Former President Donald Trump is no stranger to controversial statements. They are practically his stock-in-trade, after all. But in a recent interview with Hugh Hewitt, he made a statement that is causing some raised eyebrows, namely, that Kamala Harris may well be a better President than Joe Biden. And, from a certain point of view, he may be right.

Former President Trump claimed Friday that Vice President Harris would do a better job leading the White House than President Biden.

Pressed by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on whether a vote for Biden would be equal to one for Harris, Trump said “I think so.” Though, he added, he’s not sure Biden would even get “to the starting gate.”

“It seems like he’s locked into her for a lot of reasons. He has to choose her. I understand. It would seem like the Democrats, if he doesn’t run, have to run her,” the former president said on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.” “That’s what all of the professionals like you are saying. I’m not sure that that’s correct, but that’s what they’re saying.”

“I think she’d be better than him, actually. I actually think that,” he added in the interview, highlighted by Mediaite.

Well, that's certainly a novel take.

Kamala Harris is, of course, the least competent politician on the national stage right now. I wrote recently that she has all of the charm of a veruca and would lose a battle of wits with a rhododendron, and I stand by that statement. But Donald Trump may be on to something here, at least from a certain point of view: His.

We all know how Kamala Harris's political career was launched, and it wasn't because of her intellect, grace, charisma, or broad appeal. But Donald Trump is looking ahead to November 2024, and considering who he would sooner face at the hustings. And ask yourself this: Is there any one Democrat politician who is less intelligent, less likable, less articulate, and less appealing than Joe Biden? If we concede that there is one, and I think we can, Kamala Harris would be that person.

Kamala Harris facing Donald Trump across a debate stage would be interesting indeed; were it on pay-per-view, I might actually shell out a few shekels to watch that. But then, I'd say the same for any member of the GOP field taking on Harris. The result of any such match-up would be the worst defeat since General Custer, at Little Bighorn, called out to his men, "Come on, boys, we've got them right where we want them!"

President Trump is clearly looking at the GOP primary polls and seems to be already planning a remodel of the Oval Office. It's a bit soon for that yet, but projecting confidence isn't the worst thing a politician can do in a campaign. He is already suggesting a VP pick and some key Cabinet appointments.

If he ends up facing Kamala Harris in the general election, that just throws the odds ever more in his favor. That's why we have to suspect that the Democrats are already making plans for the (likely, to be sure) possibility that old Joe will somehow be convinced to bow out. They have to know that a Harris candidacy would be a disaster. Trump's statements here should just confirm that.

My colleague Becca Lower covered more from this Hugh Hewitt interview; be sure to read her account of the other topics covered. You can also read the complete transcript of that interview here.