'Not capable': Ex-Trump press secretary explains how his media strategy can 'come back to bite him'

15 August 2024

According to polling analysis from the Cook Political Report, Vice President Kamala Harris' performance has continued to improve in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. Many polls released in mid-August have found Harris with small single-digit leads over GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, and Cook finds that Harris and Trump are now tied in Georgia — another important battleground state.

The Hills' Brett Samuels' reports that Trump's response to Harris' performance in polls is to hold more press conferences and make more media appearances. And one of his talking points is that while he is out talking to reporters and answering questions, Harris isn't doing interviews.

"Trump will hold a press conference Thursday at his Bedminster, NJ, property, three days after he called in for a two-hour conversation with Tesla founder Elon Musk on the social platform X," Samuels notes. "Last week, Trump held a press conference in Florida and phoned into 'Fox & Friends' to respond to news of the day. He is holding rallies this week in North Carolina and Pennsylvania."

Samuels adds, "The former president's omnipresence makes him the sole driver of his campaign's message at a time when his allies have pleaded with him to be more disciplined and hone his attacks on Harris."

According to former Trump press aide Sarah Matthews — a conservative Republican who isn't supporting him in this year's presidential election — Trump's lack of self-discipline could harm his media strategy.

Matthews told The Hill, "They're going to frame it as a juxtaposition with Vice President Harris, because she hasn't been as available to the media. While that is true.… I also think that Trump is out there trying to get headlines, because this seems to be the first race where he seems to be kind of competing for media attention."

Matthews continued, "He thinks he's his own best messenger, which can be true at times. But it can come back to bite him in the a** a bit. He's not capable of staying on message."

Read The Hill's full article at this link.

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