At a rally in Miami on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump launched a series of pointed attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning her competence and labeling her an "insurance policy" for President Joe Biden. Trump's comments come as the Democratic Party faces internal debates about Biden's viability as the nominee for the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking to supporters at the Trump National Doral Golf Club, Trump, 78, mocked Biden's selection of Harris as his running mate. "Whatever else can be said about crooked Joe Biden, you have to give him credit for one brilliant decision, probably the smartest decision he ever made. He picked Kamala Harris as his vice president. No, it was brilliant. Because it was an insurance policy. Maybe the best insurance policy I've ever seen," Trump remarked, repeatedly mispronouncing her name.
Trump continued his critique, asserting that if Biden had chosen someone "even halfway competent," they would have ousted him from office by now. "But they can't because she's gotta be their second choice," he said, suggesting that Harris's perceived inadequacy is what keeps Biden in power.
The former president's remarks come amid growing speculation about Biden's re-election bid. At 81, Biden has faced calls from some Democrats to step aside following a lackluster debate performance with Trump on June 27. Biden struggled to articulate his points effectively during the debate, leading to concerns about his ability to lead the party to victory in November.
Trump did not miss the opportunity to highlight Harris's performance in her roles related to border security and international diplomacy. "First, she was put in charge of the US border security. She never showed up. She's never gone. She never went there once. And the border is the worst border in the history of the world," Trump alleged, accusing Harris of neglecting her duties. He also criticized her handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating, "Then, she was sent to Europe to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine. How did that work out? Not too good."
Trump further accused Harris of promoting socialist policies, asserting that her "California socialism" would not resonate with the people of Florida. "I don't think Kamala Harris' California socialism is going to go down well with the people of Doral, the people of Miami, or the people of Florida. Because in Florida, we don't like socialism. We want our freedom, right? We want our freedom," he declared.
Amid the speculation, there have been rumors that Trump might announce Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his vice-presidential pick during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee. Although Trump hinted at Rubio as a potential running mate throughout his speech, he maintained the suspense. "I think they probably think I'm going to be announcing that Marco is going to be vice president, because that's a lot of press," Trump said, teasing the audience.
In response to Trump's attacks, the Biden campaign released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, challenging Trump to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We'd challenge Donald Trump to stand up to Putin, but he bent the knee to him," the statement read. It emphasized that Biden is focused on leading the U.S. and "defending the free world," dismissing Trump's remarks as "weird antics."
During the rally, Trump also accused Biden, Harris, and the Democratic establishment of being involved in a massive cover-up regarding Biden's cognitive abilities. "Joe, Kamala, and the entire Democrat establishment have been caught red-handed in the thick of the biggest scandal and the biggest cover-up... it's a cover-up. It's the biggest cover-up in political history," Trump alleged.
