donald trumpTrump’s Republican allies on Capitol Hill want him to play nice in his first 2024 debate with the president Joe Biden On thursday.
They are urging the former president — who frequently deviates from the script and goes off on tangents during campaign appearances — to stick to politics and contrast his plans for another term in the White House with Biden’s tenure as president and his management of the economy.
And they want him to avoid talking about allegedly stolen elections, something he frequently brings up to his supporters during the campaign.
“He should focus on looking ahead,” said the senator. Mike Rounds (RS.D.) said. “He should analyze what our political needs are, he should analyze what he will do to reduce the price of food products, what he will do to reduce the price of gasoline, the price of energy. He should leave the past behind.”
“I would talk more about the future and how I’m going to clean up Joe Biden’s mess,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) added.
However, Trump has been focusing on other things before the debate begins. Over the weekend, he suggested, without evidence, that Biden is using medical supplements to “rise” himself to confrontation. And on Monday, the former president again challenged Biden to take a drug test, adding that he would also “immediately” agree to take one if Biden accepted.
Trump, 78, and his allies have for months attacked Biden, 81, as too old and unfit for the presidency. Polls have shown that Biden’s age and Trump’s felony conviction are issues for voters in the upcoming election, and both could certainly come up during Thursday’s debate.
Asked whether Trump should mention Biden’s age in the CNN debate, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida), a key Trump ally, said: “You don’t have to do that. I think everyone has already decided that Biden can’t do the job.”
“All [Trump] All you have to do is talk about what he did. If he talks about what he did, there should be a big debate,” Scott said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also urged Trump to focus on drawing a contrast with Biden on key issues, including the economy and foreign policy.
“It’s not just age, it’s performance,” Graham said. “For me, it’s a debate about the wrong path and the right path. If you think we are on the wrong path, explain why and how you get back on the right path.”
The first debate of 2020 between Biden and Trump was marked by almost constant interruptions, most often by Trump. At one point, Biden expressed frustration and told Trump: “Will you shut up, man?” At Thursday’s debate, hosted by CNN, microphones will be muted except when a candidate is recognized to speak.
Biden has been preparing for the debate over the past week with top aides at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, including mock sessions and practical counterattacks on potential Trump weaknesses such as access to immigration and abortion. according to for The New York Times.
The Republican Party’s strategy of trying to make Biden appear weak and incompetent backfired in March when the president delivered a forceful and blunt State of the Union (SOTU) speech before Congress, which earned him bipartisan applause. Democrats believe that Trump is falling into a similar trap this time.
“I think the danger Republicans are in with him, at least before SOTU, is to placate him: ‘Oh, he can’t do this,’ Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said of Biden. “So he’s fine, but not only does he look fine, he looks better than fine, because they calm him down. In fact, they should lower expectations about Trump’s performance.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Biden shouldn’t shy away from concerns about his age.
“We have two presidential candidates who are both of advanced age,” Murphy said. “That’s just a reality of this election, so I think [Biden] It’s better when he doesn’t hide from his age and makes people understand that there really is wisdom in spending a few years on this earth.
Trump is not holding mock debate sessions, but rather holding political discussions with allies and experts, including members of Congress. Last week, he appeared to be trying to raise expectations for Biden’s performance, calling the president a “worthy debater.”
“I don’t want to underestimate him,” Trump he said in an appearance on “The All-In” podcast last week.
