Donald Trump’s comments questioning Kamala Harris’ Black identity and stumbles by his running mate JD Vance are prompting growing unease among Republicans, according to USA TODAY.
In response to a backlash over Vance’s remarks about childless women, the Trump campaign is seeking to help him move past the controversy by focusing on issues such as the border that resonate with the GOP base.
Republican allies outside the Trump campaign are downplaying their 2024 presidential nominee’s recent statements about his Democratic rival and her race as they move into damage control mode with less than 100 days until Election Day. Some in the party are genuinely concerned, though.
“I think we’re starting to see the old Trump that a lot of Republicans got tired of in 2020, got tired of defending him,” Vermont GOP Chairman Paul Dame told USA TODAY, adding: “If the next three months is defined by more examples like this I think he’s going to see some of that soft centrist support deteriorate.”
For his part, Vance must avoid “losing President Trump’s confidence,” said Marc Short, who served as chief of staff for former Vice President Mike Pence. “(Trump) forms opinions quickly too, so I think that’s probably a bigger risk.”
Dogging both Trump and Vance are their own controversial comments. For Trump, it’s remarks about Harris during an event with Black journalists earlier this week that falsely asserted the nation’s first female Black vice president was “Indian all the way” and suddenly “became a Black person.” For Vance, it’s comments he made in a resurfaced 2021 interview about the country being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives” and another suggestion from that period that people with children should have more votes than people without kids.
Trump fielded multiple questions about Vance on Wednesday during a tense appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists’ convention in Chicago, repeatedly arguing that his running mate is not against childless people while also dismissing the idea that the VP nominee matters much anyway.
“Historically, the choice of a vice president makes no difference,” Trump said. “You’re voting for the president.”
