Experts Burst into Laughter as Times Op-ed Claims Trump Could Win ‘on Character
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A recent New York Times headline has sparked widespread amusement among political commentators, claiming that Donald Trump’s best strategy for winning the 2024 election is to focus on character. The headline, “Trump can win on character,” appeared in an op-ed by Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative National Review, and quickly became the target of mockery.
Georgetown Law professor Josh Chafetz was among the first to express disbelief, responding on social media, “From the headline to the analysis to the strategy, this op-ed is laugh-out-loud funny.” Chafetz’s reaction was echoed by many who found Lowry’s argument—that Trump should abandon policy-focused attacks and instead launch personal assaults on Vice President Kamala Harris—hard to take seriously, told Forbes.
Lowry’s column suggested that Trump’s path to victory lies in framing Harris as weak and disingenuous, arguing that “Presidential races are won and lost on character as much as the issues, and often the issues are proxies for character.” He went on to assert that everything in Trump’s campaign “has to be connected to the deeper case that Ms. Harris is weak, a phony, and doesn’t truly care about the country or the middle class.”
However, this strategy of attacking Harris’s character left many readers unconvinced. University of Pennsylvania geophysicist Professor Michael E. Mann expressed his disdain for both Lowry and the Times, stating, “This is what lowlife Rich Lowry (editor in chief of the odious National Review) and the New York Times have both been reduced to.” In a follow-up comment, Mann revealed a personal connection, adding, “He’s an a——.”
Health economist Eric Feigl-Ding also criticized the editorial, remarking, “This is a completely real NYT oped headline. The @nytimes has sunk to a new low.” The headline even inspired humor among readers, with Dmitry Grozoubinski, a former Australian diplomat, comparing Trump to a video game villain. “Trump couldn’t win on character even if the election were Goldeneye 64 and we let him play Oddjob,” he quipped, referencing the popular James Bond-themed game from the 1990s.
Political commentator Anand Giridharadas joined the chorus, agreeing sarcastically, “I actually agree that Trump can win on character. All he has to do is time travel and unborn himself.” The widespread mockery highlights the skepticism surrounding the notion that Trump, with his controversial past and polarizing persona, could successfully run a campaign centered on character. As the 2024 election approaches, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s team will heed Lowry’s advice or continue to focus on other strategies to secure victory.
