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‘Height-obsessed’ Donald Trump wants to ‘show power’ over Kamala Harris at debate by banning her from standing on a box
Watch our exclusive interview with Republican strategist John Thomas
DONALD Trump will try to project strength and power at tonight’s debate and that's why he doesn’t want Kamala Harris to stand on a box, a Republican strategist told The U.S. Sun.
The brash tycoon raised eyebrows when he made the demand on his Truth Social platform - just days before tonight's presidential debate.
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Trump is set to tower over Harris as he stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall, while she is more diminutive standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall.
And, it’s not the first time Trump has referred to height – having labeled 2016 Republican primary rival Marco Rubio “little Marco” and described California lawmaker Adam Schiff as “little” in 2018.
John Thomas, a GOP strategist, admitted Trump’s references to height may sound trivial at face value but said it forms an “integral part” of his election strategy.
“It comes down to a projection of power and strength,” he said.
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Today's debate comes as:
- poll puts Trump one point ahead of Harris.
- But battleground polling suggests Harris has a slender advantage
- Trump’s team says the former president will “be himself” during the debate, but reveals there will be “some surprises.”
- A campaign spokesperson said Trump will bash Harris over issues such as the US-Mexico border, illegal immigration, and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan - all policies taken by President Biden which Trump believes Harris "owns"
- Harris prepares for showdown by debating a Trump impersonator
- Former Biden adviser warns Harris needs 'quick one-liners' in debate
- reportedly admit the party is anxious ahead of the showdown
- 'Polling Nostradamus' Allan Lichtman predicts Harris will defeat Trump in November
“Trump is not a short man himself and so for him, he looks at his height as a projection of power and he values other people who are also tall and project power.
“That’s an important characteristic to him but projection in a visual manner is authentic to him and what he cares about, which is being strong and projecting power.”
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The idea of a strong America taps into the message Trump wants to communicate to voters, especially that small pool who are yet to make up their minds, the strategist revealed.
Democrats should be 'worried about Trump closet voters as Kamala Harris has 60 days to fix party's greatest weakness'
“It’s really on brand and on message for this election cycle," he said.
"His argument is that America is weak. It’s a projection of a lack of confidence and weakness in the American economy.”
Thomas stressed that Trump is aware of the power of nonverbal communication.
“Some people laugh at his hair, but he takes his hair very seriously because it’s his signature,” he said.
“It’s why he almost always in public dresses identically – unless he’s coming off the golf course.
“You’ll never see him in anything other than a long tie and a jacket.”
Trump can also project power when he wears his cashmere black overcoat, according to the strategist.
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Trump and Harris will be standing at podiums and according to Thomas, this rule will help Trump create a dominating image.
“It’s the non-verbal projection of strength versus weakness,” he said.
But, it also helps Trump dispel claims that he’s too old to be president.
Trump is almost 20 years older than Harris and has been the oldest candidate in the race since Joe Biden abandoned his re-election campaign.
“If he can stand there for hours on end, that speaks to his virility and ability that he’s still youthful,” he said.
Thomas explained that debaters can sometimes look small if they are sitting down.
This is because there is a tendency to slouch over and look stooped.
If a candidate is hunched, this could suggest they are weak or indecisive.
This is where Harris could be vulnerable when standing behind the podium, according to Thomas.
“Donald Trump doesn’t have to worry too much about disappearing behind the size of the podium,” he said.
How to watch the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?
KAMALA Harris and Donald Trump will have their first presidential debate on September 10. The U.S. Sun has everything you need to know:
The debate, which will last for 90 minutes, kicks off at 9pm ET and will air on ABC.
It will also be shown on ABC News' 24/7 streaming network, Hulu and Disney+.
The debate will be moderated by ABC stars Linsey Davis and David Muir.
Harris and Trump will not make opening statements.
The candidates will have two minutes to answer a question.
Then, there is a two-minute window for debate.
An additional minute can be used for clarification or a follow-up.
Trump prevailed in a virtual coin toss and chose to make the final closing statement.
Both closing statements will be two minutes long.
Harris and Trump's microphones will be muted when their rival is speaking.
Neither candidate will be able to ask their opponent questions.
Both candidates can have a pen and some paper at their podiums.
But, they are unable to take pre-written notes into the contest.
There will be two commercial breaks but Trump and Harris' campaign teams will not be able to give tips to their respective candidates.
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“Harris could run into a situation where she looks small and weak.
“It’s a real vulnerability for Kamala Harris and that’s because it could reinforce a core concern of the swing electorate that perhaps she’s a continuation of the last three years.”
The rules of the debate mean Trump's microphone isn't live when Harris is speaking but Thomas warned the bombastic Republican cannot come across as too imposing.
He explained that it doesn’t benefit Trump if he comes across as a bully.
Thomas claimed Harris’ team wanted the microphones to be unmuted throughout so she could “stand up” against Trump.
“Trump has to be a bit of a tightrope walker but for better or worse Donald Trump is Donald Trump,” Thomas said.
“What he has to avoid is lecturing Harris and being overly defensive.”
Thomas urged Trump to attack Harris on her record serving as vice president rather than hurling personality jibes
'PETTY' POLITICS
“Trump tried to keep his cool most of the time but Trump couldn’t keep his cool on the issue of his golf game.
“He couldn’t take it and it started to get very petty.
“Trump has to resist those moments because not only does that actually make Trump look small when he goes after these petty nonsensical issues, but it’s missing an opportunity.”
Any personal attacks from Trump just play into Harris’ hands, according to the strategist.
“He needs to focus American voters on his policies as the core decision they’re thinking about when they’re going into the ballot box,” Thomas said.
“The way he does that is: stay disciplined and on message, not on petty personality issues.”
Allan Lichtman's 2024 presidential election prediction
Renowned historian Allan Lichtman has accurately predicted the outcomes of presidential elections since 1984 using his 13 Keys to the White House algorithm. The scholar has revealed who he thinks will be inaugurated as the 47th president in January next year based on his system of true and false statements.
If six or more statements go against the White House party, they are projected to lose the presidential election.
Midterm elections: The Democrats suffered losses in the 2022 House elections, meaning the key turns false. (Harris 0-1 Trump)
There is no primary contest: This key turns in favor of Harris because the Democrats got "smart" and rallied behind the vice president after Joe Biden ended his campaign, according to Lichtman. (Harris 1-1 Trump)
The sitting president is seeking another term: This turns false because Biden suspended his re-election campaign. (Harris 1-2 Trump)
There is no third-party challenger: This statement is true because third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. needed to poll at 10% nationally, according to Lichtman. (Harris 2-2 Trump)
The short-term economy is strong: This key goes in favor of the White House Party. (Harris 3-2 Trump)
The long-term economic growth has been as good as the last two terms: This key also swings toward Harris. (Harris 4-2 Trump)
The White House Party has made major national policy changes: This key is also true, according to Lichtman's theory. (Harris 5-2 Trump)
There is sustained social unrest during the term: College campus demonstrations have erupted in reaction to the Gaza conflict, but no protests have broken out that threaten the fabric of society. This means the key goes in Harris' column. (Harris 6-2 Trump)
The White House is untainted by scandal: Despite House Republican efforts to impeach Joe Biden, they have been unable to pin a scandal on him. (Harris 7-2 Trump)
The incumbent is charismatic: Harris is not considered a Ronald Reagan or Franklin D. Roosevelt-like figure so the key is false. (Harris 7-3 Trump)
The challenger is uncharismatic: This key goes in favor of the White House party - even though Trump is a showman. (Harris 8-3 Trump)
Lichtman warned that the two foreign policy keys - whether there has been a major success or no failure - could flip either way.
But, even if both statements flipped against Harris, Trump would not have enough keys in his column to win the election.
The former president made a reference to Mike Bloomberg, who previously ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, in the post.
In 2020, Trump referred to Bloomberg as "mini Mike" and compared him to a "5'4 mass of dead energy" in an post.
Bloomberg's doctor said he stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall, per a report published by .
Bloomberg bit back and said at a rally: “Donald, where I come from we measure your height from your neck up.”
Trump also used the word “little” to hurl jibes at his domestic political opponents and international adversaries.
He famously referred to North Korean despot Kim Jong-un as “little Rocket Man” – a jibe that Elton John admitted sounded hilarious.
Standing at podiums is not the only rule Harris and Trump must follow at tonight’s debate.
TIGHT RACE
Both candidates can not take notes in the contest but will have a pen and paper.
And the stakes for tonight’s event could not be higher given how close the race is.
Harris is likely to be probed on her record serving in government on a raft of topics ranging from immigration to the economy.
And she is trying to create an image that suggests she is an alternative to the current administration.
She and her running mate Tim Walz have been trying to present an idea that her administration would be grounded in common sense.
Trump is closely behind Harris in the national polls and is well within the margin of error, per Real Clear Politics.
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And, polling conducted in the battleground states shows the race is on a knife-edge.
Harris is only 0.2% ahead of Trump according to an average of polls conducted in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
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