Republicans In Despair As Trump Focuses On Grievances Instead Of Policy

“I’m not sure it’s possible to get him on message in this race.”

Republicans had a plan for former President Donald Trump’s speech Wednesday afternoon in Asheville, North Carolina. His 2024 presidential campaign announced that the address would focus on the economy, an area where he still generally polls ahead of Democratic rival Kamala Harris, even as she’s closed the gap. It could be, the campaign clearly hoped, a chance to reset the race after a monthlong span in which Harris managed to turn a distinct GOP lead into a toss-up contest.

Multiple Republicans went on Trump’s favorite platform — cable news — to remind him to focus on policy. On the Asheville stage, they flanked him with signs touting two elements of his campaign platform: “no tax on tips” and “no tax on Social Security.”

But just moments after opening his speech, Trump was instead complaining about Time magazine’s latest cover, which features an artist’s portrayal of Harris.

“They don’t use a picture; they use an artist’s sketch,” Trump said. He would later criticize Harris’ laugh, calling it “career-threatening” and “the laugh of a person with some big problems.”

Though Trump did eventually get to the point of the 75-minute speech, repeatedly slamming Harris for inflation under President Joe Biden’s administration and promising to cut costs himself, he essentially had to remind himself to focus on the task at hand.