politics

Vice President Kamala Harris and her Democratic allies have adopted a new line of criticism against Republicans, branding Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, as “weird.” This label, applied with enthusiasm in interviews and online, focuses particularly on Vance’s comments about abortion and his suggestion that political leaders without biological children “don’t really have a direct stake” in the country.

This strategy has provided Democrats a narrative edge that was often missing during President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. Trump’s campaign, known for shaping political discussions with his pronouncements, has struggled to counter this label, even attempting to highlight things about Democrats they consider weird.

“I don’t know who came up with the message, but I salute them,” said David Karpf, a strategic communication professor at George Washington University. He explained that calling Republican comments “weird” is a concise take that resonates with Harris supporters and frustrates opponents, leading them to amplify it through their responses.

The Impact of the 'Weird' Label

Harris and her allies frequently use the “weird” label. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat on Harris’ short list for vice president, called Trump and Vance “just weird” in a recent MSNBC interview. The Democratic Governors Association amplified this comment, and Walz reiterated it on CNN, referencing Trump’s odd mentions of the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter from “Silence of the Lambs” in stump speeches.

Responding to Trump’s appearance on Fox News, the Harris campaign issued a release titled “Statement on a 78-Year-Old Criminal’s Fox News Appearance,” listing “Trump is old and quite weird.” as a takeaway. Similarly, other releases from the Harris campaign have described Vance as “weird” due to his stances on abortion, with a spokesperson highlighting his “out-of-touch, weird ideas.”

Two of Harris’ allies, Senators Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, posted a video calling Vance’s past comments about limiting the political power of childless Americans “a super weird idea.” At her first fundraiser as the likely Democratic White House nominee, Harris herself used the term, calling out Trump’s “wild lies” and labeling some of his and Vance’s statements as “just plain weird.”

Historical Context and Republican Response

Many Democrats’ comments allude to a 2021 interview where Vance labeled childless Democrats like Harris as “childless cat ladies” with “no direct stake” in America. Harris’ characterization of Trump as “weird” dates back even further. According to Edward-Isaac Dovere’s 2021 book, Harris joked in 2018 about how she would react if Trump stood over her during a debate, as he did with Hillary Clinton in 2016, saying, “‘I’d turn around and say, ‘Why are you being so weird? What’s wrong with you?'”

Trump’s campaign has tried to flip the script. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung posted a video of Walz calling Trump and Vance “weird,” accusing Democrats of trying to gaslight everyone about the shooting at Trump’s rally. Trump’s allies have also attempted to turn the conversation back to Harris and her policy ideas, with Donald Trump Jr. criticizing her on social media and Vance reposting a video accusing Harris of promoting “really weird stuff” regarding climate anxiety and family planning.

Democrats' Strategic Use of 'Weird'

Republicans have previously used clips of Harris’ laugh and anecdotes to make her seem weird, such as her story about her mother scolding her, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” This story has become a Democratic in-joke, with supporters embracing coconut emojis in their online accounts.

Boston College communication professor Matt Sienkiewicz suggests that calling Republicans “weird” allows Democrats to co-opt Republican attack lines and use them against Trump and Vance. University at Buffalo political communication professor Jacob Neiheisel compares the “weird” message to John McCain’s 2008 attempt to portray Barack Obama as a celebrity without accomplishments.

“Weird” does not convey power but diminishes and ridicules bizarre behavior or beliefs. This term, often embraced by those opposing traditional hierarchies, contrasts sharply with the authoritarian admiration seen among Trump and his supporters.

The Power of 'Weird'

“Weird” undermines the fear-based rhetoric often used by Trump, presenting a dismissive attitude towards absurd actions and attitudes. It reframes the narrative, positioning Harris as the “normal” American while labeling Trump and Vance as the outliers.

This approach defuses the power of Trump’s MAGA stance and reclaims the narrative for Democrats, who are often labeled as “radical” or “fringe.” By branding Trump and Vance as weird, Democrats are flipping the script and asserting their own version of normalcy.

The word “weird” has become a powerful tool for the Democratic Party, effectively challenging the rhetoric and proposed policies of Trump and Vance, and reframing the political conversation in their favor.