Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump frequently labels his Democratic rival Kamala Harris a Marxist, employing a well-worn tactic in U.S. politics. His goal is to depict Harris as a radical leftist, echoing the Cold War-era “red scare.”
In recent weeks, Trump has intensified his attacks on the Vice President, branding her a “Marxist” and a “communist” at nearly every turn.
Harris has not directly responded to these claims. Her long tenure in public office shows little alignment with the doctrines of 19th-century German theorists or subsequent leftist ideologies.
“She’s not a Marxist; she’s not a communist,” confirms Thomas Zeitzoff, a professor at American University and an expert on political violence.
For Republicans, such labels serve to paint her as “extreme,” Zeitzoff explained to AFP.
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Experts indicate that Trump’s strategy, known as “red-baiting,” seeks to undermine an opponent by casting doubts on their capitalist credentials.
