CNN —
President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Vice President Kamala Harris to stay on message and avoid such attacks after she made similar remarks at a rally the night before. He then repeatedly made personal insults about the vice president’s mental state.
“Joe Biden became mentally ill. Sad to say, Kamala Harris lied, and honestly, I believe she was born that way,” the former president said at a news conference in Erie, Pennsylvania. He spoke at a rally Sunday, reigniting an attack from the night before in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He is mentally disabled. ”
Trump on Saturday criticized Harris for illegal immigration under the Biden administration, saying, “If you think about it, only a mentally ill person could have allowed something like this to happen in our country.” ” he continued.
On Sunday morning, some Republicans said the former president should stick to the issue, something he reiterated during his third presidential campaign.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Trump, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that he didn’t think Harris was mentally ill, but that “she’s a crazy liberal.” ” he said.
“And this is what I would say to President Trump: If you look at the situation, people have overwhelming confidence in the economy, the border, inflation, foreign policy. Focus on those.” South Carolina said the state Republican.
“I’m not saying she’s crazy. I’m saying your party, your policies are totally crazy,” Graham said of her record on the border. , then added about Mr. Harris.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who plays Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, appeared on ABC’s “This Week” to help prepare for Tuesday’s vice presidential debate with Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. “I think we should stick to this issue,” he said when asked about Trump. He called Harris “mentally ill.”
Asked by ABC’s Martha Raddatz if she thought the vice president was “mentally ill,” Emmer said, “I think Kamala Harris is the wrong choice for America.”
Republican former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, an outspoken critic of Trump who refused to endorse the former president in his Senate race, pushed back against Trump’s attacks on Harris. He told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that Trump’s comments were “insulting not just to the vice president, but to people who actually have mental illnesses.”
“I’ve said for years that we can do without President Trump’s divisive comments,” said Hogan, who is running from deep-blue Maryland.
However, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who supports President Trump despite their rocky relationship, said in an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju on “Inside Politics” that the former president’s criticism of Harris was Didn’t blame the insult.
“Is there anyone mentally stable enough to condone the murder of 13,000 people in their country?” the California Republican said, falsely cited by Republican lawmakers and right-wing commentators as evidence of Harris’ mismanagement. He cited statistics that have been widely reported and misused. immigration policy.
Asked about President Trump’s recent line of attack on Harris, Trump campaign communications director Stephen Chan said in a statement that “Kamala Harris is completely unfit to be president” and continued to attack her record on immigration.
CNN has contacted the Harris campaign regarding President Trump’s recent comments. “Donald Trump is finally telling voters the truth,” campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Titica said in a statement in response to Trump’s speech on Saturday. There is no, there is only darkness.”
CNN’s Sarah Davis, Eileen Graef, Kate Sullivan, Jeff Zeleny, Ali Main, Rashard Rose and Daniel Dale contributed to this report.
