Donald Trump conducted a news conference from his Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida on Thursday, following Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz returning to the campaign trail.
Meridith McGraw notes that this is part of Trump’s strategy to regain attention after Harris secured the Democratic nomination. McGraw, the author of “Trump in Exile,” explores the period when former President Trump was less visible after leaving office and being less active on social media.
The book delves into Trump’s post-presidency period and how it has influenced his current position as the GOP frontrunner, as his campaign aims to sway enough voters for a second term in the White House.
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“The Trump campaign is quite confident in their position in this race,” McGraw conveyed to Scripps News. “Despite leading in numerous polls and battleground states against President Joe Biden, the dynamics shifted with Harris entering the race. Even the Trump campaign acknowledges a potential opportunity with undecided voters against the Democratic ticket.”
Drawing from her experience as a national correspondent at Politico, where she covers beltway politics, national, and local elections, McGraw reveals that Trump spends much of his time at home on the phone contacting political allies, donors, and unwinding through golf.
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“He frequently engages in phone conversations seeking feedback and advice,” McGraw described. “In my research for this book, I discovered Trump’s outlined approach to comeback — seek revenge, retaliate, and engage in golf. These are strategies he continues to employ even during his presidential campaign.”
Scripps News reported that Trump has hosted seven rallies this year, notably fewer than the 37 rallies in the summer of 2016 leading up to his previous election. McGraw reflects on how the attempted assassination may impact Trump’s campaign strategy this time around.
