As the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, Donald Trump is reportedly fixated on the possibility that Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech could outshine his own RNC performance. Sources close to the former president reveal that Trump has expressed concerns multiple times, obsessively comparing Harris’s expected viewership to his own, which peaked at 28.4 million, according to Nielsen.
Two sources close to the campaign told Rolling Stone that Trump can’t stop bringing up the impressive numbers from his nomination speech. Despite reassurances from his campaign that Harris is “weak, failed, and dangerously liberal” and that the Democratic ticket is “the most radical in American history,” his preoccupation with TV ratings seems to be consuming his thoughts and keeping him up at night.
Media experts suggest that the 2024 election is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in U.S. history, eclipsing even the tumultuous 2020 race. With a candidate swap and an assassination attempt already making headlines, the suspense surrounding the conventions is palpable.
Professor Frank Sesno, director of strategic initiatives at the GW School of Media and Public Affairs, described the current political landscape as “the fiercest competing political reality shows” ever witnessed. “There’s so much drama on both sides, there’s so much tension, and there’s a huge suspense as to what’s going to happen,” Sesno said.
The DNC is drawing significant media interest with innovative coverage strategies, including unprecedented access for over 200 social media influencers. This convention not only serves as Kamala Harris’s formal nomination but also as a farewell event for President Joe Biden, who used his Monday speech to highlight his achievements and criticize Trump for his ongoing false claims about the 2020 election.
In a dramatic moment, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain showcased a ‘Trump is a scab’ T-shirt, and Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance to express her gratitude to Biden. All of this adds to the spectacle Trump is anxiously watching, hoping against hope that his previous ratings won’t be overshadowed.
