In a moment that has quickly gone viral, Donald Trump made an unexpected call into running mate JD Vance’s town hall on Thursday night and posed a question that left both the audience and critics in disbelief: “How brilliant is Donald J. Trump?”
The exchange took place during a NewsNation town hall moderated by Chris Cuomo, with a crowd of reportedly undecided voters. Trump, in his signature style, set up his question by calling it “quite an interesting one” that would be “easy” for Vance to answer. Vance, laughing along with the crowd, took the bait, responding, “Of course you’re very brilliant,” before adding that Trump’s “true brilliance” is his ability to “relate to anybody in any environment.”
The former president seemed delighted by the compliment, thanking Vance for the praise and then taking things a step further. Trump followed up with another loaded question: “And how brilliant is Kamala Harris?” The response was met with laughter as Vance hesitated. Trump quickly interrupted, advising, “Don’t say it,” before claiming that the GOP ticket was “leading by a lot” in the polls and “leading by a landslide.”
For some voters, the unusual exchange between Trump and Vance showcased the former president’s flair for self-promotion, yet critics quickly took to social media to lampoon the spectacle. “A new low in campaign theatrics,” tweeted one political commentator, while another called it “a cringeworthy moment only Trump could pull off.”
The timing of Trump’s question struck many as strange, especially as it comes with just weeks to go until Election Day. Some analysts suggest that Trump’s call was a deliberate tactic to fire up his loyal base by injecting a dose of his personality into the campaign trail. Others, however, saw it as a moment that could alienate undecided voters, many of whom were present in the town hall audience.
Meanwhile, Trump’s camp has continued to claim a massive lead in polls, though recent data doesn’t quite align with his “landslide” narrative. The former president’s call, critics argue, highlights the growing divide between Trump loyalists and those increasingly fatigued by his antics.
In a race as polarized as the 2024 election, Trump’s performance left viewers wondering: will these theatrics rally undecided voters, or leave them looking elsewhere? Either way, the moment has made one thing clear: Trump’s bold style is here to stay.
