Donald Trump 'Really Wanted to Run Against Biden,' Is 'Worried' About Facing Kamala Harris (Exclusive)

Trump "knows how to fake confidence,” a source tells PEOPLE as the Republican presidential nominee attacks Joe Biden's likely replacement

Donald Trump and his advisers are not happy about Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, multiple sources tell PEOPLE following the historic announcement.

In recent weeks, the Trump campaign has been buoyed by Biden's performance at the first 2024 presidential debate — which heightened voters' doubts about the president's cognitive health and sparked the calls for a new Democratic candidate, even among leading members of his own party.

Following the assassination attempt of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, the Republican Party was able to present a united front heading into its nominating convention, which took place in Milwaukee last week.

Now, however, the Trump campaign — and the Republican Party as a whole — finds itself grappling with the challenge of reshaping its campaign strategy around a new candidate.

“This will suck tons of oxygen out of the room,” a Florida-based source tells PEOPLE, adding: "[Trump's] touchdown spotlight will dim for a while.”

Related: Donald Trump, 78, Is the Oldest Presidential Nominee in U.S. History

The announcement that Biden was leaving the race — and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, to take his place on the Democratic ticket — also means that Trump, 78, is now facing a candidate nearly two decades his junior.

“He says he can topple Kamala Harris as easily as he could topple Biden, but down deep he is scared of her youth,” a second political source in Florida tells PEOPLE. “Of course she may not be the candidate, but if she is, he is also aware of her political and legal brilliance and deep understanding of the issues facing the American people.”

Related: Donald Trump Didn't Always Oppose Kamala Harris. He Helped Get Her Reelected as Calif. Attorney General in 2014

Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County and a former member of the Florida state Senate, tells PEOPLE that the Trump campaign "clearly thought they could beat President Biden" — but they are less sure about their odds facing Harris.

“This is why they have been attacking the Democratic Party for looking at alternatives and even threatening litigation to prevent a change," he adds. "That says it all.”

As for Trump's comment that Harris will be "easier to beat" than Biden (as he told CNN in a recent interview), political sources chalk that up to one thing for which Trump is well known: showmanship.

“Trump is worried and has been worried and his allies have been worried, but Trump knows how to fake confidence,” a fourth political source tells PEOPLE.

"The former president felt more confident with a disorganized Democratic Party," the source adds. "He was banking on this."

The source adds that Trump's attacks on Harris will likely mirror his previous attacks on Biden, saying, "He can call Harris a clone of Biden, and is already armed with bashing sound bites about Harris."

Related: Donald Trump Responds to Joe Biden Dropping out of 2024 Presidential Race

Assuming Harris secures the nomination of the Democratic Party, as she currently appears poised to do, sources say she will continue to intimidate Trump.

“He really wanted to run against Biden as he saw it an easy glide to win in November. He will continue with that same attitude, but knows things are different now," a national political source adds.

And it isn't just Harris' age and energy, the source says, that might have team Trump worried: “He has trouble knowing how to act or deal with a smart woman opposing him."

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