At a rally in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on Saturday, Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, making a series of false and offensive remarks. The former president baselessly claimed that Harris was “born mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled,” comments seemingly aimed at undermining her role in the Biden administration, particularly on immigration.
“Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala, she was born that way,” Trump told the crowd, which responded with laughter and applause. He continued, “Only a mentally disabled person could’ve allowed this to happen to our country. Anybody would know this.”
These statements are part of Trump’s continued effort to demean Harris’s leadership, and they reflect his typical strategy of using personal insults to rally his supporters. Critics argue that such rhetoric not only spreads misinformation but also fosters a divisive and toxic political atmosphere.
The “this” Trump was referring to in his comments is the influx of migrants entering the United States over the past year. Throughout his campaign, Trump has repeatedly blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for the rise in migrant crossings, falsely asserting that it was her responsibility to manage and solve the issue.
In reality, multiple officials from the Biden administration have clarified that Harris’s role has been focused on addressing the root causes of migration in Central American countries. Her primary task has been leading diplomatic efforts to reduce the factors driving mass migration, rather than managing day-to-day border operations, which remain the responsibility of other agencies.
Trump’s misleading statements appear to oversimplify and distort Harris’s role, turning a complex issue into a political talking point aimed at discrediting her leadership.
Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), condemned Donald Trump’s recent remarks as “ableist,” following his claims that Vice President Kamala Harris was “born mentally impaired” during a rally. In a statement, Town said, “Donald Trump’s ableist comments today say far more about him and his inaccurate, hateful biases against disabled people than it does about Vice President Harris, or any person with a disability.”
She continued, explaining that Trump’s rhetoric reflects his false belief that individuals with disabilities are somehow less human or less worthy of dignity. Town urged leaders from both parties to denounce such language, adding that “AAPD continues to call for the leadership of both parties in the 2024 election to condemn the use of ableist language like Trump used today.”
Town also reminded the public that several former U.S. presidents had lived with disabilities. Franklin Delano Roosevelt survived polio and used a wheelchair, John F. Kennedy suffered from Addison’s disease and chronic pain, Ronald Reagan had a hearing impairment, and President Joe Biden has managed a stutter throughout his life.
“The presence or absence of disability alone is wholly insufficient to determine a person’s fitness to hold elected office,” Town emphasized.
Trump’s comments about Harris followed a familiar pattern from his recent speeches, where he has repeatedly insulted her, calling her “incompetent” and “a bad person.” He also disparaged her recent speech on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, dismissing it as “bulls****” during his rally. The former president has increasingly used such inflammatory language as part of his campaign rhetoric, particularly when addressing issues related to the Biden administration.
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign responded to Donald Trump’s remarks with a strong rebuke, stating, “Donald Trump is finally telling the truth to voters: He’s got nothing ‘inspiring’ to offer the American people, just darkness. He has no plan to grow our economy, no vision to bring down costs, and no plan to fix the immigration system he broke.”
The spokesperson further criticized Trump for his role in derailing bipartisan efforts to address immigration, noting, “He sank the bipartisan border deal because he’s more interested in fanning the flames of hate and division than delivering real solutions for our country.”
They concluded by contrasting Trump’s agenda with Harris’s campaign, adding, “The American people deserve better than Trump’s bleak, backward-looking Project 2025 agenda. This November, they’ll elect Vice President Harris for a new way forward.”
