“He’s Never Going to Take the Blame”: Trump’s Campaign Struggles as He Ignores Strategy

Despite the outward claims of calm and confidence from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign staff, internal tensions are mounting as the former president continues to disregard the strategic plans laid out to address Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy.

According to a report from the Washington Post, Trump’s inner circle recently watched as a carefully crafted presentation on their 2024 election strategy, intended for select reporters, was quickly derailed by Trump himself. Ignoring the prepared script, Trump launched into personal attacks on Harris, undermining the message his team had worked to convey.

The report highlights that until mid-summer, Trump’s campaign had been relatively “drama-free.” However, the unexpected decision by President Joe Biden to step aside caught the campaign off guard, leaving Trump scrambling to find someone to blame as his campaign struggles to gain traction.

“Advisers and donors are trying to keep Trump focused,” the report states. At a high-end fundraiser in Aspen last weekend, hotelier Steve Wynn privately urged Trump to stick to the issues during a roundtable discussion with key donors. However, Trump’s frustration was evident, exacerbated by an earlier incident that day when his airplane malfunctioned.

Insiders within the campaign are not surprised that Trump is once again taking advice from outside sources, leading to increased complaints about the campaign’s direction as Harris gains ground in the polls. According to the Post, “On one recent weekend, Trump dialed allies raising concerns and asking questions about the campaign’s direction and strategy. But the following Monday, he again assured top advisers that their jobs were safe and that he did not know where speculation about their fate had come from.”

One campaign insider expressed frustration, saying, “He is never going to take the blame himself. He’s not going to say, ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have said this, or maybe we shouldn’t have done that.’ So there has to be a shake-up.”

As the campaign progresses, the ongoing disconnect between Trump’s actions and his team’s strategies is creating an increasingly challenging environment for those trying to steer his bid for a return to the White House. With Harris pulling ahead in the polls, the pressure is on for Trump to align with the carefully planned strategies—something his advisers fear may not happen.