Why Harris moved from 'joy' to calling Trump 'a fascist' - NEWS

Watch: Harris says she thinks Donald Trump is a fascist

On Wednesday afternoon, Kamala Harris stood in front of the vice-presidential residence in Washington DC, and delivered a short but withering attack on her Republican presidential opponent.

Calling Donald Trump "increasingly unhinged and unstable", she cited critical comments made by John Kelly, Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff, in a New York Times interview.

Vice President Harris referenced John Kelly’s remarks, describing Donald Trump as someone who "fits the general definition of fascists" and who had, on multiple occasions, expressed admiration for Hitler. Harris stated that Trump seeks "unchecked power," and when asked directly at a CNN town hall if she believed Trump was a fascist, she responded, "Yes, I do."

After the town hall, Trump took to X and Truth Social, criticizing Harris's remarks. He accused her of resorting to extreme rhetoric, claiming her statements reflected desperation and that she was "calling me Adolf Hitler" and saying "anything else that comes to her warped mind."

As the 2024 presidential race tightens, it’s common for candidates to adopt a more negative tone to energize their base and disrupt their opponents. For Harris, this sharper approach towards Trump contrasts with the more upbeat messaging she initially embraced in her campaign. Although she warned at the Democratic convention about the dangers of a Trump presidency, she initially distanced herself from Biden's message that Trump represented a fundamental threat to American democracy.

Political strategist Matt Bennett of the centrist Democratic group Third Way noted that Harris’s swift amplification of Kelly’s warnings about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies was a tactical move. "Everything she does now is tactical," Bennett said. "The goal was to ensure as many voters as possible heard what Kelly said."

Harris’s recent comments are part of a broader strategy aimed at attracting independent voters and moderate Republicans who might consider supporting the Democratic ticket. Polls indicate a close race, with no clear frontrunner in key battleground states.

Suburban areas in swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona, home to many college-educated professionals, have traditionally leaned Republican but may be hesitant to support Trump’s return to the White House.

According to Bennett, Harris’s strategy hinges on building a broad coalition, including disillusioned Republicans who are wary of backing Trump again. Devynn DeVelasco, a 20-year-old independent from Nebraska, represents such a voter. Having been swayed by former senior Republicans who now oppose Trump, she’s hopeful others will join her in supporting Harris. However, she also expressed concern that the continuous revelations about Trump may be losing their impact.

"When I heard about Kelly’s comments, I wasn’t surprised," DeVelasco told the BBC. "It didn’t change much for me."