Fit for office? Behind in the polls, Trump's unhinged reaction to Harris sows doubts

Even some of Donald Trump's supporters are now asking the question that was the undoing of Joe Biden: is the former president But while Biden's run for re-election was largely sunk by a single disastrous televised debate before a national audience, Trump is ramping up doubts with each chaotic, disjointed speech as he campaigns around the country.

- Chris McGreal

While rambling discourse and outrageously disprovable claims, interspersed with spite and vitriol, may seem nothing new to many of Trump's supporters and critics, the former president appears to have been driven to new depths by suddenly finding himself running against Kamala Harris a month ago. Trump has only grown more infuriated as his poll lead evaporated as Harris opened up a clear, if narrow, lead. Her tactic of mocking Trump more than arguing with him appears to have incensed him further.

Since Harris assumed the mantle of the presumptive Democratic candidate, Trump has claimed to be better looking than the vicepresident, questioned whether she is really Black, and attacked her laugh as that of "a lunatic".

Trump has also characterised Harris as both a communist and a fascist, and described her as "dumb" - but then told CBS he didn't mean it as an insult because it's "just a fact”.

"I don't think she's a very bright person. I do feel that. I mean, I think that's right. I think I am a very bright person, and a lot of people say that," he said.

Trump seems particularly obsessed with the size of the crowds at Harris's rallies, drawing derision for falsely claiming she used artificial intelligence to fake the turnout.

When he's not worried about size, Trump is vexed by Harris's looks. After the vice-president appeared on the cover of Time magazine, Trump compared her appearance with Sophia Loren and his wife, Melania, before drawing a comparison with his own features.

"I'm a better looking person than Kamala," he declared to an audience of thousands who were more amused than convinced.