Jared Kushner reportedly warned Trump to lay off the Joe Biden taunts. He obviously didn't listen.


President Trump's staffers think his nicknames could cost him 2020.
As Trump gears up to take on one of nearly two dozen Democrats next year, his aides — including his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner — have decided his campaign won't focus on the massive opposing field just yet. Except Trump has clearly not taken that advice, and it has at least one adviser convinced it'll push former Vice President Joe Biden to the top of the Democratic field, Politico reports.
When Democrats started filing into the presidential race earlier this year, Kushner explicitly warned Trump campaign officials against "targeting specific Democratic presidential hopefuls," Politico reports via a person familiar with Kushner's strategy. Getting involved in the primaries was "at best a waste of time — and could even be counterproductive," Kushner reportedly warned, Politico continues. Yet as Trump's Twitter feed, rally speeches, and growing nickname arsenal indicate, the president has ignored that advice.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has most notably taken to railing against Biden, something one adviser tells Politico "we've asked him — I've personally asked him — to stop." After all, Trump's campaigners "don't think Biden can make it out of the woke Democrat primary," the adviser said, but added that "he will if the president gives him oxygen." A second Trump adviser told Politico that "smart guys" like Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale are probably "telling [Trump] to stop this, and he's telling them to go f--k themselves."
Still, some Trump 2016 veterans argue with the current strategy, with one telling Politico it's smart to attack Biden if he's "front page of every paper" and "leading every single newscast" already. Read about both sides at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
July 6 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include paying for school lunch by enlisting, and the banality of evil
-
5 biting editorial cartoons about 'Alligator Alcatraz'
Cartoons Artists take on dangerous green things, historical precedent, and more
-
A journey into the deep past on beautiful Arran
The Week Recommends New Unesco Global Geopark played a 'key role' in the birth of modern geological science
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?
Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
How would the Trump administration denaturalize immigrant citizens?
Today's Big Question Using civil courts lowers the burden of proof
-
'Trucking is a dangerous business'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities