WATCH: Trump defends personal attack on Kamala Harris, says she will 'destroy our country'

WASHINGTON, DC: Former president Donald Trump justified his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris' character and intellect even though he stated that he doesn't think those assaults are required to win the election in November. 

“I hope they’re not,” Trump told CBS News when asked on Monday, August 19, if the personal insults were needed. “But if I don’t think somebody’s good at something, if somebody’s not good at something, I’ve always spoken my mind. I don’t think she’s very good at this. I think she’ll destroy our country,” he added.

Donald Trump criticizes Kamala Harris' policy record 

Donald Trump responded, "No, I don't think so," when asked if attacking his political opponent's IQ and personal traits was a part of a winning message for important voters. He then shifted the conversation to criticizing her policy record.

“I think that the message is what a bad job they’ve done. I mean, if you look at this economy, if you look at inflation — and you know, I love this country. I have to do what it takes to win,” he continued, adding “I have to get this country going, because we’re going to lose our country.”

Donald Trump reveals why he insulted Kamala Harris

The former president, however, just kept hitting her when questioned more about why he is pursuing Harris' intelligence. 

“Well, I don’t think she’s a very bright person. I do feel that. I mean, I think that’s right. I think I am a very bright person, and a lot of people say that,” he said during the interview. “I don’t think she’s a very bright person. And you know what? Our country needs a very smart person, and I don’t think she’s a very smart person,” he added.

Asked for evidence to back up his theory that Harris is “not bright,” the GOP nominee said, “I looked at the things that she said. I looked at the way she deals. I looked at her record, her crazy record. I look at her policies.” “I just don’t happen to think so,” he added, according to The Hill. “Now I could say she is, and I know that would be very nice,” he further noted.

Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Kamala Harris at recent events

Recently, Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris on her appearance, race, and suitability for the post. Many conservative commentators have publicly advised him to focus on Harris' policy ideas and refrain from making personal attacks on her in the future.

Trump was instructed to attack the vice president for her progressive record by the former president's friend, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), during a Sunday, August 18, interview.

“Yeah, I don’t look at Vice President Harris as a lunatic. I look at her as the most liberal person to ever be nominated for president in the history of the United States,” Graham said about Harris. “She’s going to the Soviet Union playbook,” Graham added.

“So I would make it about policy. A nightmare for Harris is to defend her policy choices,” he added. “Every day we’re not talking about her policy choices as vice president, and what she would do as president, is a good day for her and a bad day for us,” he continued.

Republicans, especially in the battleground states where Harris is continuing to gain ground in the polls, have continuously begged Trump to concentrate more on the policy differences. According to the Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling index, the Democratic nominee is currently leading the ex-president by three percentage points, 49.4 percent to 46.4 percent.

Internet slams Donald Trump for his continuous onslaught against Kamala Harris

Netizens ridiculed the former president for his foolish remarks about Kamala Harris' intelligence and appearance rather than concentrating on her absurd 'Soviet style' policies. One X user tweeted, "It’s always the same shit different toilet with this guy." Another added, "Translation: 'I have always been an entitled asshole who should have gotten my ass kicked years ago.'" 

"@realDonaldTrump you aren't speaking your mind, you are using insults which is what people without any mind do as they have nothing else to offer!" remarked one. Someone else wrote, "Trump is an orange orangutan with floppy tits." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.