Former President Donald J. Trump’s first television ad attacking Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked controversy. The ad splices together footage of her dancing and images of migrants crossing the border, accusing her of being a failed “border czar.”
Content of the Ad
The 30-second ad aims to hold Vice President Harris responsible for millions of border crossings and a quarter-million deaths from fentanyl, which the ad claims occurred “on Harris’s watch.” The ad closes with a new Trump tagline for Harris: “Failed. Weak. Dangerously Liberal.”
Trump Campaign’s Ad Purchase
This ad marks the Trump campaign’s first major television ad purchase targeting Harris since she became the de facto Democratic nominee. The campaign began a two-week ad reservation on Monday, buying airtime in the top six battleground states.
Ad Spending by State
- Pennsylvania: $2.7 million
- Georgia: $2.3 million
- Michigan: $2.3 million
- Arizona: $1.9 million
- Nevada: $1.8 million
- Wisconsin: $1.3 million
Use of Interview Footage
The ad also includes an interview clip of Harris with NBC’s Lester Holt in 2021. In the interview, she addressed pressure to visit the border and remarked, “I haven’t been to Europe. I mean, I don’t understand the point you’re making.”
