The president is increasingly turning to personal, biting and often sarcastic broadsides against his 2024 Republican opponent.

The president is increasingly turning to personal, biting and often sarcastic broadsides against his 2024 Republican opponent.

As President Joe Biden works to defeat Donald Trump, he’s increasingly focused on another goal he thinks will help him achieve that: getting under his skin.

In recent weeks, both in private and public settings, Biden has ramped up personal, biting and often sarcastic broadsides against his Republican opponent, targeting his financial challenges, his campaign tempo and even his weight.

It’s a strategy largely driven by Biden himself, according to multiple aides and advisers familiar with the approach.

  • paultimate14@lemmy.world
    45·
    3 months ago

    There’s a large swath of what Gene Wilder might call “the common clay of the new west” who vote purely on who can appear to be the toughest. It’s like some pack behavior of exerting dominance that you’d see in animals.

    Uneducated, usually rural people who like Trump because “he tells it like it is” or “he’s a boss who knows how to lead”, when in reality he just constantly makes shit up and runs his businesses into the ground.

    I think these people will see Biden’s remarks and Trump getting upset at them and view it as a sign that Biden is “tougher” than Trump. Which is dumb, but if it means a more progressive government and avoiding the regression under Trunk I’ll take it.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
      18·
      3 months ago

      Maybe. But the right is full of wannabe macho personas, so it’s more likely that the voters that value that are deeply indoctrinated in right wing propaganda. I doubt Biden dumping on Trump would sway that.

      I do think that revolving into petty name calling with “catchy” nicknames like “Broke Don” may be effective for similar reasons, though. I don’t think it’s about toughness, it’s about drama. An unfortunately large portion of American voters are just interested in the theatrics. That’s why a shitty reality TV host gained traction in the first place.

      The daily show / late night show should lend the Biden campaign some writers. Tone and delivery aren’t Bidens strengths, but I’m sure they could come up with some nicknames and catchphrases that are better than “Broke Don” that he could put to use.