The New York Times recently published an op-ed by Rich Lowry that has sparked widespread ridicule online.
Titled “Trump Can Win on Character,” the piece argues that former President Donald Trump’s best strategy for winning the 2024 election lies in attacking Vice President Kamala Harris’s character.
Lowry, who is the editor-in-chief of the conservative National Review, suggests that Trump should focus on portraying Harris as “weak, a phony, and uninterested in the country or the middle class” to gain an advantage.
The article has drawn sharp criticism and mockery, with many finding the idea that Trump—often criticised for his own character and behaviour—could win a race based on character to be deeply ironic.
Given Trump’s controversial tenure, marked by personal scandals and inflammatory rhetoric, the premise of the article is seen by many as out of touch with reality. Social media users have compared the piece to satire, with some likening it to content from The Onion, a parody news site.
One user quipped, “The Onion writers are now running the New York Times,” while another questioned whether the article was a product of the “New York Times Pitchbot” satire account.
The backlash underscores the disconnect between Trump’s public persona and the article’s premise, with many seeing it as both ethically questionable and politically ineffective.
Despite the criticism, Lowry’s op-ed highlights the ongoing focus on character debates in American presidential campaigns.
