Donald Trump on Joe Biden, August 12, 2024: “Actually, he had a low IQ thirty years ago, now, he probably has no IQ at all, there’s nothing on the boards that goes that low.” He says he’s going to build an iron dome over the United States just like Israel, “because it only takes one maniac to ruin everything.” The former President returned to Twitter in a “live space,” a feature that might’ve come with Musk, maybe not, I don’t remember, do you? “Congratulations on all these people listening to your… chat, we’ll call it a chat. You’re an interesting character.” Trump is lisping like Julianne Moore in May December and it’s obvious he thinks Elon Musk is as much of an idiot as everyone else. “You’ll be great, you’re a great… I won’t name the company, but they go on strike, you say, ‘Okay, you’re gone. Thank you.’ You’d be great.” Elon: “Happy to help.” Trump demurs. “You’re an interesting character."
So and so is “a big MAGA fan.” He’s Zooming in, it’s cute. Trump talks about himself and his campaign like a rock band, or a director would his films, and he’s running out of steam. Who wouldn’t after a near-death experience? He should go to the beach for a year, but there’s no time, and I doubt he’d be happy sitting on a beach, doing nothing. The rest of the media calls him and his party “weird,” and he responds, “They’re not saying that about me, they’re saying that about J.D.” His Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance has been embarrassed every day of his candidacy with a new story, a new photo, a new meme that makes its way into the mainstream. Tim Walz telling Vance that he’s ready to debate “if [you’re] willing to get off the couch” is an uncharacteristically clever line delivered by a Democratic politician.
The election is in a freeze-out until the Democratic Convention next week, and if that produces any real news, it’ll be the protestors, unable to be blacked out by the media like they were in 2004 and before. Will pro-Palestine protestors make it into the hall? Only as theater—but again, I doubt the Democrats are clever enough to acknowledge their sorest internal opposition, even in a one-sided attack on their turf. The next real news will be on September 10th, when Trump and Kamala Harris debate for the first time. They are both wacky in their own way. It might be as boring as the June 27 debate was mesmerizing, whose broad outlines—known victim of dementia Joe Biden blanks out on live television—could be predicted, but actually seeing it in full detail was intoxicating and overwhelming. If the next debate is exciting, it’ll be because one of them trips up and completely loses focuses. I think it’s possible either way.
Will Harris agree to a previously scheduled third debate if she “wins” the September 10th debate? No—the Democrats will try and win another election by keeping their inadequate candidate at home as much as possible, and allow Trump to spin his wheels and embarrass himself in boredom. He’s drifting off now, probably too freaked out by the assassination attempt to successfully win reelection, but if he wins, it’ll be because Harris just isn’t there. One of them will break on stage.
—Follow Nicky Otis Smith on Twitter and Instagram: @nickyotissmith
