Kamala Harris had a big week that got a lot of attention, and it clearly didn’t sit well with Donald Trump. After Harris announced on July 30 that she wouldn’t run for governor of California, she made subtle but sharp comments about the state of U.S. politics, saying government institutions had let the people down—without naming Trump directly. Then, she was set to appear on *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* to promote her new book *107 Days*, which tells the story of her presidential campaign.
The spotlight was clearly on her, and Trump didn’t like it. Just before her TV appearance, he went out of his way to insult her during a press conference. When asked about her political future, he said she “can’t speak” or “do an interview,” and called her an unskilled person and politician. His comments seemed completely unprovoked, leading many on social media to accuse him of being petty and insecure. People mocked him for criticizing someone else’s speaking ability, pointing out his own often-rambling statements.
This isn’t new behavior for Trump. He’s gone after Harris before, especially during the 2024 campaign season. At a rally in Pennsylvania, he made crude remarks about both Joe Biden and Harris, suggesting Biden was mentally impaired and saying there was “something wrong” with Harris. He kept up the attacks in Miami the next month, calling her “the worst” and making offensive comments about her intelligence.
Harris, for her part, hasn’t let those attacks go unanswered—but she’s taken a different tone. In her first major speech since leaving office, she didn’t call Trump out by name, but made clear her feelings about his time in power. She said that instead of working to uphold American ideals, his administration had abandoned them.
The back-and-forth between Trump and Harris highlights the sharp divide in their political styles. Trump continues with blunt and personal insults. Harris pushes back with pointed criticism wrapped in more measured language. But one thing is clear: when Harris is in the headlines, Trump often feels the need to remind everyone he’s watching—and not happy about it.
