Trump 'pissed' over 'terrible' decision to choose JD Vance as VP pick and takes it out on campaign staff
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former President Donald Trump is reportedly in the midst of an internal crisis within his campaign.
Sources close to Trump have claimed that he is currently hunkered down at Mar-a-Lago, where he has been lashing out at his campaign team following what he now perceives as a "terrible" decision to select JD Vance as his running mate.
Donald Trump's campaign in crisis
The cracks in Trump's campaign strategy have become increasingly visible as he struggles to regain his footing in the polls. The downward spiral has been exacerbated by the exit of President Joe Biden from the race and the subsequent rise of Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket.
Sarah Matthews, a former Trump spokeswoman, underscored the gravity of the situation, telling MSNBC, "I think that he feels this election slipping away from him, and that’s where you’re beginning to see him spiral."
The combination of declining poll numbers and growing internal dissent has left many Republicans and top donors concerned about the direction of Trump's campaign.
Rather than focusing on core policy issues such as the economy, border security, and crime, Trump has been consumed with launching personal attacks on Harris and delving into fringe conspiracy theories. This has reportedly left many within his party questioning his ability to mount a successful challenge against Harris in the upcoming election.
One of the most significant points of contention within Trump's campaign is his selection of JD Vance as his vice-presidential pick. Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House staffer and longtime Trump confidante, shed light on the alleged turmoil within the campaign during an appearance on the podcast 'The Rest is Politics.'
According to Scaramucci, Trump is "pissed" about his decision to choose Vance, a choice he now views as a monumental mistake. "He picked Vance, he knows Vance was a terrible, terrible pick," Scaramucci told the podcast. "He's lighting people up inside his campaign right now about picking Vance."
Scaramucci also noted that this behavior is typical of Trump, who has a history of firing staff when things don't go his way. He drew parallels to a similar meltdown Trump had in August 2016, during which he fired several key members of his campaign team and brought in Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon as advisors.
Now, as Trump reportedly contemplates firing his current campaign managers, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, Scaramucci emphasized that these are "very talented people" who may become the latest casualties of Trump's frustration.
Kamala Harris' meteoric rise
While Trump remains ensconced in Mar-a-Lago, attempting to regain control of his faltering campaign, Kamala Harris has been making significant strides on the campaign trail. Her recent ascension to the top of the Democratic ticket has been marked by a surge in popularity and fundraising.
In just her first week of campaigning, Harris raised an impressive $200 million and continues to climb in the polls.
Harris's momentum has been further bolstered by her choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate, a decision that has resonated well with the liberal media and younger voters, particularly those from Generation Z.
Her campaign's success stands in stark contrast to Trump's struggles, as she capitalizes on a favorable media environment and a rapidly growing base of support.
With the Democratic National Convention set to begin on August 19 in Chicago, the "Harris hype" is expected to receive another significant boost.
As one top Trump ally told Axios, "President Trump knows he's the only one who can end the media's honeymoon with Kamala Harris, and he sees a significant opening to do so with Harris' inability to defend her record on inflation and the border."
"To get past the media force field protecting Harris, however, he knows he needs to be very specific with his policy contrasts and is planning on debuting a hard-hitting stump speech very soon," they added.
Despite being aware of the need to shift his campaign strategy, Trump has continued to engage in personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric.
In a particularly controversial interview with a group of Black journalists in Chicago on July 31, Trump made a racially charged remark about Harris, claiming that she "happened to turn Black" a few years ago and suggesting that "all of a sudden, she made a turn" in her identity.
This was followed by another quip during a livestream interview with Elon Musk, where Trump referred to Harris as "the most beautiful actress ever to live."
Nikki Haley's comments and the path forward
These statements have not only alienated potential voters but have also drawn criticism from within Trump's party. Nikki Haley, a prominent Republican and former UN Ambassador, who was once considered a potential vice-presidential pick, has publicly called for an end to the "ridiculous barrage of insults" against Harris.
In an interview with Fox News, Haley urged Trump to make a "serious shift" in his campaign strategy.
"I want this campaign to win. But the campaign is not going to win talking about crowd sizes. It's not going to win talking about what race Kamala Harris is. It's not going to win talking about whether she is dumb. You can't win on those things," Haley said. "The American people are smart. Treat them like they're smart."
As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen whether Trump can pivot away from his current trajectory and focus on the key policy issues that resonate with voters.
According to Scaramucci, the former president should concentrate on topics like crime, socialism, border security, and the economy to demonstrate that the Democrats are "the wrong people for America."
However, a Republican source close to Trump has expressed doubts about his ability to stay on message, telling Axios that "he has to convince himself to leave the other garbage behind" in order to stay on script.
