Kamala Harris Campaign Trolls Trump on Truth Social With DNC Ratings

In a bold move that has set social media abuzz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team has taken to former President Donald Trump’s own platform, Truth Social, to tout the Democratic National Convention’s (DNC) ratings success over the Republican National Convention (RNC).

The Harris campaign’s official Truth Social account posted an image of a Rolling Stone headline declaring, “DNC Brings in Higher Ratings Than RNC All Four Nights,” in a clear attempt to needle the former president on his home turf.

According to Nielsen data, the DNC, held in Chicago over four nights, consistently outperformed the RNC in total viewership. The Democratic gathering, which featured speeches from party heavyweights including Harris, President Joe Biden, and former President Barack Obama, drew in millions of viewers across traditional broadcast networks and cable news channels.

Newsweek contacted both the Harris and Trump campaign via email for comment on Sunday.

The opening night of the DNC set the tone with an impressive 20 million viewers, surpassing both the 2020 DNC opener (19.7 million) and this year’s RNC kickoff (18.1 million). Day two of the convention saw viewership climb to nearly 20.8 million, with a notable spike to 21.9 million during Barack Obama’s prime-time address. The convention’s third day maintained steady viewership with 20.2 million tuning in, again outpacing the RNC’s corresponding night, which attracted 18 million viewers.

The final night of the DNC saw a significant surge in viewership, with 26.2 million Americans watching as Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. The audience peaked at 28.9 million during Harris’ acceptance speech, surpassing the RNC’s final night viewership of 25.4 million and its peak of 28.4 million during Trump’s address.

Demographics played a significant role in the viewership patterns. The DNC attracted a considerable older audience, with 15.3 million viewers aged 55 and above tuning in. The 35-54 age bracket accounted for 3.5 million viewers, while the 18-34 demographic drew in 851,000 viewers.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as White House director of strategic communications under Trump’s administration, commented on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, “I know Donald Trump was not happy about that. It’s a big deal. I think it speaks to that six in 10 Americans who didn’t want the Biden-Trump rematch. Now, there’s someone new, there’s someone energizing. There’s someone who would be historic if she wins.”

The DNC averaged 21.8 million viewers across all four nights, outshining the RNC’s average of just over 19 million viewers. This success has brought a wave of momentum to the Democratic Party, which was once slightly trailing Trump while President Joe Biden was still atop the ticket.

Griffin also praised the DNC for being “a well-orchestrated convention that was a mixture of different kinds of policies, a mix of national security, having speakers from all over the country.” She added, “I think it held viewers’ attention. But 75 days [until Election Day] is a long time. Donald Trump is a master at reclaiming the spotlight and getting eyeballs back on him.”

The convention’s strong performance comes at a crucial time for the Democrats. Before Biden stepped aside as the Democratic presidential nominee on July 21, polling found that a majority of Americans didn’t want a rematch between Trump and Biden. A January poll by Reuters revealed that around 67 percent of respondents were “tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new.”

Harris’ historic nomination as the first Black and Asian American woman to lead a major party ticket has energized the Democratic base. The convention featured a diverse array of speakers, from Hollywood stars like Mindy Kaling to notable leaders like former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle Obama.

Trump reacted to Harris’ speech live over his Truth Social account, repeatedly criticizing the vice president on her promised border policies. In one post, he wrote, “Why didn’t she do something about the things of which she complains?” He also called Fox News immediately after Harris’ speech, telling the network, “She could have done it 3 1/2 years ago. She could do it tonight by leaving the auditorium and going to Washington, D.C. and closing the border.”

As the 2024 presidential race intensifies, both campaigns are likely to continue employing unconventional tactics to capture public attention and enthusiasm. The Harris campaign’s Truth Social gambit may be just the opening salvo in what promises to be a digital-age battle for the White House.