Donald Trump's team has hit out at allegations that the former president has disappeared from public view for more than a week.
A number of allies of President Joe Biden alleged that Trump had not been seen in around 10 days in the wake of the live CNN presidential debate on June 27.
While Biden has since faced mounting pressure over his performance at the debate, several supporters of the president are asking why Trump is not facing similar scrutiny for not appearing in public events for several days. Trump virtually addressed veterans in Wisconsin and Florida on Independence Day from his home in Bedminster, New Jersey, while his last rally was in Virginia on June 28.
Harry Sisson, who promotes the president's 2024 campaign on social media, alleged on Sunday night that Trump has "not had a public event in 10 days."
"Biden spoke at the White House for the 4th of July, held a rally in Wisconsin the next day, and was in Pennsylvania all day today," Sisson posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Where is Trump? And why won't folks in the media discuss how Biden is working and Trump isn't?"
Steve Cheung, Trump's 2024 campaign spokesperson, said the presumptive Republican nominee held a Virginia rally on June 28, the day after the live CNN presidential debate against Biden, as well as addressed veterans in a July 4 online call.
"Fake News by the Biden campaign," Cheung told Newsweek. "President Trump participated in a Fourth of July event last week and previously held a rally in Virginia.
"He's also done numerous media interviews, unlike Biden who needs to be handed questions beforehand," Cheung added.
Trump is next scheduled to appear at a rally in Doral, Florida, on Tuesday, July 9.
Bakari Sellers, a former South Carolina state representative, was among those pushing the claim Trump is not appearing in public. He wrote: "Donald Trump has not been seen in 10 days fyi...."
In response, former White House communications director Ben LaBolt called it the "most undercovered story of the week."
After CNN reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere posted Biden's upcoming schedule, noting the president does not have any events planned for Monday, former White House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo replied on Sunday: "President Biden had a busy day campaigning across Pennsylvania today and Donald Trump has not been seen in public for 10 days."
Several social media users suggested that Trump does not need to make any public appearances currently, as the backlash to Biden's languished debate performance is helping the Republican's 2024 campaign regardless.
X user JD Sharp wrote in response to LaBolt: "No reason for him to be seen. The Democratic party is imploding. Why divert attention away from it? The Art Of War—Never stop your opponent from beating themselves."
Conservative JL Fairchild added: "Trump hasn't been in public because it's more fun to stand out of the way and watch the Biden campaign implode."
ABC News quoted an unnamed source from Trump's campaign as saying: "We're trying something new and shutting up."
A video of Trump on a golf course attacking Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris emerged in the wake of the CNN debate, although it is unclear when it was filmed.
Sitting on a golf buggy, Trump calls Biden an "old, broken-down pile of crap" and suggests the president will drop out of the 2024 race.
"And that means we have Kamala," Trump adds. "She's so bad. She's so pathetic. She's just so f****** bad."
Biden and his team have said the president has no plans to end his reelection bid.
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About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
