WASHINGTON − On Monday, former President Donald Trump initiated his strategy to counter the Democratic convention by doing something a bit out of character: mostly adhering to a prepared message.

During a structured speech at Precision Custom Components in York, Pennsylvania, Trump criticized Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, stating, “She puts America last – I put America first.” This marks the commencement of his campaign events across key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada.

However, Trump still managed to hurl some jabs at “Comrade Kamala,” despite requests from fellow Republicans for him to focus on the issues. Additionally, he accused President Joe Biden of being a victim of a Democratic “coup,” which prompted a swift response from Biden after he stepped back from the race against Trump.

Biden remarked, “His stability is still in question,” during a walkthrough for his convention speech on Monday night.

Here are a few key takeaways from Day One of the Democratic convention seen through Trump’s lens:

Sticking to the issues? We’ll see

One of the surprises of the week was that Trump began his campaign event on schedule.

Another surprise was his focus on issues, as he critiqued Harris’ economic policies, asserting they would result in more inflation, increased taxes, reduced domestic energy output, and excessive regulation.

However, it’s premature to declare “a new Trump,” as he maintained a few insults towards Harris, and he has numerous speeches planned for the coming days.

Analysts noted that Trump often strayed from the main topic during his speech, veering off on various tangents. Republican strategist Karl Rove mentioned on Fox News that Trump requires “a much more disciplined message” for the future.

In recent days, Trump’s allies have been visible on television advocating for the GOP nominee to stick to the issues and limit personal attacks on Harris as they travel through crucial states. Republican running mate JD Vance is also on the campaign trail this week.

Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina discussed on NBC’s “Meet The Press” that Trump’s “policies are beneficial for America, and in a debate centered on policy, he’s likely to win. The provocateur and showman, Trump may not secure victory in this election.”

Does Trump miss Biden?

Trump reiterated how much he longs to compete against Biden, whom he led in several polls before Biden withdrew from the presidential race.

The former president contended he should still be contending against Biden, claiming that Democrats executed a “coup” against their own president.

His main concern is that Harris is gaining traction in the polls and poses a greater challenge to his re-election efforts compared to Biden.

Biden and other Democrats asserted that Trump lacks the standing to criticize the decisions surrounding the Democratic nomination.

Trump is focused on Harris, and she is paying attention as well

As Trump closely monitors Harris and the Democratic convention, the Harris campaign is also reacting to Trump’s comments.

The Republican candidate is expected to be a frequent subject during various convention speeches, and Democrats are addressing Trump’s remarks throughout the day.

After the rally in Pennsylvania, the Harris campaign stated that Trump’s economic proposals would harm the majority of Americans.

“It was hard to decipher what Donald Trump was trying to communicate today, but Americans must be clear about his intentions,” the statement declared. “He plans to increase costs for middle-class families by $3,900 annually.”

On social media platform X, the Harris team’s rapid response remarked, “Trump departed office with the poorest job record since the Great Depression,” the campaign stated.