Does Anyone Know What Donald Trump Is Talking About Anymore?

“Bird Cemeteries” • Self-Sabotage • More Fun Than a Biden Speech [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair Hive logo image]( Does Anyone Know What Donald Trump Is Talking About Anymore? Good morning. "Donald Trump Has Jumped the Shark.” We published [that headline]( earlier this week after the former president’s garbled and glitchy conversation with Elon Musk, during which he showcased his penchant for going on indiscernible [tangents](. And unsurprisingly, the Republican nominee hasn’t let up. At a “press conference” Thursday, [writes]( Eric Lutz, Trump was even more incoherent, standing in front of a display of groceries while ranting about everything from Kamala Harris calling him and running mate JD Vance “weird” to the “bird cemeteries” under windmills. Allies of Trump can’t seem to explain why the GOP nominee seems to be sabotaging his own campaign for the presidency. “[One] theory is that Trump can’t let go of the fact that [Joe] Biden dropped out,” [writes]( Gabriel Sherman. Trump has apparently even told people, “They cheated by swapping Biden.” Elsewhere, Democrats are revving up for what is expected to be a [joy-forward]( presidential nominating convention in Chicago next week. Harris’s Democratic National Convention speech is unlikely to touch on policy efforts she’d pursue if elected president. No, that would be too risky. Her main goal, [writes]( Chris Smith, is to “introduce herself to that large cross section of Americans who are not obsessive politicos but are just starting to pay attention to the race for the White House.” She’ll also need to find a way to knock Trump in the process. Plus, we published [an excerpt]( from Nate Silver’s latest book, On the Edge, in which the election forecaster describes two intellectual camps in a political power struggle. Thanks for reading. [Image may contain: Donald Trump, Accessories, Formal Wear, Tie, Adult, Person, People, Advertisement, Poster, and Body Part]( [Does Anyone Know What Donald Trump Is Talking About Anymore?]( By [Eric Lutz]( [Hannibal Lecter? Cheerios? “Bird cemeteries”? The former president is tying himself in a knot of discursive tangents and in-jokes that only makes sense to an increasingly small sect of the American public.]( [Read more button](   [Trump Allies Fear He’s Sabotaging His Own Campaign]( By [Gabriel Sherman]( [The former president can’t get over feeling “cheated” by Joe Biden’s exit from the race, says one source, while another speculates he might “have PTSD” following last month’s assassination attempt.]( [Read more button](   [Kamala Harris Needs to Knock Trump in Her DNC Speech—Without Popping the Joy Balloon]( By [Chris Smith]( [Still riding a wave of optimism, the veep is expected to forge a more personal connection with voters that could insulate her from future MAGA attacks. One top Democratic speechwriter says they were “dreading” writing a speech for Biden: “This will be a lot more fun.”]( [Read more button](   [Kamala Harris’s Campaign Is Bringing Good Vibes Only to the 2024 DNC]( By [Eric Lutz]( [Democrats are riding a wave of “genuine energy” to Chicago next week, says Senator Dick Durbin, which could offer the veep a vital boost in the home stretch of the election: “I can understand why Donald Trump’s worried.”]( [Read more button](   [Image may contain: Tie, Accessories, Accessory, Electrical Device, Microphone, Human, Person, Suit, Coat, and Clothing]( [Nate Silver’s Guide to “the River”]( By [Nate Silver]( [In an excerpt of his new book, On the Edge, the statistician explains why “Riverians”—with their penchant for data, free speech, and unfettered capitalism—are steeped in a political power struggle against the Democratic-aligned “Village” elites.]( [Read more button](   Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn](   This e-mail was sent to you by The Hive. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007 Copyright © 2024 Condé Nast