Former President Donald Trump is not physically present at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but his influence looms large. Despite claims from his aides that he’s uninterested in the “infomercial” of the Democratic Party, it’s evident that Trump is closely monitoring the event—and he’s not pleased.
A senior campaign official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Trump is irritated by the consistent attacks directed at him during the convention. Allies close to Trump believe that his path to victory in November lies in sticking to key issues like the economy, border security, and crime. However, the relentless criticism from Democrats has made it challenging for Trump to maintain focus on these topics.
This week, Trump held a series of rallies across Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona, each intended to highlight his policy positions. Yet, with the constant barrage of anti-Trump rhetoric from Chicago, his ability to stay on message has faltered.
At a rally in North Carolina, Trump openly debated with his supporters about whether to continue focusing on policy or respond to the personal attacks. The crowd’s preference was clear: they wanted the classic Trump show, filled with personal jabs rather than dry policy discussions. In response, Trump joked about firing his advisers and vowed to stay on policy, though he couldn’t resist addressing the attacks against him.
This shift in strategy creates challenges for his campaign team, who are concerned about keeping Trump focused on critical issues rather than engaging in controversial personal attacks. These concerns were validated when Trump lashed out on social media, targeting Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro with a racially charged comment that quickly made headlines.
Trump’s penchant for controversy continues to dominate the news cycle, overshadowing his attempts to critique his opponent’s policy weaknesses. His advisers fear that one offhand comment or personal attack is all it takes to derail their carefully crafted message, giving his opponents the opening they need to shift the conversation away from policy and onto Trump’s more inflammatory remarks.