We know that Donald Trump likes to imply, or more than imply, that his opponent, Kamala Harris, is dumb. We also know that there’s a growing tendency on the right to bring back words that, until recently, were considered offensive and taboo.
Both of those came together at a recent Trump fundraiser at New York’s Trump Tower, which was reported on by the New York Times.
At the fundraiser, per the report, Trump “tore through a bitter list of grievances,” and among them was referring to Harris as “retarded.” The Times report cited seven sources who were present at the fundraising dinner.
Trump also “complained about the number of Jews still backing Ms. Harris, saying they needed their heads examined for not supporting him despite everything he had done for the state of Israel,” echoing a sentiment Trump has expressed in public settings before.
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The report added that Trump is in an ” often cantankerous mood” in the closing stretch of the presidential race and that he’s worried about being outraised by the Harris campaign. This opens the door for the Harris campaign to point out the former president’s erratic behavior and to use it against him in the race.
Donald Trump Calls Kamala Harris the R-Word at Dinner with Billionaire Donors: Report https://t.co/IWpEgUju0y
— People (@people) October 13, 2024
There were some angry reactions online to the reports that Trump had used that word:
Do you want a president who uses the r-word?
<<He disparaged Vice President Kamala Harris as “retarded.”>> https://t.co/01zosk2XPh
— Tim Dickinson (@7im) October 12, 2024
REMINDER with the story out today that Trump called Kamala Harris the R-word at a donor dinner.#HarrisWalz2024 https://t.co/PNkjHLafbX
— Eamon Paton-Usry (@Eamon2Please) October 12, 2024
Meanwhile, X-El Presidente hits a new low this this cheap shot which doesn’t just diminish his opponent but every man, woman & child w/ an intellectual disability. https://t.co/2cRhS1ZS0f
— Maureen Flatley (@moflatley) October 13, 2024
Trump calling Kamala Harris “retarded” to his donors is infinitely worse than Hillary calling MAGA “deplorables.” Yet instead of wall-to-wall media coverage it’s received fucking crickets. I’m so sick of what the media lets Trump get away with.
— Andrew—Author of America Rises On Substack (@AmoneyResists) October 14, 2024
Will this end up mattering in the presidential race? That remains to be seen, although it would appear this is another instance of the normal rules of politics not applying to Trump, even as they continue to apply to everyone else.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
