Republicans are becoming increasingly frantic as they urge former President Trump to dial down his inflammatory rhetoric and focus on policy issues. With Vice President Kamala Harris gaining traction as the Democratic nominee, Trump’s recent outbursts are raising alarms among GOP strategists who fear his erratic behavior could jeopardize their chances in the upcoming election.
Since Harris took over as the Democratic nominee in late July, Trump has exhibited a series of unpredictable and controversial behaviors that many within the Republican Party view as self-sabotage. His recent attacks on Harris’s biracial heritage, criticism of popular Republican figures like Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, and bizarre comparisons of crowd sizes from January 6 to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech have overshadowed key policy discussions.
Republicans are worried that Trump’s focus on personal grievances rather than critical issues like immigration and the economy could harm their election prospects.
“We need to keep the race focused on the issues that matter most to voters,” said one former Trump White House official. “But Trump’s behavior is making it increasingly difficult to maintain that focus. He needs to project normalcy over the next couple of months.”
In recent weeks, Trump’s tendency to engage in controversial antics has dominated the news cycle, drawing attention away from substantive policy debates. This includes criticizing the size of her rally crowds, and promoting dubious conspiracy theories. Former GOP aides are concerned that such distractions not only detract from crucial policy messages but also risk alienating potential voters.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy echoed these concerns, urging Trump to refocus the campaign’s messaging: “We need to make this race about issues, not personal attacks or crowd sizes. We should be questioning Harris’s record and her positions on critical issues like crime and border security.”
With polls indicating that Harris is gaining ground and Trump’s previous lead in key battleground states is shrinking, the pressure on Trump to refine his approach is mounting. His upcoming interview with Tesla founder Elon Musk on the platform X could be another opportunity—or challenge—for Trump to demonstrate his ability to stay on message and focus on policy rather than personal grievances.
Despite Trump’s insistence that his campaign is running smoothly and his dismissal of unfavorable polls, Republicans are anxious that his tendency to veer off-topic and focus on personal vendettas could be undermining their efforts.
“If Trump can make this race about policy, he stands a better chance, ”said GOP pollster Frank Luntz. “But if it continues to be about personal attacks and controversies, Harris may gain the upper hand.
As Republicans are desperately hoping Trump can rein in his impulses and focus on the issues that matter most to voters, the next few months could be crucial in determining whether Trump’s campaign can recover and align with GOP objectives for a successful election bid, or if it will drag the entire party into chaos and defeat.
