By Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media  

With the Democratic National Convention in Chicago now concluded and Vice President Kamala Harris officially nominated as the party’s candidate for President, former President Donald Trump has wasted no time reverting to his usual playbook, peddling division and negativity.

Rather than campaigning on the critical issues facing the country, Trump is trolling anyone he perceives is making fun of him or questioning his competence. In front of his supporters, he openly mocked his advisers who urged him to focus on policy.

Gaslighting, a tactic designed to make people question their reality, has been a constant feature of Trump’s political career. Whether downplaying the severity of COVID-19, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, or distorting his administration’s achievements, Trump has skillfully used this approach to manipulate public perception.

While Democrats celebrated Harris’s historic nomination and urged the nation to turn the page on Trump, he was in swing states launching personal attacks and spreading misinformation, reinforcing his image as an “unserious”, “weird”, and backward-looking candidate out of touch with American values. His appearances were filled with off-the-cuff remarks, unhinged tirades, and humiliating blunders. He ridiculed President Joe Biden’s appearance, labeled former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “crazy,” called Harris “lazy” and “stupid,” and described former President Obama as “nasty.”

Trump’s gaslighting of Harris goes even deeper, questioning her background and identity, implying that Democrats might not fully understand “where she came from” or her “ideology.” This tactic which he’s used against other prominent Black leaders, including Obama and women of color in Congress, is designed to paint Harris as an outsider, despite her Oakland roots, her experience being bused to public school, and graduating from Howard University, a historically Black college. His deliberate mispronunciation of her name, a blatant sign of his racism and disrespect, aims to marginalize her as “other.”

Trump has tried to label Harris as “Lyin’ Kamala” and brand her a “communist,” calling her “Comrade Kamala”, even suggesting that “Kamala” sounds like “communist” — a childish play on words that he finds clever.

The barrage of personal attacks Trump’s been launching is part of a broader pattern in his strategy, which hinges on the “Big Lie” — the baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

As Harris steps into her role as the Democratic nominee, her campaign offers a hopeful vision for the future and bold solutions to national challenges, standing in stark contrast to Trump’s backward approach. For Black Californians, and all voters, the challenge is to assess each candidates’ rhetoric, evaluate the information, and make a choice based on the facts.

Trump’s gaslighting underscores his persistent disregard for the truth and his readiness to exploit fear and prejudice to stay relevant, raising questions about what national leadership role he’s really after.

While “Gaslighter-in-Chief” may aptly describe the position Trump is campaigning for, and although he is seeking another higher office, it’s essential for the future of the America that he doesn’t succeed in achieving this title as well.

About the Author 

Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.

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