Analysis: Donald Trump defies political gravity amid allegations he praised Hitler

Donald Trump is brushing off stunning allegations that would surely end Kamala Harris’s campaign if they were levelled against her. It begs the question: can anything stop him?

There is a rumour that a story is being shopped around which could end Donald Trump’s hopes of returning to power. Regardless of what this new bombshell might be, it begs the question: is there anything that could turn the former president’s supporters against him?

Back in 2016, before he was confirmed as the Republican candidate, Mr Trump boasted that he could shoot someone in New York City and not lose any votes. While he has fortunately never put this theory to the test, it is hard to believe he would be wrong now.

Donald Trump acknowledges supporters after speaking at a campaign rally in North Carolina. Picture: Anna Moneymaker (Getty Images via AFP)

This week, Mr Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff John Kelly went public with extraordinary allegations about his behaviour in the White House. The Republican denied the claims and his allies furiously attacked the retired Marine general.

But the very fact that Mr Kelly’s intervention in the election will not immediately seal the deal for Kamala Harris speaks volumes about Mr Trump’s capacity to defy political gravity – not to mention the capacity of his supporters to rationalise his behaviour.

Donald Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly in the White House in 2018. Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (AFP)

Imagine if the Vice President praised Hitler to her chief of staff for doing “some good things”. Imagine if she said she needed generals like those who carried out the Nazi leader’s orders.

Imagine if she did not want to be seen with veterans who were amputees. Imagine if she called Americans who were wounded, captured or killed in action “losers and suckers”.

Imagine if her chief of staff repeatedly had to caution her not to use the military against Americans. Imagine if, after working for her for two and a half years, he decided she was a fascist who “certainly prefers the dictator approach to government”.

Kamala Harris answers questions from the press in Michigan. Picture: Sarah Rice (Getty Images via AFP)

Even one of those claims would be career-ending for Ms Harris in the minds of her opponents. As for the undecided voters who will determine the election, they would surely be repelled.

Mr Trump has never played by the rules of the political game. It is the source of strength powering his political movement – it is why he won in 2016, why he almost did in 2020, and why he very well may win again in less than a fortnight.

But his supporters have also refused to judge him by the same rules that are applied to every other aspiring president. If they come to regret that, they can’t say they weren’t warned.