Donald Trump said on Thursday that Americans were struggling with price increases, for which he blamed Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Republican presidential candidate spoke about the economy during a news conference at his golf club in New Jersey. Trump struggled to justify his economic policies on Wednesday during a speech that his campaign had billed as a major policy address, the AP reported.
Trump was surrounded by tabletop foods such as instant coffee, sugary breakfast cereals and pastries as he discussed the cost of everything from food to housing at his press conference.
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FILE – Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Big League Dreams Las Vegas on Jan. 27, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
According to AP, Trump’s campaign officials announced on Thursday that they were expanding his staff and bringing several former aides and outside advisers onto the team. Corey Lewandowski, Taylor Budowich, Alex Pfeiffer, Alex Bruesewitz and Tim Murtaugh will advise the campaign’s leadership.
Trump spoke to reporters while criticizing Harris for not holding a press conference or making herself available for interviews since Biden made way for her.
Harris has had little contact with reporters since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, but she travels with journalists aboard Air Force Two and sometimes answers questions as she boards or disembarks from the plane during campaign appearances, the Associated Press reported.
Harris told reporters last week that she would like to conduct an interview by the end of August.
The vice president is also planning her own economic policy speech on Friday in North Carolina, in which she promises, according to AP, to campaign for a nationwide ban on price gouging in the grocery trade.
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At a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, Trump made little effort to stick to his message. His campaign had billed the event as a major economic address, promising to lower energy prices and “unleash economic abundance.” The AP noted that Trump vented frustration over Democrats putting Harris on the party’s presidential ticket instead of Biden.
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According to AP, Trump mocked Harris in last week’s press conference, spoke about his audience on January 6, 2021, and directed reporters to questions about the enthusiasm Harris’ campaign is facing.
