Donald Trump doubled down on his personal attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning her mental state during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. His remarks followed similar comments made the previous night in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he accused Harris of being “mentally impaired.” Trump linked Harris to illegal immigration under the Biden administration, stating, “Only a mentally disabled person could’ve allowed this to happen to our country.”
These insults have prompted some Republican allies to urge Trump to shift his focus to policy issues. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump supporter, appeared on CNN’s State of the Union, advising Trump to concentrate on the economy, border security, inflation, and foreign policy—areas where voters tend to favor him. While Graham rejected Trump’s characterization of Harris as mentally impaired, he criticized her policies, describing them as “crazy liberal.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer echoed this sentiment during an appearance on ABC’s This Week, urging Trump to “stick on the issues.” When pressed on whether he believed Harris was “mentally disabled,” Emmer responded by saying, “Kamala Harris is the wrong choice for America,” without addressing Trump’s specific remarks.
Critics within the GOP, including former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, voiced their disapproval of Trump’s rhetoric. Hogan, a known Trump critic, called the comments “insulting not only to the vice president but to people who actually do have mental disabilities.” He reiterated his longstanding opposition to Trump’s divisive language.
However, not all Republicans condemned Trump’s statements. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who continues to back Trump despite their tense past, defended the former president. McCarthy suggested that Harris’ handling of immigration warranted criticism, stating, “Do you think anybody would be mentally stable that would allow 13,000 murders into your own country?” He cited a statistic frequently misrepresented by right-wing commentators in attacks on Harris’ immigration record.
Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump’s campaign, doubled down on the attacks, declaring that Harris is “wholly unfit to serve as president,” while further criticizing her record on immigration. Harris’ campaign spokesperson, Sarafina Chitika, responded by accusing Trump of offering “nothing ‘inspiring’ to voters, just darkness,” in a statement following Trump’s remarks.