Disgraced former White House adviser Peter Navarro has called on Donald Trump to “reset” his presidential campaign, citing what he described as the “catastrophic error” of debating President Joe Biden before Biden was officially the Democratic nominee.
During a heated discussion on the War Room podcast on Monday, Navarro expressed concerns about the direction of Trump’s campaign and questioned whether Trump’s advisers were informing him that polls were now shifting in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“You wonder what’s going on now in Trump land because obviously we need to go in a different direction,” Navarro remarked. “It’s yet to be seen what that direction is.”
Navarro acknowledged that the past few weeks had been challenging for Trump and predicted more difficulties ahead as the Democrats prepared for their convention, a time when political parties typically enjoy a boost in support. “Clearly, the last three weeks have been difficult, and the next week is likely to be difficult as the Democrats have their convention because you always get a bump at conventions,” he said.
Reflecting on Trump’s previous campaign strategy, Navarro argued that Trump’s reelection would have been a “slam dunk” if Biden had not stepped aside. He pointed to the decision to debate Biden before he was officially the nominee as a significant misstep. “And there was a decision made to debate Biden prior to him being crowned the nominee,” Navarro explained. “And I’m sure there were good and bad pro and con reasons for that, but you can at least say in hindsight that that was a catastrophic error.”
Navarro urged the Trump campaign to undergo a “reset” and to do so quickly. He emphasized the importance of clarifying the campaign’s message and strategy moving forward. “It’s simply a matter of deciding on a message, and to decide on the message, you have to decide on your ultimate strategy,” he advised. “Is it personal attacks? Is it policy?”
Navarro’s remarks underscore the uncertainty and frustration within Trump’s camp as they navigate a challenging election cycle. His call for a swift change in approach reflects the pressure Trump faces to regain momentum as he confronts growing competition and shifting voter sentiments.