How Trump’s 'rambling' campaign speeches have become even more 'bizarre'

24 June 2024

When presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee held a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Saturday, June 22, his critics were quick to pounce on his verbal "misfires" and attack the speech as rambling.

But that was hardly the first time Trump's detractors have accused the former president of rambling during a campaign speech.

In an article published on June 24, Axios' Erin Doherty describes some of the "bizarre" things Trump has said at recent campaign rallies.

"Trump's bombastic speeches have always mixed anger, falsehoods, conspiracy theories and vague, sweeping plans," Doherty explains. "But recently, he's gone deeper into bizarre tales and vulgarities…. Last month in Wildwood, N.J., he was accusing the Biden Administration of allowing criminals into the U.S. when he took a rhetorical left turn to praise 'the late, great Hannibal Lecter,' the fictional serial killer played by Anthony Hopkins in 'Silence of the Lambs.'"

Doherty continues, "'He's a wonderful man,' Trump said. The same rally featured what amounted to a vulgar call-and-response between Trump and the crowd, in which the former president said he has been indicted on 'bu*****t,' prompting the crowd to chant the word."

The Axios reporter notes some of the things Trump said during the Philly event on June 22.

"Saturday in Philadelphia," Doherty observes, "Trump — who frequently attacks Biden's fitness for office — claimed the president will get a 'shot in the a**' before Thursday's debate and that he'll 'come out all jacked up.' Trump's jab at his rival's mental acuity doubled as an effort to reset his supporters' expectations in case the 81-year-old Biden — whom Trump has portrayed as a feeble old man — does well in the debate."

Jennifer R. Mercieca, a professor at Texas A&M University and author of the 2020 book "Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump," discussed Trump's tendency to ramble with Axios.

Mercieca told the publication, "He frequently digresses, then digresses from his digression, and never finishes a complete thought. It's hard to know why he does this. Perhaps new ideas occur to him as he is delivering his speech, perhaps he's playing off of the crowd or changing topics when he suspects the audience is bored."

Mercieca added, "Or perhaps his mind is incapable of staying focused long enough on one idea to see it through to its logical conclusion."

Read Erin Doherty's full article for Axios at this link.

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