Staff Reports
In the latest episode of the ongoing reality show U.S. presidential politics, New York Times reporter Peter Baker decided to play the “age card” against former President Donald Trump. According to Baker, Trump’s age and ability—or lack thereof—to string together coherent sentences could become the Achilles’ heel of his campaign. There's nothing like throwing some shade right before the debate. The former president, at the ripe old age of 78, will soon face off against Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s practically a spring chicken at just 59, in a debate that many expect to be more like a comedy roast than a geopolitical discussion.
Baker stressed that audiences would no longer have the likes of Joe Biden fumbling through his babbling to distract from Trump’s own supposed verbal misfires. In the past, Trump was shielded from critical scrutiny largely because Biden sometimes looked like he was operating on dial-up internet while giving an address. With Harris on stage, there’s a genuine expectation that Trump will have to stand under the spotlight without the usual diversionary tactics available to him. This time, the phrase “child-care question” brings laughter for all the wrong reasons. Why? After an event at the Economic Club of New York where Trump let loose a meandering answer that was described as resembling a toddler’s drawl, some are left wondering just how tangled his thoughts really are.
'Bizarre Tangents': NYT Reporter Tells 'Morning Joe' Hosts Trump's Age Is Now Major Issue In Campaign https://t.co/lsC5GnIm7a
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 10, 2024
It’s worth noting that while Baker was churning out his thoughts, Trump was making headlines for surviving an assassination attempt at a rally. That’s right, while some reporters are concerned about his speech, there’s a committed would-be assassin who probably didn’t receive the memo about “no more violence in politics.” Addressing such a serious incident would likely take precedence over the question of whether Trump can deliver a clean sentence. It’s safe to say that which one of these narratives receives the most coverage is pretty much a locked-in outcome, with the debate looming even larger than the assassination attempt itself.
Despite the chatter about who’s winning in the polls—Harris reportedly leads Trump by a precarious 1.1%—many forget that the magic of debates is their unpredictable nature. Previous gaffes by Harris could resurface, as past performances have showcased Harris at her absolute worst. Reporters are buzzing about the possibility of an unscripted debate triggering a delightful trip down memory lane, reminding everyone why they made her Vice President in the first place.
The media circus continues, and Baker suggests that while Trump may present himself with energy (which is more than one can say for Biden), his responses still raise eyebrows and question marks. It’s a classic narrative strategy where the loudness might conceal the chaos, but observant viewers are wise to the pitfalls of such tactics. As the debate approaches, the traditional game of “Who Can Speak the Longest Without Making Sense?” is on, and it looks like Trump and Harris may be the two contenders with seats on the rollercoaster. Whether they deliver a night of compelling rhetoric or a train wreck that could rival a blockbuster disaster movie, one thing is sure: the American public will be watching.
