Former President Trump campaigned in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday and went after Vice President Harris’s physical appearance as his Republican allies have pushed him to instead focus on the policy differences with his political opponent.
“I am much better looking than her,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. “I’m a better-looking person than Kamala.”
The former president made the comments while referencing a recent Time Magazine cover that features Harris.
TRUMP: I’M MUCH BETTER LOOKING THAN KAMALA
💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/aScyes2QXT
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) August 18, 2024
“Time Magazine doesn’t have a picture of her. They have this unbelievable artist drawing her,” he said. “They took a lot of pictures that didn’t work out so they hired a sketch artist.”
Trump’s criticism of Harris was one of many directed at Democratic figures during the rally. He expressed confusion about his political opponent, saying, “What happened to Biden? I was running against Biden and now I’m running against someone else. I said, who am I running against, Harris? I said, ‘Who the hell is Harris?’”
In a statement following the rally, the Harris campaign said, “another rally, same old show.”
“Donald Trump can’t sell his dangerous Project 2025 agenda to raise taxes on working families by $3,900, terminate the Affordable Care Act, and rip away our freedoms, so he resorts to lies, name-calling, and confused rants,” said Joseph Costello, a campaign spokesperson.
Trump: "I'm a better looking person than Kamala." pic.twitter.com/kMr9MUt8mi
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) August 17, 2024
Trump also took aim at Pennsylvania Democrats, including the state’s Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Sen. Bob Casey (D), who is running for reelection. The former president suggested that the Harris campaign did not select Shapiro as her running mate “because he is Jewish” and repeated his criticism of Jewish voters who support Democrats.
Trump also lashed out against various broadcast news networks, including ABC News, which is hosting the presidential debate in September.
Trump: "I'm announcing today that under my leadership the United States will commit to the ambitious goal of slashing energy and electricity prices by half at least. We're looking to cut them in half and we think we'll be able to do better." pic.twitter.com/mFoySgoH82
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 14, 2024
The former president’s remarks come as a number of Republicans, including his former adviser Kellyanne Conway, have called on him to avoid personal insults and focus on policy in his campaign rhetoric.
“The winning formula for President Trump is very plain to see,” Conway told Fox Business last week. “It’s fewer insults, more insights and that policy contrast.