Trump can't stop making gaffes. Here's how this is bad for Biden.

Charlotte, North Carolina— Whether it’s Trump claiming that we need to repeal the Affordable Care Act, saying he’ll cut social security and Medicare, stating that the right way to treat a woman is to “grab her by the pussy”, or making the almost laughable claim that “Biden Beat Obama”, one thing is clear; Trump’s favorite thing to do on a Tuesday afternoon is to make slip-ups that would usually cost someone their campaign . Here's why it does no damage.

Donald Trump has built himself a large, like-minded base, which some would label as a cult. He’s notorious for making erroneous, laughable, and unfounded comments that are indefensible on a regular moral standard but seems to have no problem taking hold of that rhetoric and thrusting it out into the world. One example of this is when he spoke about immigrants while rallying for the GOP's Ohio Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno, the Republican Senate candidate challenging incumbent Sherrod Brown in Ohio. The former President stated the following about migrants:

“I don’t know if you call them people. They’re not people, in my opinion, but you can’t say that because the radical left says it’s a terrible thing to say.”

While the comment shown above would be disastrous enough on its own to knock a regular campaign out of the water, Trump’s MAGA following doesn’t allow that to happen. Why? Because their mindset consists of the following cycle:

He didn’t say that.

If he did, it was out of context.

If it wasn’t, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

If it was that big of a deal, Biden is worse so it doesn’t matter.

If you think Biden is a better person, you’re stupid and wrong and you should die.

The system above repeats and repeats until it genuinely starts affecting poll numbers. Trump has shown a bout of mental instability and unfitness, as can be seen in this quote from a Richmond, VA rally where he confused Biden with Obama (Yet again):

"Shortly after we win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled. I know them both very well, and we will restore peace through strength. Get that war settled. It’s a bad war. And Putin has so little respect for Obama that he’s starting to throw around the nuclear word. You heard that. Nuclear. He’s starting to talk nuclear weapons today..."

...Or when he confused Argentina for a person.

“[MAGA is the] greatest movement … maybe in the history of any country, even Argentina.”

“You know, Argentina, great guy. He’s a big Trump guy. He loves Trump. I love him because he loves Trump. Anybody that loves me. I like them,” Trump said.

Or that one time his campaign staff had to reiterate that they were not in support of his rhetoric, but that's just the way he is.

"Donald Trump is Donald Trump. That’s not going to change. Our job is not to remake Donald Trump..." - Trump's Senior Campaign Adviser Chris LaCivita, Associated Press.

Donald Trump’s base of support will jump to his defense no matter the cost, at any time, anywhere. It’s been this way for over eight years. Using reactionary populist techniques and forming himself into the character of a martyr, the people who make up his electorate are quite literally swearing themselves to his allegiance (as we can see with the existence of literal "Trump Towns" across the United States). Every time Trump slips up, like when he made a rude and impudent comment towards Fani Willis, making a grotesque reference out of her first name, his base only strengthened and shunned any criticism as the workings of the radical left. As Speaker Pelosi said regarding the comments, “You wouldn’t even allow him in your house, much less in the White House”. 

Biden won’t get anywhere attacking Trump (unless it’s in a debate) because, quite frankly, Trump’s base loves it. They thrive on it. They bounce back on everything thrown at them as a “plot to steal the election from the rightful president”. 

In terms of modern political history, we haven’t seen anything like this. The support of one candidate waning because the other keeps making mistakes? It doesn’t sound like it makes much sense, but once you think you’ve hit rock bottom, Trump and his supporters always find a way to prove you wrong.

As we move towards November, it’s important to note that the polls and statistics shown right now are barely representative of anything substantial. As we get closer, data will begin to change and the field will shift.  This article is not intended to attack supporters of Donald Trump nor influence your decision in November. This article is solely intended to criticize the Former President. No matter who you support, it’s crucial you make your voice heard at the ballot box.

Article authored by Diana Allar — political contributor and opinion columnist for The Radical Times.