Donald Trump is likely hoping this afternoon’s news conference can help refocus the media’s, and voters’, attention onto him, according to a former White House staffer who worked in his administration.

Even after Trump survived an attempted assassination last month, much of the US political discussion in recent weeks has been keyed in on Vice-President Kamala Harris joining the presidential race after Joe Biden dropped out.

According to former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, the former president is “panicking” over the shift in momentum, as many polls show enthusiasm growing behind Harris.

“I’ve seen this play many times,” she says on social media, external of Trump’s “self-announced press conference”.

“He thinks his team is failing him and no one can speak better/’’save’ his campaign/defend him but him. He hates the coverage Harris is getting and thinks only he can fix it,” she adds.

Grisham, who also worked for the Trump administration as communications director and chief of staff to First Lady Melania Trump, was the first White House press secretary to never hold a news briefing. She resigned from the administration the night of 6 January, 2021, after the riot at the Capitol.