Janice R. Andrews
Chicago, Illinois – On Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump assistant, delivered a biting assessment of the former president Donald Trump and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Grisham, the press secretary for Trump and Melania Trump’s chief of staff, didn’t hold back in her comments, hoping to win over disenchanted Republicans and people who weren’t sure what to think.
Grisham, who left the Trump administration amid the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, is one of several speakers this week at the DNC with Republican affiliations. A pivotal point in the Democratic Party’s plan to win over disgruntled Republicans in the GOP ahead of the 2024 presidential race was reached by her speech.
Grisham made a quick but powerful accusation that Trump calls his fans “basement dwellers” and makes fun of them in private. Despite being unfounded, the allegation fuelled her hatred of the previous president’s personality.
Startling the DNC crowd, Grisham said, “Behind closed doors, Trump mocks his supporters—calls them ‘basement dwellers.'” The statement garnered notice rapidly. In response, Trump aide Jason Miller posted on social media, dismissing Grisham’s remarks and adding, “Grisham botched that speech.” This was promptly picked up by Steven Cheung, the campaign spokesperson for the president.
Grisham was quite clear in her support of Kamala Harris. She commended Harris for her commitment to the nation and contrasted it with Trump’s alleged lack of morality, empathy, and “fidelity to the truth.” Though she never gave a news conference in her capacity as press secretary, Grisham also considered her own place in the administration, admitting that she didn’t want to “stand behind the podium and lie.”
It’s not the first time Grisham has attacked Trump in public. Her memoir, which was published in 2021 and described her experiences in the Trump White House, presented a disorganised and unsettling image of the government. Ever since, Grisham has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, frequently highlighting the threats she sees in his leadership for the nation.
Another noteworthy speech was delivered by Republican and erstwhile Trump ally Kyle Sweetser. Sweetser, who frequently contributed to Trump’s campaigns and supported him as a voter, said that he had changed his mind after seeing the consequences of Trump’s tariff policies. “I saw that I wasn’t cut out for Trump. He was for fattening his own wallet,” Sweetser said, clarifying that although he doesn’t identify as left-wing, he supports Kamala Harris because he thinks that leaders should “bring out the best in us.”
Later on Tuesday, the former president Barack Obama is scheduled to give a keynote address that will emphasise the Democratic Party’s attempts to unite people against Trump in the approaching election.
