Commentary: As Harris Makes History, Trump Campaigns to be Gaslighter-in-Chief
Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
OPINION (CBM) – With the Democratic National Convention in Chicago now concluded and Vice President Kamala Harris officially nominated as the party’s candidate for President, former President Donald Trump has wasted no time reverting to his usual playbook, peddling division and negativity.
Rather than campaigning on the critical issues facing the country, Trump is trolling anyone he perceives is making fun of him or questioning his competence. In front of his supporters, he openly mocked his advisers who urged him to focus on policy.
Gaslighting, a tactic designed to make people question their reality, has been a constant feature of Trump’s political career. Whether downplaying the severity of COVID-19, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, or distorting his administration’s achievements, Trump has skillfully used this approach to manipulate public perception in his favor.
While Democrats celebrated Harris’s historic nomination and urged the nation to turn the page on Trump, he was in swing states launching personal attacks and spreading misinformation, reinforcing his image as an “unserious”, “weird”, and backward-looking candidate out of touch with American values. His appearances were filled with off-the-cuff remarks, unhinged tirades, and humiliating blunders. He ridiculed President Joe Biden’s appearance, labeled former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “crazy,” called Harris “lazy” and “stupid,” and described former President Obama as “nasty.”
Trump’s gaslighting of Harris goes even deeper, questioning her background and identity, implying that Democrats might not fully understand “where she came from” or her “ideology.” This tactic which he’s used against other prominent Black leaders, including Obama and women of color in Congress, is designed to paint Harris as an outsider, despite her Oakland roots, her experience being bused to public school, and graduating from Howard University, a historically Black college. His deliberate mispronunciation of her name, a blatant sign of his racism and disrespect, aims to marginalize her as “other.”
On Trump’s list of jabs at Harris is making fun of her laugh, calling it a “cackle.” He ridiculously claimed that he’s “better looking” than her —not realizing he was implying he’s also better looking than his wife, Melania, since he had remarked that Harris’s Time Magazine cover resembled her.
Trump has tried to label Harris as “Lyin’ Kamala” and brand her a “communist,” calling her “Comrade Kamala”, even suggesting that “Kamala” sounds like “communist” — a childish play on words that he finds clever.
Ironically, when Trump calls Harris “stupid,” he’s absurdly trying to demean someone whose parents both earned PhDs, who holds an advanced degree, and is a member of the California State Bar, having passed one of the most challenging exams in the country. Meanwhile, Trump, who lacks an advanced degree, has gone to great lengths to keep his academic records secret, even threatening legal action to prevent their release. By throwing this derogatory label at Harris, Trump is once again projecting his own insecurities onto others, conveniently forgetting that his Secretary of State reportedly called him a “moron.”
As Trump campaigns, it’s clear he thinks focusing on division and negativity and not offering constructive solutions is the way to win the election. There’s no message of unity or progress—just a constant barrage of grievances and complaints about the state of the country and how he’s being treated.
The barrage of personal attacks Trump’s been launching is part of a broader pattern in his strategy, which hinges on the “Big Lie” — the baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Trump’s repeated falsehoods have deeply influenced many Republicans, damaging their trust in democratic institutions.
As Harris steps into her role as the Democratic nominee, her campaign offers a hopeful vision for the future and bold solutions to national challenges, standing in stark contrast to Trump’s backward approach. For Black Californians, and all voters, the challenge is to assess each candidates’ rhetoric, evaluate the information, and make a choice based on the facts.
At their convention, Democrats highlighted Project 2025, the controversial plan from the conservative Heritage Foundation detailing policies Trump is expected to adopt if elected. They exposed its extreme agenda, threatening civil rights, environmental protections, and social programs such as access to reproductive rights. In response, Trump is denying any connection to the MAGA manifesto mostly written by people from his administration, telling Fox News, “I have nothing to do with Project 2025,” and Newsmax, “I have no idea what it is.”
As the 2024 election approaches, it’s important to critically evaluate the information presented, recognizing Trump’s tactics for what they are: an attempt to distort reality and undermine Harris’s candidacy, which embodies progress, diversity, and inclusion.
Trump’s gaslighting underscores his persistent disregard for the truth and his readiness to exploit fear and prejudice to stay relevant, raising questions about what national leadership role he’s really after.
While “Gaslighter-in-Chief” may aptly describe the position Trump is campaigning for, and although he is seeking another higher office, it’s essential for the future of the America that he doesn’t succeed in achieving this title as well.
About the Author
Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.
