Donald Trump has taken an increasingly “creative” approach to his 2024 presidential campaign. Once again a favorite in the polls, Trump has a history of eccentric and often inflammatory comments, but this time he seems to be pushing the envelope even further. According to El País, his rhetoric took a sharp turn in July, when Kamala Harris gained ground in the polls. Since then, Trump has ramped up his aggressive and fantastical claims, with running mate JD Vance enthusiastically joining the fray. One of the more absurd tales—that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were consuming pets—resurfaced recently, with Trump refusing to admit it was false and even adding that “all the geese are gone.”
Some of Trump’s statements appear to be deliberate, aiming to stoke controversy. Here are a few of his most outlandish comments:
The Cow Conspiracy
At a Fox News call-in with a young child on October 18, Trump warned, “I love cows. But if Kamala wins, there will be no more cows because she won’t allow it. According to her, who’s a radical left lunatic, no more cows. So if you love cows, you have to get rid of her.”
In South Carolina on July 24, he went further, suggesting, “Kamala wants to make red meat illegal. Know what that means? No more cows. I think in the end, she wants to get rid of people.”
Cows and Windows
On October 12 in Nevada, Trump claimed, “The Democrats want to do amazing things in this country, like getting rid of cows and windows. They have fantastic plans. The truth is they’re nuts.”
Days earlier, in an October 3 Fox News interview, he said, “Democrats are tearing down buildings and rebuilding them with very small windows. Tiny windows, where you can’t look outside, can’t see the light.”
Gender Transitions in Schools
Trump stirred controversy on October 21 with claims about gender transitions, stating, “You know, there are places… Your kid goes to school in the morning and comes home as a girl, without parental permission. It’s happening in some areas. We won’t let this happen.”
Arnold Palmer’s “Strength”
In a bizarre comment at a Pennsylvania rally on October 19, Trump reminisced about golf legend Arnold Palmer, saying, “Arnold Palmer was a real man. I love women, but that guy was tough. He’d shower with other golf stars, and they’d say, ‘Oh my God, it’s incredible.’”
Attacking Kamala Harris
Trump has also targeted Kamala Harris directly. At a rally in Pennsylvania on October 19, he said, “Tell Kamala Harris that you can’t stand her, that she’s a garbage vice president. Go away, Kamala.”
On September 28 in Wisconsin, he added, “Joe Biden ended up with mental deficiencies. Kamala was born that way.”
Who’s the President? Confusion and Critique
Trump made headlines in New Hampshire on November 11, referencing Hungarian President Viktor Orbán: “They asked [Orbán], ‘What do you think of President Obama?’ He replied, ‘Simple. He should resign immediately and let President Trump, who kept the world safe, take over.’”
On March 2 in Virginia, Trump added, “Putin has so little respect for Obama that he’s talking atomic war. Atomic.”
In an October 24 Fox News interview, he claimed, “It all comes from Iran, and Obama doesn’t want to talk about it.”
Fear of Sharks
Trump shared an odd hypothetical at a June 10 Nevada rally: “What if the boat sinks from weight, with a powerful battery in the water, and a shark about 30 feet away? By the way, there have been a lot of shark attacks lately. Have you seen that? So many sharks…”
With his unique style and unpredictable statements, Trump continues to baffle, amuse, and outrage as the campaign progresses. For supporters, it’s classic Trump; for critics, it’s a surreal distraction from the pressing issues of the election. Either way, his rhetoric has captured the nation’s attention once again.
