Donald Trump has once again ignited conversation by comparing Vice President Kamala Harris to his wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, this time focusing on Harris’ appearance on the cover of Time magazine. During a recent virtual interview, Trump offered the surprising comparison while ostensibly complimenting Harris’ image.
The former president, 78, engaged in a virtual discussion on X Spaces with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, 53, on Monday, August 12. In a moment that has since gone viral, Trump pivoted from criticizing Harris, 59, as “terrible” to commenting on the artwork featured on Time‘s latest cover story. The Time article, titled “Reintroduction of Kamala Harris,” delves into Harris’ role and influence within the Democratic Party as the upcoming election draws nearer.
Referencing the Time magazine cover, Trump stated, “I saw a picture of [Harris] on Time magazine today. She looks like the most beautiful actress ever to live.” He then added fuel to the fire by saying, “Actually, she looked very much like our great first lady, Melania.” Trump continued, “She didn’t look like Kamala, that’s right. But of course, she’s a beautiful woman, so we’ll leave it at that.” These remarks have been widely interpreted as a backhanded compliment, with many questioning the intent behind the comparison.
The Time magazine cover in question is a portrait of Kamala Harris illustrated by artist Neil Jamieson. It is reportedly based on a genuine Getty image and presents a stylized yet recognizable depiction of the Vice President.
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Kamala Harris featured on the August 2024 cover of Time magazine, in an illustrated portrait that sparked Donald Trump’s comparison to Melania Trump.
Throughout the X Spaces conversation, Trump notably mispronounced Harris’ name, repeatedly calling her “Camilla,” particularly when discussing her appearance. This is a recurring habit for the former president.
The Time magazine article featuring Kamala Harris highlights her growing prominence as a leader within the Democratic Party. It argues that Harris has been instrumental in narrowing the gap between Democrats and Republicans in key swing states, suggesting a significant shift in the political landscape. The article points to data indicating that the Republican advantage in crucial states has diminished, coinciding with Harris’ increased visibility and activity.
During the same interview, Elon Musk, who hosted the conversation on X Spaces, expressed support for Donald Trump. Musk lauded Trump as “the path to prosperity” while conversely stating that Harris represents “the opposite.” This endorsement followed Musk’s earlier declaration of support for Trump after a reported incident at a Trump rally in July.
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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), pictured at the 2022 Met Gala, endorsed Donald Trump during the interview where Trump compared Kamala Harris to Melania.
Musk later extended an invitation to Kamala Harris to engage in a conversation on the X platform as well. However, Harris’ campaign has been publicly critical of Musk, particularly concerning content moderation and platform policies.
Responding to the Trump-Musk conversation, Harris 2024 spokesperson Joseph Costello issued a statement condemning Trump’s remarks and agenda. Costello described Trump’s campaign as serving the interests of “self-obsessed rich guys” like Musk and Trump himself. He also criticized the technical difficulties experienced during the livestream, which was delayed due to what Musk claimed was a cyberattack.
Looking ahead, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are scheduled to participate in their first debate on September 10, hosted by ABC News. Trump has proposed additional debates, but those are yet to be confirmed. The political arena is set for intense scrutiny as the election approaches, and comments like Trump’s comparison of Harris to Melania Trump are sure to keep the public and media engaged.
