WASHINGTON —
Republicans on Sunday sought to distance themselves from Donald Trump’s recent insult in which he called Democratic candidate Kamala Harris “mentally ill” during a rambling weekend rally in Wisconsin.
President Trump escalated his personal attacks on the vice president during a speech he billed as a speech on immigration following Harris’ visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.
President Trump said, “Joe Biden was mentally disabled.” Kamala was born that way. She was born that way. And when you think about it, this kind of thing happens in our country. The only people who allowed this to happen were mentally ill people. Anyone can understand that.”
President Trump has already falsely claimed that Harris has “turned black” and regularly insults her, calling her “stupid,” “weak,” “stupid as a rock,” and “lazy.” With the presidential election just over a month away, his allies have urged him to speak out on behalf of the public and private sector about the economy, immigration and other issues.
Asked about President Trump’s comments on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) said, “I think the wise thing to do is to prosecute her because her policies are destroying our country.” said. “They’re crazy liberals.”
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) was evasive when asked in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” if he approved of the remarks.
“I think Kamala Harris is the wrong choice for America,” said Emmer, who is helping President Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, prepare for Tuesday’s vice presidential debate. “I think Kamala Harris is actually as bad or worse an administration than we’ve seen over the last four years.”
When asked, Mr Emmer said: The thing is, Donald Trump fixed it once. they destroyed it. He’s going to fix it again. Those are the problems. ”
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is running for the Senate as a moderate Republican, brought up President Trump’s false claim that Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, had previously downplayed her black heritage. . Harris attended Howard University, a historically black university, and has consistently identified as both black and South Asian throughout her political career.
Hogan said on CBS’ “Face the Nation”: “When I was interviewed once, I had already called him and asked him about her racial identity, and now he has asked her about her racial identity.” “It calls into question his mental capacity.” “And I think this is an insult not just to the vice president, but to people who actually have mental illness.”
If elected, Harris would be the first woman, black woman, and South Asian to become president. She did not comment on President Trump’s latest attacks, but when asked about her other comments, she said it was “the same old show.” No plan for how he will address the needs of the American people, the same boring strategy we have heard for years. ”
President Trump said last month that he was “entitled” to make personal attacks on Harris.
“When it comes to personal attacks, I’m very angry with her because that’s what she did to the country,” he said at a press conference at the time. “I’m very angry that she would use the justice system as a weapon against me and others. I’m very angry at her. I get personal attacks. I think I’m qualified.”
Contributed a long article to the Associated Press.
