Donald Trump has raised questions about Kamala Harris’s eligibility to run for president, labeling her nomination by the Democratic Party, despite not winning their primary, as a “threat to democracy.”
In a recent Truth Social post, the Republican nominee called Harris the “Weakest Presidential Candidate in History on Crime.”
Harris quickly emerged as the Democrats’ likely nominee after President Biden dropped out of the race on July 21, backing her in the process. Biden, who had won the Democratic primary, faced pressure related to his age and mental fitness, leading to his decision to bow out.
In his post, Trump criticized Harris for her handling of border issues, stating: “Kamala Harris is the Weakest Presidential Candidate in History on Crime. She’s allowed millions of people to pour through our Borders, many from prisons, mental institutions and, indeed, terrorists, coming in at levels never seen before.”
He further questioned her qualifications by saying, “What gives her the right to run for President? She got no votes to Biden’s 14 Million. She failed in her previous attempt, was the first one out of 22 people to quit, never made it to Iowa, and now she’s a Presidential Candidate? This is a Threat to Democracy!”
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Harris did compete against Biden for the 2020 Democratic nomination but exited the race in December 2019 before the Iowa caucus, citing challenges in fundraising. She was later chosen by Biden as his running mate in August 2020.
Trump further expressed his viewpoint during a news conference in Arizona, labeling Harris’s ascension as a “coup.” He stated, “It’s a very sad time for this country in many ways. We had a candidate — I was no fan of Joe Biden — but the way he was taken out was a coup.”
Recent polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows Harris with a slight edge over Trump, leading 47.3% to his 43.6%. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is currently polling at 4.7%.
On Friday, Trump gained a boost as Kennedy announced he was partially stepping back from the 2024 race, urging his followers to support the Republican nominee in key battleground states, while still encouraging votes for himself in strong Republican or Democratic areas, hoping for a possible presidency through a “contingent election.”