Several Republicans sought to distance themselves from Donald Trump’s recent remarks questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ mental fitness, which he made during a rally in Wisconsin over the weekend.
At the rally, Trump escalated his criticism of Harris, referring to her as “mentally disabled” and implying that only someone with mental impairment could have contributed to what he described as the country’s current problems.
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“Joe Biden became mentally impaired,” Trump said. “Kamala was born that way. She was born that way. And if you think about it, only a mentally disabled person could have allowed this to happen to our country.”
Trump’s latest remarks come after a history of derogatory comments about Harris, including previous false claims about her race and repeated insults labeling her “stupid,” “weak,” and “lazy.”
With the election just over a month away, some of his allies have urged him to focus on issues like the economy and immigration instead of personal attacks.
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Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) commented on CNN’s State of the Union, stating, “I just think the better course to take is to prosecute the case that her policies are destroying the country.” He avoided directly addressing Trump’s remarks but characterized Harris’ policies as “crazy liberal.”
Representative Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) also refrained from endorsing Trump’s language during an interview on ABC’s This Week, saying, “I think Kamala Harris is the wrong choice for America.”
He emphasized the need to focus on key issues like the economy and immigration instead of personal attacks.
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Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican running for Senate, condemned Trump’s earlier claims regarding Harris’ racial identity and her recent mental fitness remarks.
He said, “I think that’s insulting not only to the vice president but to people who actually do have mental disabilities.”
Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, has consistently identified as both Black and South Asian throughout her political career.
Harris has not publicly responded to Trump’s recent attacks but previously referred to similar comments as “the same old show” and criticized Trump for lacking a substantive plan to address the country’s needs.
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Despite Trump’s divisive rhetoric, some supporters at his rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, defended him, stating that while they may not always agree with his tone, they support his stance on immigration and his economic policies.
“He says what’s on his mind,” said Jeffrey Balogh, a 56-year-old attendee, acknowledging that sometimes Trump’s remarks might not be appropriate but expressing approval of his handling of the economy.
