WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former President Donald Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris on immigration and criminal justice on Friday in his second speech since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, calling Harris “vain” and a “failed vice president.”
“He was a bum three weeks ago. He was a bum. A failed vice president in a failed administration where millions went through, and he was a border czar,” Trump said at the Turning Point Action Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Many of the former president’s criticisms of Harris were similar to his attacks on Biden. Trump said Harris mismanages the southern border, doesn’t like Jews and would nominate “Marxists” to the Supreme Court to strip Americans of their religious freedom. (The Vice President’s husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, is the Vice President’s first Jewish wife and prominent role in the fight against anti-Semitism.)
These attacks were consistent with Republicans’ generally unsubstantiated claims that Democrats would implement socialist or Marxist policies if elected.
The GOP attacked Harris’ record as the Biden administration’s “border czar,” however The White House backed downHarris’ role, he said, is not to solve the crisis on the southern border, but to work with Central American countries to address the root causes of migration.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.
Trump also attempted to tie Harris to San Francisco, where he previously served as district attorney, telling attendees that if Harris is elected, “terrorists will appoint hundreds of far-left judges to force crazy San Francisco liberal values on Americans. “
The former president also rallied religious voters to turn out more than ever this year, telling them: “You have great power, you just don’t know it. You must use this power. Christians are a group that doesn’t vote much. At least you need to leave this election. Take us to that beautiful White House.”
Calling them “my beautiful Christians,” Trump added: “Get out and vote.” Just this time. You won’t have to do that anymore. Four more years. what do you know It will be fixed. It will be fine. You will no longer have to vote.”
NBC News reached out to the Trump campaign to clarify the comments.
Friday’s event was the first time Trump’s earmuffs have been completely removed since he was the victim of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania nearly two weeks ago.
The former president even noted the absence of a bandage, telling the crowd: “I think you can see that I’m recovering well, and I actually took the last bandage off my ear.”
Trump added that he “shot for democracy.”