Well, folks, we’ve seen some bizarre campaign blunders over the years, but this latest one from Trump’s camp is truly a masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it yet, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to proudly share a photo from his rally in Glendale, Arizona. In the photo, he’s standing next to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—yes, RFK Jr.—but the kicker is that the sign on the podium reads, “Trump Vance 2024.” That’s right, JD Vance wasn’t even in the picture, but there he was, apparently on the ticket. If this wasn’t so hilarious, it would be almost tragic.
This post is emblematic of the mess Trump’s campaign seems to be in right now, especially when it comes to his running mate. Reports have surfaced that Trump isn’t exactly thrilled with JD Vance, and honestly, can you blame him? According to The New Republic, Vance’s favorability ratings are sinking like a stone, and many Republicans are quietly—or not so quietly—expressing frustration with the Ohio senator. source: The New Republic
Let’s talk numbers here. Vance’s net favorability rating is negative five percent. That’s right, folks, negative. In a matchup against Kamala Harris, Vance is polling even lower than Sarah Palin during her infamous 2008 run, according to CNN analyst Harry Enten. When you’re polling worse than Sarah Palin, you know you’ve got problems source: Politico.
Trump shares a post describing he and RFK Jr as a “ticket.” Poor JD. pic.twitter.com/0kmtEytGkW
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 24, 2024
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But it’s not just about the numbers. Trump reportedly expected Vance to be the energizing force on the ticket, someone who could pick up the slack as Trump himself begins to slow down. Instead, what he got was an uninspiring and, frankly, lackluster VP candidate. Vance’s performance on the campaign trail has been described as “goofy,” and he’s done little to elevate the ticket. In fact, some GOP insiders are already wondering aloud whether Trump regrets picking him at all. Ben Shapiro, never one to mince words, recently questioned if Trump would have chosen Vance if he could go back in time, saying, “I doubt it” source: Politico.
And let’s not forget the baggage. Vance’s old comments about “childless cat ladies” have come back to haunt him, and they aren’t sitting well with the public, especially given the stark contrast with Kamala Harris, who has made these issues a centerpiece of her campaign. According to The New Republic, even some Republicans are wondering why Trump didn’t vet Vance more thoroughly, given the skeletons in his closet source: The New Republic.
Video from last night’s rally in Glendale showing Trump introducing RFK Jr. as he prepared to endorse Trump:
So, what’s the takeaway here? Trump’s accidentally hilarious post featuring RFK Jr. next to a “Trump Vance” sign might just be a sign of the underlying disarray in the campaign. Reports suggest that Trump’s frustration with Vance is growing, and it’s hard not to see why. When your running mate is polling worse than any VP nominee in modern history, it’s not exactly a vote of confidence.
In the meantime, the internet is having a field day with the RFK Jr.-Vance mashup, and so are we. Because in a campaign season filled with twists, turns, and Trumpisms, this latest gaffe is just par for the course.
Featured image via screengrab
