Donald Trump is capitalizing on the Democrats' missed opportunity at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to boost Vice President Kamala Harris's faltering campaign.
The confident Republican nominee has even appropriated President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris's signature one-word campaign slogans, using them to outline his own American agenda and rally support for his November bid.
Everyone will prosper, every family will thrive, and every day will be filled with joy and opportunity and hope, but to make this a reality, we must defeat Kamala Harris,” Trump declared to the crowd toward the end of his speech.
Obama’s use of “Hope,” combined with his undeniable charisma and his historic bid to become the first Black president, helped him triumph over John McCain. In contrast, Harris seems to be leaning heavily on “Joy” as a thematic element of her campaign, which so far has been criticized for lacking substantive discussions on critical issues.
While the DNC featured high-profile celebrities, it failed to capture the fervor of Obama’s previous conventions, a shortfall that appears to be boosting Trump’s spirits.
On Friday, Trump appeared particularly buoyant, engaging audiences with his trademark humor and sharply criticizing the Democratic agenda. At an Arizona rally centered on border security, he took aim at Harris, calling her “the worst vice president in the history of our country” and urging her to “get out” as the crowd erupted in cheers.
The rally also featured a notable moment when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a surprise appearance, endorsing Trump and inciting chants of “Bobby!” from the enthusiastic audience.
According to event organizer Charlie Kirk, the rally drew 16,200 attendees, cohosted by Kirk’s Turning Point Action.