Top advisers to failed former president Donald Trump say the end is near for their candidate, even though there are nearly two months left in the 2024 race for the White House.
The presidential debate was emblematic of the dilemma facing Trump, according to an illuminating article from Axios which notes that the disgraced ex-president was urged to spend most of the debate countering Vice President Kamala Harris’ attacks by painting himself as a martyr who “took a bullet” for the nation.
Instead, Trump fell back on his “grievance” routine, and Harris crushed him, winning the debate in a fashion that left the twice-impeached former head of state in a political freefall:
- Go back in time. Go back to the seconds after he was shot at in Pennsylvania. The moment Trump rose, ear bloodied, fist held high, American flag flying behind, and mouthed: “Fight!”
- It was an iconic moment, an unforgettable image, a political memory money can’t buy. And, Trump’s team believed, a sure-bet ticket to winning in November.
- All he had to do, they told him, was use the moment to say he took a bullet for America, and felt like a changed man ready to pull the nation together. For a few days, he did … until 28 minutes into his prime-time convention speech on July 18.
Perhaps the most noticeable instance of Trump humiliating himself came when Harris mentioned how crowds at his rallies look bored and often leave halfway through his rambling speeches.
“He didn’t just nibble at the bait. He crushed it like a starving, roaring river salmon. He was on a wild run the rest of the debate.”
Even worse for Trump and his campaign advisers is the fact that he “cannot and will not” change, which will doom him to losing in November.
“He can’t stand being seen as a loser. So it’s impossible to fully admit he didn’t win in 2020. He looks to distractions like crowd size and adoring coverage for solace.”
Also, Trump can’t change because he’s too old to make corrections in midstream, which is something every campaign has to do at times.
“A wise man told us three types of people never change: Old guys. Rich guys. Guys with their names on the building. So the chances that Trump — a 78-year-old, self-proclaimed billionaire with his name on buildings, bottles and golf courses — will change are, um, nil.”
Kamala Harris won the 2024 election when she debated Trump. All that’s left now is to count the votes, declare her the winner, and watch as Donald has yet another public meltdown and awaits the final chapter of his story, which is likely to end with him in prison.
