Trump Workshops Jabs at Harris, but Nothing Plays Like the Classics

Yesterday’s rally was former President Donald J. Trump’s first since President Biden, an 81-year old white man, dropped out and Vice President Kamala Harris, a 59-year-old Black woman, stepped up. Just how would Mr. Trump proceed?

His campaign tried projecting confidence about the switch, even as Ms. Harris had come out swinging, raising $81 million in the first 24 hours and hijacking the media spotlight.

Before Mr. Trump took the stage at the Bojangles Coliseum, his spokesman, Steven Cheung, dropped by the reporters’ pen to assure everyone that the Trump campaign was totally, definitely not freaking out about any of this. As he spoke, his back was physically up against the wall of the hockey arena — painted on the concrete behind him in big block letters: “Skinned your Zamboni? Give us a call” — as two dozen reporters held recording devices an inch from his face. The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” blared while the press pinballed questions off him.

Was the Trump campaign unnerved by how much money Ms. Harris had already raised? “We’re fine with where we’re at.”

How does Mr. Trump feel about being the old man in the race now? “Doesn’t matter.”

What does Mr. Trump think about Ms. Harris framing her campaign as being about a prosecutor versus a felon? “Doesn’t matter.”

And then Mr. Cheung got one that gave him pause. Earlier that day on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson had warned his fellow Republicans against calling Ms. Harris, who is the first female, the first Asian American and the first Black No. 2 in the White House, a “D.E.I.” hire (or a “diversity, equity and inclusion” candidate). Asked if the campaign agreed that Republicans should refrain from attacking Ms. Harris on the basis of race or gender, Mr. Cheung replied,