Former President Donald Trump has voiced his displeasure with the media for what he perceives as an unexpected focus on labeling him and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), as “weird.” During a podcast interview on “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,” Trump accused the media of promoting this narrative to cast the Republican ticket in a negative light.
Trump’s Response
Denying the “Weird” Label
“Nobody’s ever called me weird,” Trump declared confidently. “They’re the weird ones,” he added, directing his comments at Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats. “I’m a lot of things, but weird I’m not.” Trump also defended his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, stating that he is “not at all” weird.
Democratic Criticism
The Republican ticket has recently been targeted by Democratic critiques branding them as “weird”—a shift from the usual focus on Trump’s perceived threat to democracy. Trump contended that the real weirdness lay with the Democrats’ positions on issues such as immigration, taxes, transgender rights, and elections. “The whole thing is weird,” he said, suggesting that these topics are the real markers of abnormality.
Media and Soundbites
Media’s Role
Trump expressed frustration with the media’s emphasis on the term “weird.” “It’s all a soundbite,” he lamented, noting how the evening news consistently introduces the word ‘weird’ when discussing him and his campaign. “No, we’re not weird people,” Trump insisted. “We’re actually just the opposite; we’re right down the middle.”
Responses and Reactions
Harris Campaign’s Retort
Vice President Harris’s campaign, having picked up on the “weird” critique originally introduced by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), responded with a dramatic flair. At a recent fundraiser, Harris quipped, “You may have noticed Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record. And some of what he and his running mate are saying, it’s just plain weird.”
Vance’s Take on the Criticism
In response to being labeled as weird, Vance stated, “It’s an honor” to be attacked in such a manner. “Look, the price of admission—meaning, the price of getting to serve the people of this country—is the Democrats are going to attack us with everything they have. I think it’s an honor,” Vance said during a recent Fox News interview.
Trump’s Counterattack
Trump took the opportunity to retaliate by labeling Harris as “plain weird” in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “Listen, this whole thing is a con job. ‘Just plain weird.’ Do you know who is plain weird? She’s plain weird,” Trump said. “She’s a weird person. Look at her past. Look at what she does.”
Conclusion
In this unusual political climate, Trump’s efforts to portray himself and his campaign as the epitome of normalcy continue to unfold. The term “weird” has become a central theme in the ongoing battle of words between the Trump and Harris campaigns.