In an unprecedented moment in modern American history, the 2024 Republican and Democratic presidential candidates will face off in their first debate after just seven weeks of campaigning.
The New York Times analyzed what the two candidates said about each other on social media between July 21, when President Biden dropped out of the race, and Sept. 6, when Vice President Kamala Harris became the front-runner to succeed Biden as the Democratic nominee. (For the most part, the candidates’ social media statements mirror their public comments at rallies and other events.)
While the two candidates have been attacking each other, The New York Times found that former President Donald Trump has attacked Harris far more frequently — more than three times a day on average — and that Trump’s posts (on Truth Social) almost always contain personal assailants.
What Harris said personally about Trump
Harris’ posts about Trump (above) are less to the point. She makes a few remarks about Trump’s history of legal troubles, saying, for example, that she knows “people like Donald Trump” because, as a prosecutor, she “fought against predators, con artists and charlatans.”
She also said about him:
What President Trump said personally about Harris
In contrast, Trump’s attacks on Harris resemble the name-calling tirades of a sexist school bully. Trump frequently laces his political attacks with personal insults, but he has repeatedly attacked Harris in personal terms without specifically mentioning her policies or political record. Some of these posts include general insults that allude to Harris’ racial identity or refer to her integrity and competence.
He said of her:
Trump said Trump told attendees at a rally in North Carolina last month that he struggled to come up with a name for Harris but settled on “comrade.”
“I think that’s the most accurate name,” he said.
What the candidates are saying to each other about the issues
While the candidates have also criticized each other on policy issues, Trump has almost always sprinkled in personal attacks on Harris (at least two or three times).
Without the personal element
Extremism
economy
Borders / Crime
Chances of winning an election
Trump’s legal
abortion
Foreign Policy
Environment and Energy
Trump’s posts about Harris often contain spelling mistakes, falsehoods and unusual grammar and capitalization. For a few days in August, Trump frequently referred to Harris as “Kamabra,” but has since stopped using that term. Harris’ posts are more typical of a more traditional politician.
Borders are a particularly contentious issue.
Trump has made immigration a central theme of his campaign and has repeatedly and incorrectly referred to Harris as Biden’s “border secretary.” Harris has pointed to Trump’s pressure on Republicans to oppose a bipartisan immigration deal.
Both sides accuse each other of being extremists.
Harris has linked Trump to Project 2025, a set of conservative policy proposals that Trump has recently tried to distance himself from. Trump has (falsely) claimed that Harris is a communist who will “destroy America.”
Harris attacked Trump on abortion rights.
The vice president frequently reminds voters that Trump appointed Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Trump rarely mentions reproductive rights.
Their criticism of the economy is more typically partisan.
Harris has accused Trump of only thinking about wealthy Americans, and the former president has blamed her for inflation.
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