CNN
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Donald Trump on Sunday repeated his private insults about Vice President Kamala Harris’ psychological state as some GOP allies urged him to remain on message and keep away from such assaults after he made related remarks at a rally the night time earlier than.
“Joe Biden turned mentally impaired. It’s unhappy, however mendacity Kamala Harris, actually, I consider she was born that manner,” the previous president stated at Sunday’s rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, reprising assaults from the night time earlier than in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the place he stated, “Kamala is mentally impaired.”
Blaming Harris for unlawful immigration happening beneath the Biden administration, Trump on Saturday went on to say, “If you concentrate on it, solely a mentally disabled individual may’ve allowed this to occur to our nation.”
On Sunday morning, some Republicans stated the previous president ought to to stay to the problems — a plea they’ve made repeatedly throughout his third presidential run.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a high Trump ally, informed CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that he didn’t assume Harris was mentally impaired however that “she’s loopy liberal.”
“And right here’s what I might inform President Trump: When folks take a look at the state of play, they belief you on the economic system, the border, inflation and international coverage by extensive margins. Concentrate on these,” the South Carolina Republican stated.
“I’m not saying she’s loopy. I’m saying your occasion, your insurance policies, are batsh*t loopy,” Graham added of Harris after attacking her document on the border.
Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who has been taking part in Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to assist put together Ohio Sen. JD Vance for Tuesday’s vice presidential debate, informed ABC’s “This Week” that “I feel we must always stick on the problems” when requested about Trump calling Harris “mentally disabled.”
Requested by ABC’s Martha Raddatz whether or not he thought the vp was “mentally disabled,” Emmer stated, “I feel Kamala Harris is the incorrect alternative for America.”
Republican former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, an outspoken Trump critic who has rejected the previous president’s endorsement in his Senate race, pushed again on Trump’s assaults on Harris. He informed CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that Trump’s feedback are “insulting not solely to the vp however to individuals who really do have psychological disabilities.”
“I’ve stated for years that Trump’s divisive rhetoric is one thing we are able to do with out,” stated Hogan, who’s working within the deep-blue state of Maryland.
However former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who’s supporting Trump regardless of their shaky relationship, wouldn’t condemn the previous president’s insults in opposition to Harris in an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju on “Inside Politics.”
“Do you assume anyone can be mentally steady that may enable 13,000 murders into your personal nation,” the California Republican stated, citing a statistic that has been misrepresented and misused by GOP lawmakers and right-wing commentators as proof of Harris’ supposed mismanagement of immigration coverage.
Requested about Trump’s current line of assault on Harris, Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump marketing campaign, informed CNN in an announcement that “Kamala Harris is wholly unfit to function president” and went on to assault her document on immigration.
CNN has reached out to Harris’ marketing campaign about Trump’s most up-to-date feedback. Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for the marketing campaign, responded to Trump’s speech Saturday in an announcement, saying, “Donald Trump is lastly telling the reality to voters: He’s obtained nothing ‘inspiring’ to supply the American folks, simply darkness.”
CNN’s Sarah Davis, Aileen Graef, Kate Sullivan, Jeff Zeleny, Ali Predominant, Rashard Rose and Daniel Dale contributed to this report.