Longtime Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway delivered a pointed message to the president-elect’s critics during a Tuesday night appearance at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, urging them to “calm the hell down already” and focus on constructive collaboration—though she acknowledged such unity is unlikely. Speaking to a younger audience in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the former White House counselor and pollster argued that relentless attacks on Donald Trump failed to derail his 2024 campaign and won’t hinder his “second chance” presidency.
On “Trump Derangement Syndrome”
Conway dismissed the ongoing backlash as a psychological phenomenon she dubbed “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” stating:
“Unfortunately, it’s real. You all know someone afflicted by it. It’s stage five. It wrecks the nervous system. It addles the brain. There is no vaccine, cure, or therapeutic. But you have a role in helping people unwind from it—sunshine, sunlight, maybe someone in their life who has a different point of view.”
Critique of Anti-Trump Rhetoric
She lambasted critics for fixating on personal attacks rather than policy, calling out the repetitive “Trump, Trump, Trump” strategy—most notably used by Vice President Kamala Harris in her failed bid—as ineffective:
“Trump is the adjective, the noun, the adverb. That tactic didn’t work in the campaign, and it won’t work as he governs.”
Media Coverage Failures
Conway also targeted the media, accusing outlets of a consistent track record of misjudging Trump’s appeal, dating to his 2016 run:
“The media, who make a living getting elections wrong, have a horrible record. They’re consistent in that failure.”
Trump’s “Rare Second Chance”
Emphasizing Trump’s 2024 victory as a historic second term, she said:
“In this life, we all hope for second chances. But I can’t think of a second chance as large as the one he’s getting. He’s working diligently to build this new administration.”
2024 Strategy and Policy Focus
During a Fox News segment in August, Conway predicted Trump’s electoral edge, contrasting his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton with the current race:
“Donald Trump beat a woman before, and he can beat a woman again. But Kamala Harris isn’t defined like Hillary—who was seen as sour, dour, and untrustworthy. This is a different race. The key isn’t nicknames or insults; it’s policy. In 2016, he promised border security, economic growth, and job creation. He delivered on those, and now he can run on performance vs. promises.”
She highlighted Trump’s successful track record on issues like immigration and the economy, now central to swing-state voters:
“He elevated border security to a national issue, despite international derision. Now it’s a top concern. As a business leader, he delivered growth, low unemployment, and higher wages. On policy, he wins this hands down.”
Conway’s remarks underscore a strategy to pivot from personality-driven attacks to substantive policy comparisons, framing Trump’s second term as a referendum on his record rather than his persona.
