Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has escalated his personal attacks on his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, by repeating an insult that she was “mentally impaired” while also saying she should be “impeached and prosecuted.”
Trump’s rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, took on similar themes as an event one day earlier that he described himself as a “dark speech.” He told a cheering crowd that Harris was responsible for an “invasion” at the US-Mexico border and “she should be impeached and prosecuted for her actions.”
“Crooked Joe Biden became mentally impaired,” he added. “Sad. But lying Kamala Harris, honestly, I believe she was born that way. There’s something wrong with Kamala. And I just don’t know what it is but there is definitely something missing. And you know what, everybody knows it.”
READ MORE: US election poll-tracker: Who will win on November 5?
With just over a month until the election, Trump is intensifying his use of personal and offensive attacks, even as some Republicans say he’d be better sticking to the issues.
His suggestions that political enemies be prosecuted are particularly notable for their departure from norms in the US in which the judicial system is supposed to be protected from political influence.
In recent weeks, he has threatened prosecutions of Google for allegedly giving priority to “good stories” about Harris, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, and anyone he deems to be “involved in unscrupulous behaviour” related to the coming election.
Trump has long threatened legal action against his rivals, including President Joe Biden and his 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton. This month he threatened to jail those “involved in unscrupulous behavior” this election, including election workers, lawyers, political operatives, donors, and voters, yet again sowing doubt about the integrity of the election, even though fraud is very rare
But he also has many legal problems of his own. He was convicted in May of falsifying business records in a hush money case in New York, with a sentencing scheduled for November 26.
READ MORE: Over 1000 Qantas workers to strike during peak hour flights today
Three other cases are pending against him, including one tossed out by a federal judge following a Supreme Court ruling granting presidents broad immunity. The Justice Department is appealing. The other cases are on hold.
If he wins the election, he could potentially pardon himself or order the Justice Department to shut the federal investigations against him.
On Sunday, he acknowledged he might lose in November: “If she wins, it’s not going to be so pleasant for me, but I don’t care.”
His derision of the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to lead a major party ticket as “stupid,” “weak,” “dumb as a rock” and “lazy” is also a sign of how nasty and personal the final stretch of the campaign may be.
His allies have pushed him publicly and privately to talk instead about the economy, immigration and other issues.
Harris has not commented on Trump’s recent attacks but has said when asked about other comments that it was the ” same old show. The same tired playbook we’ve heard for years with no plan on on how he would address the needs of the American people.”
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, celebrity and sport via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
links to content on ABC
9News
