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Donald Trump repeatedly attacks Kamala Harris in the US election. However, his latest video represents a new low.
Donald Trump can’t help it. He provokes, polarizes, denounces. He seems to be using every means possible to influence the outcome of the US election in his favor. The ex-president’s rhetorical outbursts are so frequent that they are hardly shocking anymore.
“We don’t expect anything from Trump,” said former First Lady Michelle Obama during a campaign event for Democrat Kamala Harris. “No understanding of politics, no ability to argue, no honesty, no moral integrity.” Trump is just Trump, it is often said.
Donald Trump’s new move in the US election campaign is causing irritation
But now Donald Trump has once again managed to cause disbelief. With a video about opponent Kamala Harris that he published on the X platform (formerly Twitter). It shows Harris, probably through an airplane window. She yawns. The clip is accompanied by a cradle melody for children. “Kamala has little energy,” says Trump.
“How creepy and strange is this tweet,” asks one X user. Another writes: “Breaking news: Kamala Harris yawns. Creepy 78-year-old stalker posts video of her filmed through a window.” Several users point to the numerous recordings that show Donald Trump sleeping during a court case.
The video may appear to be a new low in Donald Trump’s US election campaign strategy. In fact, it is just a logical consequence that was born of the US political system. Defamation is part of the US election campaign like pumpkins are part of Halloween. “In the end, Trump’s statements are just negative advertising,” said Andrew Selepak recently BuzzFeed News Deutschland von IPPEN.MEDIA. He is a social media professor at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications.
Instead of advertising how great and suitable you are, this “negative advertising” is about badmouthing your political opponent. “Negative advertising is deeply rooted in the American political system,” says Selepak. This is also because communication science has its origins in America. “Negative advertising was around as early as 1800, when Thomas Jefferson called his rival John Adams vile,” says Selepak.
“How creepy and strange is this tweet,” one X user asks about a video of Kamala Harris that Donald Trump posted. © Julia Demaree Nikhinson/dpa, screenshot X, collage
US election campaign: Donald Trump’s double standards towards Kamala Harris are systematic
Experts are not surprised that Donald Trump, of all people, who has dozed off several times in the courtroom, is denouncing a tired Kamala Harris. “Unfortunately, in many cases it is still the case that women have to measure themselves by completely different standards than men,” said US political expert Caroline Leicht recently BuzzFeed News Deutschland. The reason for this is that political leadership roles in the USA are still predominantly associated with “stereotypically male attributes”. This type of “double standard theory” is also referred to as the “gender double bind,” says Leicht.
Kamala Harris is repeatedly exposed to such sexism during the election campaign – and not just from Donald Trump himself. An interview of the presidential candidate with the US broadcaster Fox News also sparked discussions because the moderator repeatedly interrupted Harris.
