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Morning Edition
Phil Picardi and Gracie Stockton

Former Gov. Arne Carlson underlines Harris endorsement, calls Trump ‘mentally ill‘ post-debate

Debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
Students watch the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris during campus watch parties at the University of Minnesota’s Murphy Hall on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Sophia Marschall | MPR News

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Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has garnered support from several powerful Republicans, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, former U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, Trump administration White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham and former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson.

Carlson joined MPR News Morning Edition Host Phil Picardi Wednesday morning following Harris and former President Donald Trump’s first meeting and debate as presidential candidates.

Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.

Although he was elected governor on the Republican ticket, Carlson’s Rockefeller Republican nature meant a more moderate political career — and now a string of endorsements for Democrats up and down the ticket in recent elections.

He told MPR News it’s not a matter of blurred political lines but the eradication of the Republican Party as it was known under Dwight D. Eisenhower, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

“This is the party of Donald Trump. It’s headed towards an autocratic government. It wants to consolidate all power into the presidency and create what I would call a very dangerous dictatorship,” Carlson asserted. “Last night was not a debate, it was a job interview. One candidate came across as well-reasoned, thoughtful and outlined her approach toward how she would govern. The other, frankly, was flailing, but much more importantly, came across as being mentally ill.”

Carlson pointed to Trump’s flippancy toward the Jan. 6, 2020 insurrection, refusal to answer whether he’d sign a national abortion ban, lack of policy support for Ukraine or plan for conflict in the Middle East and perpetuation of false claims about immigrants eating pets in Ohio as additional signs that the former president isn’t fit for a second term in office.

“This border issue was not created by President Biden … it existed all during Trump’s administration as well,” Carlson said. “It’s an immensely serious issue with a lot of conflicting laws, and no, we do not have a particularly good policy. And when finally a policy was agreed upon by Congress, it was Donald Trump who sunk it,” he continued, referring to a bipartisan border bill brokered earlier this year. Harris has also expressed support for that bill.

“I really hope we will all put nation above political party. I think that’s absolutely imperative because that’s what’s on trial this election,” Carlson said.