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Donald Trump has a phrase he likes to use to describe people he believes are in weak, pitiful or even servile positions: “Like a dog.”
As my colleague Steve Benen pointed out in 2020, Trump has used the phrase to attack a host of people, from retired four-star Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal (who was “fired like a dog”) to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon (who was “dumped like a dog”) and conservative activist Brent Bozell (who was once “begging for money like a dog”).
Trump now appears more willing to roll over for people who previously drew his ire.
It seems fitting to revive the phrase now that the tables have turned on Trump, who’s exhibited some canine qualities of his own recently by nuzzling up to some of the men he’s barked at in the past. With Kamala Harris atop the Democratic ticket, and an election victory more in doubt, Trump now appears more willing to roll over for people who previously drew his ire.
Take Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, for example.
For years now, Trump has publicly attacked Kemp for refusing to help overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory in Georgia, and he publicly bashed the governor and his wife earlier this month, prompting Kemp to tell Trump to “leave my family out of it.” Many Republicans said Trump’s outburst might hurt his election chances in Georgia. And whether it was that, the palpable energy of Georgia’s Democratic National Convention delegation, or recent polling data forecasting a close race in Georgia, Trump's tweet touting Kemp suggests he’s feeling the heat.
He said:
Thank you to @BrianKempGA for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
That’s a good boy who's learned to muzzle himself ... for now. Perhaps some belly scratches are on the way. Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, spoke with Kemp the night before Trump praised him, CNN reported. (Neither NBC News nor MSNBC has independently confirmed that report.) Perhaps Vance's reported visit was meant to smooth things over? Either way, we’ve seen a similar about-face from Trump when it comes to Trump’s stance on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Earlier this year, Trump’s strategy for combating Kennedy’s independent presidential bid, and its appeal to some Trump voters, involved lobbing personal attacks at Kennedy and his family. But since entering the race, polling suggests Harris is winning over some independent voters, making Kennedy’s candidacy all the more perilous for Trump’s campaign. That likely explains why Trump reportedly spoke with Kennedy recently to discuss a potential Cabinet position should Kennedy drop out of the race.
On Friday, Kennedy withdrew from the race, stating in a speech that Trump had asked to "enlist me in his administration." He went on endorse Trump in his speech. A day earlier, Trump called into Fox News and heaped praise on Kennedy:
I’ve known [Kennedy] for a long time. He’s, as you know, he’s a little different kind of a guy, very smart guy, a very good person. If he endorsed me, I would be honored by it. I would be very honored by it. He really has his heart in the right place. He is a respected person. Women love some of his policies, and I guess some people don’t like some of his policies.
These are the kinds of fawning statements one might expect from a candidate who — much like the “dogs” he despises — has been brought to heel.