'Disoriented' Trump alarming insiders and donors after 'series of damaging mistakes'

Since Vice President Kamala Harris has ascended to the top spot on the 2024 Democratic ticket, a "disoriented" Donald Trump has gone down a path of unforced errors and campaign mistakes that have both donors and his staffers worried he can't turn his fortunes around.

In a deep dive in the New York Times, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan detail a series of meet-ups with donors where questions about the direction of the former president's third bid for the Oval Office are not being answered in a way that has created renewed confidence.

As the report states, at a recent donor dinner the former president met questions about what is in store now that Trump is facing a surging Harris only to be met with him telling them, "We’ve got to stop the steal,” to the dismay of some of his advisers.

In one instance, one longtime donor asked "how Mr. Trump planned to take the narrative back from Democrats, and what his positive vision for the country would be" which only led to the former president lashing out at his opponent and then adding, "I am who I am."

According to Haberman and Swan, Trump seems "disoriented" by his advisers over the fact that he won't be facing President Joe Biden in November.

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"The fund-raiser came amid a stretch of flailing and self-harm that began after President Biden’s July 21 withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Ms. Harris to succeed him. Close Trump allies have described this as the rockiest period of Mr. Trump’s campaign, " they wrote before adding, "As Ms. Harris — long ridiculed and underestimated — has transformed the contest, campaigning energetically and drawing roughly even with Mr. Trump in many polls, Mr. Trump has responded with one unforced error after another while struggling to land on an effective and consistent argument against her."

One key problem with the Trump campaign is the fact that the candidate is ignoring advice from consultants who believe they have a wealth of ammunition to use against the vice president.

"Most of Mr. Trump’s top advisers have urged the campaign and the candidate to focus on the economy, immigration and crime — issues on which Mr. Trump’s message resonates powerfully with the so-called persuadable voters they are targeting. Sometimes, Mr. Trump has done so. Other times, he has not," the report notes.

Pointing out, "The people around Mr. Trump see a candidate knocked off his bearings," the Times report goes on to note that Trump seems obsessed that he won't be facing Biden before adding, "Indeed, Mr. Trump has often been in a foul mood the past few weeks. He has ranted about Ms. Harris. He has called her 'nasty,' on 'Fox & Friends,' and a 'b---h,' repeatedly, in private, according to two people who heard the remark on different occasions."

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