Former president Donald Trump, who calls himself a ‘stable genius’, greeted a modest gathering in a small venue in North Carolina with a clear message: “We’re talking about a thing called the economy.”

Ah yes, the economy. I’m somewhat familiar with it.

He added: “We’re presenting this as an intellectual speech.”

That’s great. Many within the Republican party have urged Trump to refrain from his usual insults and instead focus on delivering a clear campaign message.

Trump’s economic address quickly veered off course

“You’re all intellectuals today,” Trump remarked to the attendees at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville, which has a capacity of 2,400. “Today we’re engaging in this, and it’s crucial—everyone says it’s the most vital issue. In my view, crime and the border are equally critical. Our country is becoming a third-world nation; in many respects, we are a banana republic. We won’t allow that to happen because we’re facing a significant decline.”

Oh dear. Trump’s focus seems even less reliable than a retired train running on empty. Thus, his so-called intellectual talk about the economy predictably devolved into a rant about unrelated topics.

For instance, he mocked Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s laugh.

Trump demonstrates in North Carolina that insults are his go-to

“For nearly four years, Kamala has been cackling while the American economy has been in flames,” Trump stated, seemingly mispronouncing “cackled” due to his ongoing verbal challenges. “Where has that laugh gone? I haven’t heard it in about a week. That’s why they keep her hidden; she has gone off the radar.”

Harris, alongside her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has been actively campaigning across states, holding far more events than Trump and attracting considerably larger crowds than the handful that attended his speech.

“That’s the laugh of a crazy person, I’ll tell you,” Trump continued. “She’s out of her mind.”

Labeling Harris as crazy and ridiculing her laugh contradicts the advice many Republicans have been giving him. However, he couldn’t restrain himself, later labeling her an “incompetent socialist lunatic.”

Trump’s grasp of economic principles is questionable at best

“Many claim the stock market’s rise is due to the perception that I’ll win. Ever heard that before? But there was one day a few weeks back when people weren’t so sure about that.”

First of all, it’s hard to believe that anyone thinks Trump actually influences the stock market’s performance. Moreover, the idea that last week’s downturn—quickly reversed—was due to a fleeting notion that Harris might secure the win raises doubts about whether Trump can even spell “economy.”

Is an economic speech about rape?

It seems that no serious presidential campaign speech regarding the economy avoids the topic of immigrants alongside disturbing claims about violence. Trump stated: “Rape and murder, rape and beatings, rape and something else, and sometimes just immediate killing. These individuals are ruthless. They have emerged from some of the toughest prisons around the globe, and we must not accept them.”

Research indicates that migrants actually commit crimes at significantly lower rates than American citizens, but, hey  THE ECONOMY!

Now, regarding the economy, while Trump occasionally mentioned the term—offering no real policy suggestions apart from vague assertions that he will rectify all issues—U.S. inflation reached its lowest rate in three years.

The economy isn’t the disaster that Trump and the GOP assert

This brings us to one of Trump’s significant challenges: the economy is performing quite well. Unemployment rates are low, the stock market is hitting new highs, and inflation continues to decrease. In April, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s, stated on CNBC: “The U.S. economy is setting the pace for the global economy. It is leading the global economic train.”

Hence, labeling America as a third-world nation while making immature comments about the vice president’s laughter and spreading unfounded fears about an immigrant crime spike? This approach isn’t likely to persuade voters who have been leaning towards Harris since she took the lead in the Democratic ticket.

Republicans appear to be growing increasingly disappointed with the Trump campaign, understanding that he must demonstrate something to win over voters. His lackluster speech about “the economy” failed to provide any substantial insights.

It was just another misstep from an aging candidate who seems unaware that his routine has become tired.