On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, during a panel discussion at The New Republic’s Stop Trump Summit, former Republican George Conway, ex-husband of Kellyanne Conway, former counselor to Donald Trump, suggested a controversial strategy for Democrats against Trump: waging a “psychological war” through negative political advertisements.
This, he believes, could push Trump to the edge and potentially make him violate court orders related to his ongoing legal troubles.
George Conway, once considered by Trump for the role of solicitor general, has been vocal about his stance against the former president.
His new proposition stems from the belief that by targeting Trump’s insecurities about his intelligence, wealth, and abilities, it would cause a reaction. Conway said, “He knows he’s not that smart, he knows he’s not that rich, he knows that he’s not that good. And so, if you go and attack him for the things he knows he is not deep down, it makes him crazy.”
The intention behind this approach, according to Conway, is to elicit reactions that might lead Trump to discuss matters publicly that could further complicate his legal position. Conway further speculated that the right ad could even lead to Trump being imprisoned. Conway suggested running ads specifically in areas where Trump is currently based to maximize the impact.
Trump, who has been involved in numerous legal proceedings, faces restrictions in some of them. In a New York trial, he was recently issued a gag order after making statements attacking the New York Attorney General Letitia James. Additionally, in a Georgia case, conditions of his release prohibit him from intimidating witnesses and co-defendants.
Conway believes that ads which anger Trump against people like his former aide Mark Meadows, a co-defendant in the Georgia case, might cause him to breach these conditions.
Conway’s remarks have not gone without criticism, with some questioning the ethical implications of such a strategy. However, he remains firm in his belief that the media has a role to play. Contrary to the view that giving Trump airtime might be detrimental, Conway opined, “I disagree with some of the critiques… No. You give him more. Show everybody the crazy.”
While it remains to be seen how Democrats and the broader public will respond to this proposition, it underscores the ongoing tensions and divisions in the political landscape as Trump continues to be a dominant figure in American politics.
