Kamala Harris supporters are seizing on a slip-up by Donald Trump, branding it as a “senile moment.” During a rally in Harrisburg on Wednesday, the former president referred to Republican Senate candidate David McCormick as Pennsylvania’s “future governor” while discussing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Trump later pointed to McCormick in his speech and referred to him twice as “Mr. Governor.”
“They’re almost as tough as the man that’s going to be your next governor, by the way,” Trump said during the rally. “He’s tough too, he’s a great military hero.”
McCormick, a hedge fund CEO who attended West Point and served in the Gulf War, previously ran for Senate in 2022 before losing in the GOP primary to the Trump-endorsed Mehmet Oz. He is running for Senate again but has never run for governor, and Harris’s allies were quick to jump on Trump’s mistake.
“In a senile moment, Donald Trump says Dave McCormick is doing great in a race for Governor of Pennsylvania,” said the X account Kamala’s Wins. “McCormick of course is running for the Senate. Retweet so all Americans know Donald Trump is senile and losing his cognitive abilities.”
The 78-year-old Trump had made President Joe Biden’s age a central theme in their election rematch before the president, 81, stepped aside and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after his debate performance raised those same concerns within the Democratic Party.
“Last night, Trump couldn’t remember Dave McCormick’s name or what office he was running for,” said J.J. Abbott, who served as press secretary to former Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf. “I guess at least he didn’t call him ‘that guy from [Connecticut].'” McCormick faced criticism from his 2022 primary opponents for having recently lived in Connecticut before entering the Senate race.
“Trump boasted Weds that he can speak for two hours ‘without a mistake’ – and then introduced Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick at a rally as ‘your next governor,'” said Jennifer Bendery, senior politics reporter for HuffPo. “And then did it again 15 minutes later.”
The Harris camp’s response highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s cognitive abilities, especially as he continues to make public appearances and speeches. This latest gaffe adds fuel to the fire for those questioning his mental sharpness and ability to effectively lead. As Trump remains a central figure in Republican politics, these incidents are likely to be leveraged by his opponents to cast doubt on his fitness for office.