Now Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her supporters have been campaigning heavily on the following notion: “We won’t go back.”
What exactly does that mean for Democrats and Americans as a whole?
As former President Donald Trump continues to campaign, Harris and her supporters are concerned what his return to the White House would mean for America’s reputation and, ultimately, the country’s future.
“Ours is a fight for the future — and it is a fight for freedom,” the current Vice President said.
The Pew Research Center released a report where 63% of respondents said Trump was “mean-spirited,” citing his controversial remarks targeting women, people of color and other marginalized groups.
Qnotes has collected some of Trump’s recent and past remarks which have sparked criticism. Here’s what we found:
Remarks at the National Association of Black Journalists conference
- Claimed “millions and millions of people…happen to be taking Black jobs.” When asked by moderators to define what a “Black job” was, Trump responded “anybody that has a job.”
- Said he didn’t know what DEI was, despite his running mate and allies calling Harris a “DEI hire.” When ABC News Reporter Rachel Scott provided him with a definition, Trump moved to change the subject.
- Questioned Harris’s identity as a biracial woman, saying “She was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage … I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black.” Harris has never hidden her Indian-Jamaican heritage.
On women…
- After Harris debated then Vice President Mike Pence, Trump went to Twitter, saying “This monster that was onstage with Mike Pence, who destroyed her last night, by the way. I thought that wasn’t even a contest last night. She was terrible. I don’t think you could get worse. And totally unlikeable.”
- During the 2024 Republican primary, Trump attacked opponent Nikki Haley, saying “Nimbra doesn’t have what it takes,” and “Birdbrain doesn’t have the TALENT or TEMPERAMENT to do the job.”
- Trump made sexist comments about 2015 opponent Carly Fiorina, saying “Look at that face. Would anybody vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president? I mean, she’s a woman, and I’m not supposed to say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?”
- Trump has also made sexual comments about his own daughters, saying if Ivanka wasn’t his daughter, “perhaps I’d be dating her.” He also said of his daughter, Tiffany, “She’s a really beautiful baby, and she’s got Marla’s legs.” Motioning to his chest, Trump added: “We don’t know whether she’s got this part yet, but time will tell.”
- While on The Apprentice, Trump told a contestant “That must be a pretty picture, you dropping to your knees,” and “It’s certainly not groundbreaking news that the early victories by the women on ‘The Apprentice’ were, to a very large extent, dependent on their sex appeal.”
Threats to democracy
- In a recent appearance at a Turning Point USA conference for evangelicals, Trump urged Christians to get out and vote, saying “Christians, get out and vote. Just this time … You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you Christians. I’m a Christian. I love you. Get out. You’ve gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not going to have to vote.”
- After the Turning Point USA appearance, Trump went on Fox News host Laura Ingram’s show, where he defended his comments: “After that you don’t have to worry about voting any more. I don’t care, because we’re going to fix it, the country will be fixed and we won’t even need your vote any more because, frankly, we will have such love.”
- During an appearance with a Republican Senate candidate in Ohio, Trump warned of a “bloodbath” if he fails to be elected in November’s election, mirroring the rhetoric attributed to the events of January 6.