Trump's Outlandish Campaign Dominates Spotlight, Harris Leverages It Against Him

As Donald Trump makes his third consecutive run for the White House, his campaign is anything but conventional. It’s loud, audacious, and full of unpredictable moments that place his conduct front and center in a photo-finish battle for the presidency. From viral stunts at McDonald's to controversial, off-color remarks about golfing legend Arnold Palmer, Trump has consistently stolen the spotlight with a stream of dramatic, often crass events.

Trump's speeches, laced with vulgar insults and dark warnings, have dominated headlines, including threats to use military force against domestic "enemies" and his refusal to commit to accepting the election results. This behavior has led to a chaotic final stretch in which his spontaneous, off-script speeches and antics, including a bizarre 39-minute dance interlude, have drawn intense media attention.

In contrast, Kamala Harris, Trump's opponent, is running a disciplined campaign built on more traditional tactics. She is banking on showcasing Trump’s erratic behavior, airing clips of his most incendiary remarks at her rallies and branding him “unstable and unhinged.” Harris’s team believes that as more Americans see Trump’s unfiltered persona, undecided voters will conclude he is unfit to return to the Oval Office. Harris has long called Trump an “unserious man,” and in her final weeks, she has ramped up efforts to question his mental stability and temperament, presenting his behavior as dangerous for the country.

Republicans, however, see Trump’s relentless media presence as an advantage. His team celebrates his ability to dominate news cycles with shock value, dubbing him the “king of earned media.” Many of his supporters find his unorthodox, attention-grabbing approach refreshing, a break from the carefully scripted campaigns of the past. Trump’s rallies are packed with supporters who revel in his unpredictability and relish his combative style.

At a recent charity banquet in New York, Trump went viral again after throwing profanities and crass jokes, including an insult aimed at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. His remark about Arnold Palmer’s anatomy during a speech only added to the media frenzy. The former president's off-script behavior is regularly featured on social media and late-night talk shows, keeping his name constantly in the public eye.

Kamala Harris is keen to turn this media saturation against Trump. Her campaign plays clips of his most unhinged moments, often pausing her speeches to highlight his bizarre comments. At a rally in Atlanta, Harris took aim at Trump’s explanation for his erratic speaking style—something he calls “the weave.” Harris, however, dismissed it as incoherent rambling, telling her supporters, “We call it nonsense.”

Harris’s campaign has also tapped into concerns raised by Trump’s own party. In recent weeks, her team has underscored remarks from prominent Republicans about Trump’s behavior, pushing the narrative that he is too extreme and unstable to govern again. Her aides believe that framing Trump as both a joke and a threat will sway undecided voters in the final stretch of the race.

While Harris leans into this strategy, Trump’s camp accuses her of copying his interactive rally style. Trump’s events often feature clips of Harris, portraying her as “failed” and “dangerously liberal,” a narrative his team has pushed aggressively. At Trump rallies, big screens show footage of Harris, drawing boos from his crowds. Trump’s team counters that Harris is no match for his popularity and ability to generate media buzz, with campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung describing Trump as “the most famous and well-known person today.”

Despite this, Trump’s frequent off-color remarks and false claims continue to cause discomfort within his own party. Some Republicans urge him to focus more on policy, particularly on issues like the economy and immigration where he has an edge. Yet, many of Trump’s most ardent supporters appreciate his unfiltered style, enjoying the spectacle he creates on the campaign trail. As House Speaker Mike Johnson put it during an interview, “He says things off the cuff... but people have a great time at those arenas.”

With Election Day fast approaching, both sides are betting on a strategy that plays into their strengths. Trump is aiming to use his commanding media presence to appeal to voters fed up with conventional politics, while Harris is counting on the notion that showcasing Trump’s unhinged moments will remind voters of the chaos he brings. As the two candidates make their final pitches to the American public, the race is poised for a dramatic conclusion.