabled” while also saying she should be “impeached and prosecuted.”
Trump's rally on Sunday in Erie, Pennsylvania, addressed similar themes to the previous day's event that he described as a “dark speech.” He claimed to a cheering crowd Sunday that Harris was responsible for an “invasion” on the U.S.-Mexico border and told them “she should be charged and prosecuted for her actions.”
“Corrupt Joe Biden was left mentally disabled,” he added. “Sad. But, lying, Kamala Harris, I honestly think she was born that way. Something is wrong with Kamala. And I just don't know what it is, but something is definitely missing. And you know what, everyone knows.”
With about a month until the election, Trump is stepping up his use of personal and offensive attacks, even as some Republicans say he would be better off sticking to the issues that voters care about.
Trump has long threatened legal action against his rivals, including President Joe Biden and his 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton.
Trump has many legal problems of his own. He was convicted in May of falsifying business records in a hush money case in New York, with sentencing scheduled for Nov. 26. Two other cases are pending: a federal case for his alleged role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and a state case. case in Georgia for his efforts to reverse his 2020 loss there to Biden. Prosecutors are appealing a federal judge's dismissal of a case related to their handling of classified documents.
Trump argues that federal and state prosecutors are pursuing him for political reasons. There is no evidence to suggest that is true.
On Sunday, Trump acknowledged that he could lose in November: “If she wins, it won't be as nice for me, but I don't care.”
Trump has mocked Harris, the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to top a major party ticket, calling her “stupid,” “weak,” “dumb as a rock” and “lazy.” His allies have pressured him publicly and privately to speak out on the economy, immigration and other issues.
“I just think the best path forward is to prosecute the case that his policies are destroying the country,” Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union when asked about Trump's comments, describing Harris' policies as “crazy liberals.”
Asked if he approved of Trump's personal attacks on Harris, Republican Tom Emmer avoided the question during an interview on ABC's This Week.
“I think Kamala Harris is the wrong choice for America,” said Emmer, who is helping Trump's running mate, JD Vance, prepare for Tuesday's vice presidential debate. “I think Kamala Harris is actually as bad or worse than the administration we've seen over the last four years.”
When pressed, Emmer said, “I think we should stick to the issues. The problem is that Donald Trump fixed it once and they broke it. He's going to fix it again. Those are the problems.”
Harris has not commented on Trump's recent attacks, but when asked about other comments she said it was “the same old show.” “The same tired playbook we’ve heard for years with no plan for how it would address the needs of the American people.”
