Vice President Kamala Harris took a brief pause from her preparations for a CNN town hall on Wednesday to deliver a strongly-worded address, during which she compared former President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler. Unlike her typical approach, Harris did not take questions from the press, but a reporter was able to inquire about President Joe Biden’s recent comments on Trump.
Biden had made a similar comparison during a campaign event in New Hampshire on Tuesday, saying “we gotta lock him up” in reference to Trump. The remark was made in response to the Trump v. United States decision on presidential immunity, which Biden mischaracterized. Harris’ remarks, however, focused primarily on Trump’s alleged desire for a military that would be loyal only to him, rather than to the United States Constitution.
According to Harris, Trump had made this sentiment clear to former Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired four-star general, who confirmed the statement in a recent interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic. This narrative, however, has been disputed, including by Mayra Guillen, the sister of Vanessa Guillen, a U.S. soldier whose name was used in a political smear campaign against Trump.
Harris used the opportunity to express her concerns about Trump’s leadership style, claiming that he wants a military that will obey his orders, even if they are unlawful. She also invoked the memory of Hitler, who was responsible for the deaths of 6 million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Americans, to emphasize the dangers of Trump’s alleged behavior.
“This is a window into who Donald Trump really is,” Harris stated, citing the testimony of those who worked with him in the Oval Office and Situation Room. “He is increasingly unhinged and unstable, and in a second term, there would be no guardrails to rein him in.” Harris’ remarks were seen as a campaign speech, with a clear message about the dangers of unchecked power.
Despite her lead in national polls, Harris’ campaign is facing challenges, with her lead over Trump narrowing to just +0.6 according to RealClearPolling. Trump is ahead by +1.1 in battleground states, and the outcome of the election remains uncertain. The Democratic National Committee has also been promoting the story, with some Democrats acknowledging the controversy surrounding Goldberg’s reporting.
The exchange between Harris and the reporter who asked about Biden’s comments provides insight into the tensions between the two Democratic leaders. As the election approaches, the rhetoric is becoming increasingly heated, with both sides engaging in intense campaigning and criticism.
