2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

Trump Campaign Statement on Unilateral Decision of the Commission on Presidential Debates

Trump Campaign Statement on Unilateral Decision of the Commission on Presidential Debates

“President Trump won the first debate despite a terrible and biased moderator in Chris Wallace, and everybody knows it. For the swamp creatures at the Presidential Debate Commission to now rush to Joe Biden’s defense by unilaterally canceling an in-person debate is pathetic. That’s not what debates are about or how they’re done. Here are the facts: President Trump will have posted multiple negative tests prior to the debate, so there is no need for this unilateral declaration. The safety of all involved can easily be achieved without canceling a chance for voters to see both candidates go head to head. We’ll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden and do a rally instead.”

 - Bill Stepien, Trump 2020 campaign manager 

 

What They Are Saying: Mike Pence at the Vice Presidential Debate

Top 5 Must-Watch Moments from the Vice Presidential Debate
Vice President Pence was strong and straightforward. Kamala Harris was not.

Tonight, Americans saw Vice President Mike Pence expose the radical, far-left policies that a Harris-Biden Administration would force on the country, and articulate a robust defense of the Trump-Pence Administration’s accomplishments and vision for the future. It was a stark contrast with the weakness and evasiveness exhibited by phony Kamala Harris on virtually every issue.

Here are the top five must-watch moments from tonight’s debate:

VP Pence lambasted Joe Biden’s failure to confront ISIS terrorists and save Kayla Mueller. “When Joe Biden was vice president, they hesitated for a month…. Her family says…if President Donald Trump had been president, they believe Kayla would be alive today,” he said.

VP Pence contrasted President Trump’s record of cutting taxes for middle-class families with Joe Biden’s plan to raise taxes by $4 trillion. “America, you just heard Senator Harris tell you, on day one, Joe Biden’s going to raise your taxes,” he said.

VP Pence slammed Joe Biden for sending American jobs overseas to China. “Joe Biden has been a cheerleader for communist China over the last several decades,” he said.

VP Pence called out Kamala Harris for supporting massive tax hikes, a job-killing Green New Deal, banning fracking, and surrendering to China. “The American economy, the American comeback is on the ballot,” he said.

Kamala Harris refused—once again—to say if she and Biden will pack the U.S. Supreme Court. “The straight answer is, they are going to back the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election,” said VP Pence.

What They Are Saying: Kamala Harris at the Vice Presidential Debate

It’s Clear Why Joe Biden Chose Kamala Harris as His Running Mate

Mike Pence may not have shouted like Donald Trump, but the lies and the dodging were still the same. Neither of them have a plan for the issues facing American families. Neither could lay out a clear strategy to address COVID-19. Neither discussed their long-awaited health care “plan” or explain how they could maintain protections for pre-existing conditions even as they’re fighting at the Supreme Court trying to get rid of them.

And most importantly, neither Donald Trump nor Mike Pence could explain away their failures over the last four years, or make the case for why they deserve another four.

There was only one candidate on stage tonight who articulated policies and plans to help working families and small businesses, to protect our health care, and to follow the science -- science to contain COVID-19 and science to address climate change. Kamala Harris.

CNN’s Oliver Darcy: “Results of the CNN instant poll: 59% say Harris won, 38% say Pence won.”

Kamala focused on the issues that matter to working families.

Jonathan Alter: The two best arguments for Biden are that Trump has mishandled the coronavirus and will not protect people with preexisting conditions. Harris made both arguments convincingly.

Republican strategist Tara Setmayer: Reminding people of the pattern of disrespect Trump has exhibited toward our military was an excellent response by @KamalaHarris Pence lost that exchange by A LOT. #VPDebateTakes #VPDebate

Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin: Pence was on defense and looked uncomfortable while displaying once more Republicans' lack of respect for women. Harris was polished and got in long, specific policy statements delivered direct to camera. A win for Democrats.

While Pence lied and deflected.

Jehmu Greene: Right, @KamalaHarris. Wow, just wow. He thinks if he cloaks his lies in a soft tone it makes it easier to swallow. #VPDebate

Daily Kos: It's telling that Pence is talking to the moderator and Harris is talking to the American people. #VPDebate

Kamala won this debate.

New York Times’s Wajahat Ali: Pence lost. Its done. #VPDebate

Shar Jossell: As expected, she is clocking the hell out of him and that administration. #VPDebate

The Nation’s Joan Walsh: At the end of each segment, Kamala looks excited, Pence looks exhausted.

MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski: Kamala killing it.

Matt Helms: Kamala Harris is rocking it tonight. She came to debate. Pence came to deflect. #VPDebate

New Yorker’s Philip Gourevitch: pence is trying to run down the clock rather than answer any of susan page’s incredible simple straightforward questions.”

ABC News Chief Political Analyst Matthew Dowd: Kamala won the debate. Won’t fundamentally alter the election which is really bad for trump pence because they are significantly behind. Pence lies as much as trump. He just does it more sincerely.

Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh: Kamala won. #VPDebate

Jonathan Alter: Pence lost this debate by repeatedly going over time and mansplaining in a smarmy way. Harris avoided being too aggressive but got her points in. She won easily.

CNN Commentator Keith Boykin: Kamala Harris clearly won tonight's debate. Mike Pence needed to score a knockout to change the trajectory of Trump's losing campaign, and he failed to do that.

AFT President Randi Weingarten: It’s clear who won tonight’s debate and that was @KamalaHarris. And she gave us the reminder we needed: your vote is your power. If we vote we will win. #VPdebate #AFTvotes

Former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder: Kamala won. The process lost - again. Fix the format.

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez: Congratulations to @KamalaHarris, the winner of tonight’s #VPDebate. She stood for science. She told the truth. She brought receipts. California is proud of you.

Gloria Allred: U.S. Senator Kamala Harris was a star in the debate with V.P. Pence. She clearly won the debate. She demonstrated that she is not just prepared to be V.P., but that she is also prepared to be President one day. Pence could not defend the indefensible - Trump. She made us proud.

Trump Campaign Statement on Vice Presidential Debate

Trump Campaign Statement on Vice Presidential Debate

“Vice President Mike Pence made clear tonight that President Trump is the clear choice to continue to rebuild the American economy,. Vice President Pence exposed Joe Biden’s plan to raise taxes by $4 trillion, strangle the economy with Green New Deal regulations, ban fracking, abolish fossil fuels, and kill millions of jobs in the process. And Vice President Pence made clear that President Trump has stood up to China and protected American jobs, while Biden has spent decades rolling over for the communist Chinese. Vice President Pence eviscerated Biden’s record on foreign policy and his willingness to coddle terrorists and state sponsors of terror. Senator Harris is the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate and it showed, as she continued to push Joe Biden to the left. President Trump built the world’s best economy once and is already doing it a second time. And as Vice President Pence made clear, President Trump has accomplished more in 47 months than Biden has in 47 years.”
- Marc Short

Republican National Committee (RNC) Statement on Vice Presidential Debate

Republican National Committee (RNC) Statement on Vice Presidential Debate

WASHINGTON — Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on tonight's Vice Presidential Debate

"Tonight, Americans saw the proven and principled leadership Vice President Pence has provided as part of the most successful administration in modern history. He highlighted the progress of the Coronavirus taskforce that he leads, touted the significant job growth in all sectors of our economy and historic judicial nominations, and warned of the disastrous ramifications that a Harris-Biden ticket would have on our country.

"Kamala Harris’ record as the most liberal U.S. Senator and her support for policies like banning fracking, raising trillions of dollars in taxes, and eliminating private health insurance show that Joe Biden is in complete lockstep with the far-left’s radical agenda. Her continued refusal to answer basic questions like whether she and Joe Biden support packing the Supreme Court is more proof that neither of them would serve the best interest of the American people.

"Our country is on a Great American Comeback thanks to President Trump and Vice President Pence’s leadership, and that comeback will continue when voters re-elect the Trump-Pence ticket on November 3rd."

Republican Party of Minnesota (MNGOP) Statement on VP Debate

Republican Party of Minnesota (MNGOP) Statement on VP Debate

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Republican Party of Minnesota Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan released the following statement:

“Tonight while the Vice President projected calm and class, Kamala Harris exposed a sense of superiority, condescension and arrogance that turned America off.

“While the Vice President highlighted the significant economic growth, largest tax reform in a generation, and commitment to the American people, Kamala told lie after lie from the Green New Deal to fracking.

“There is absolutely no way America will vote for the Biden-Harris ticket after tonight’s debate. America is looking for leadership; not entitled, self-important, dishonest elitists.”

Statement by President Jimmy Carter on Tonight’s Vice Presidential Debate

Statement by President Jimmy Carter on Tonight’s Vice Presidential Debate

Today, President Jimmy Carter released the following statement ahead of tonight’s Vice Presidential debate:

“We need champions in the White House like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris who understand the needs and values of working Georgians. Kamala Harris has the talent and charisma to lead our great nation as our next Vice President, and I know Americans will see that on full display during tonight's debate.”

Donald Trump New TV Ad Highlighting Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett

Trump Campaign Launches New Ad Highlighting Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett's Conservative Values

President Trump’s re-election campaign today unveiled a new television ad highlighting the President’s Supreme Court Pick, Amy Coney Barrett, as a Constitutional conservative, proud Christian, and mother of seven. As President Trump fights to protect Americans' conservative values, the radical Democrat Party is launching desperate attacks on Judge Barrett's faith and family. This newly released ad, airing on network cable, is a part of an 8 figure ad buy, and urges Americans to support President Trump and stand up for conservative values.

What They Are Saying: President Donald Trump at the First Presidential Debate

What They Are Saying: President Trump Won The Debate
Joe Biden was weak.

Joe Biden was the clear loser of tonight's debate.
Frank Luntz, pollster: “Biden should not have told Trump to shut up. Trump has rattled him, and it’s not a good look for Biden. #Debates2020”

Jake Tapper, CNN: “I don’t know if Joe Biden won the debate, per se. He had some nice moments, but I thought he was kind of flat.”

Josh Rogin, The Washington Post: "Biden is wrong, the Trump administration did press the Chinese government to allow U.S. CDC representatives into Wuhan. Beijing refused."

Hugh Hewitt, MSNBC/NBC: “Winner: @realDonaldTrump on points. Loser: Chris Wallace. Winner: Judge Amy Comey Barret, who will be a justice. Loser: @JoeBiden for (1) having no response to “name one Joe.” (2) “Antifa isn’t a movement.” (3) The lockdown discussion. Voters don’t want a Biden lockdown.”

Bill O’Reilly: “Biden is coming across soft on crime. Every time Trump directs a question to him about what he would do—he dodges.”

Guy Benson, Fox News: “Biden pretending that the job losses are Trump’s fault, while also demanding more shutdowns & slower reopenings. Absurd.”

Ari Fleischer, Fox News: “Biden is too weak to take a stand on the filibuster or packing the court. He should take a stand.”

Steve Hilton, Fox News: “oh please. knock it off with the Scranton schtick @JoeBiden. you're funded by Wall Street and your economic policies would hurt working Americans the most.”

Kimberley Strassel, The Wall Street Journal: “Why is Biden allowed to repeat that the facts about Hunter--as put out by a Senate Committee, with data from Treasury Department--are discredited? Every newspaper has noted the money Hunter took, from Ukraine to China. It's all true; even Hunter admitted it.”

Ari Fleischer, Fox News: “I thought that the president had the best line of the night when he said ‘I’ve done more in 47 months than you’ve done in 47 years.' That was a pretty good way to sum everything up. And I still think that Joe Biden is leaving himself very vulnerable because he just refuses to take a stand out of weakness, he acknowledges it! ‘I won’t give you an answer on court packing or the filibuster because I don’t want my answer to be the issue.’ What kind of leader or statesman answers a question like that?”
President Trump was the clear winner of tonight's debate.
Adam Wren, Politico Magazine: “Trump is winning this debate.”

Daniel Garza: “Spanish speaking viewers of Telemundo expressed their preference of who won tonight’s presidential debate: 66% Trump 34% Biden. #DebateTuesday”
Andrew Sullivan: “Trump is dominating. That’s the brutal truth. It’s painful. So far.”
Monique Currie, WNBA: “Trump is winning this debate”
Ryan Harris, former NFL player: “Trump won that debate. Hate it or love it.”

Colby Covington, UFC Champion: “GREATEST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME!! @realDonaldTrump #Debates 2020”
Tim Pool: “Even Biden laughs at Trump's jokes This is hilarious Trump knows how to entertain and that wins people over Its sales They won't remember what you said but they will remember how you made them feel”

Geraldo Rivera: “I thought that Joe wasn’t sharp, and the President I thought was so forceful at times that I thought he was gonna try and eat Joe Biden literally on the stage.”

Kimberley Strassel, The Wall Street Journal: “1) There are two ways to think of debates. a) Did you excite/enthuse base? On this, Trump wins. He was consistent, and made the points that he is running on in this election--law/order; economy; D corruption in terms of FBI investigation/Hunter; handling of virus. #Debates2020”

Bill O’Reilly: “Trump being very aggressive in contradicting what Biden says. First 7 minutes—Trump stronger.”

Dana Perino, Fox News: “President Trump was very good on some of the specifics, I would say especially law and order, judges, veterans, and military. And he could really parry with Joe Biden on something like the Green New Deal.”

Brit Hume, Fox News: “Trump came off as an enormously forceful personality, and if strength is what you’re looking for in a certain sense maybe people would judge him the winner.”
The verdict is in, and it could not be more clear. By every single standard, President Trump won tonight's debate.

What They Are Saying About Joe Biden at the First Presidential Debate

REVIEWS ARE IN: Biden Topples Trump in First Presidential Debate
Americans saw only one leader on stage tonight -- and one liar.

During this moment of national crisis, the American people have been crying out for real leadership. Tonight, Joe Biden showed them that there’s a path out of the darkness. While Trump offered nothing but interruptions and lies, Biden took the opportunity to lay out his plans to move this country out of the COVID crisis that Trump has let spin out of control. Biden spoke directly to the American people about the issues keeping them up at night: the empty chairs at kitchen tables from loved ones lost to COVID-19, and families struggling to get by because of jobs moved overseas under Trump’s watch.

Trump was desperate, weak, and angry. He’s losing the race, and tonight, he lost his temper. Once again, Trump had multiple chances to condemn white supremacy. And, once again, he refused. Trump came into the debate trailing in this race -- due to his failed leadership and because of his policies to reward the super wealthy and corporations over working families and small businesses -- and tonight, Biden left him in the dust.

Tonight was Donald Trump’s shot to provide a coherent argument to the American people for his reelection, and he blew it. No wonder Trump ended the night looking tired and angry, and Joe Biden went out smiling.

Voters overwhelmingly thought Trump lost the debate:

• CNN’s John Harwood: “CNN Instant Poll of debate-watchers on who won: 60% Biden 28% Trump”
• Washington Post’s Paul Farhi: “CBS News instant poll about who won debate: Biden 48 percent, Trump 41 percent.”
• Cook Political’s Jessica Taylor: “Words undecided voters in @FrankLuntz's focus group had for Trump: ‘arrogant’ ‘crackhead’ and ‘un-American’ Biden: ‘better than expected,’ ‘more professional,’ ‘restraint and compassion,’ ‘Predictable’ ‘coherent’ ‘leader’”
Republicans thought Trump lost the debate:
• Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum: “I think the president overplayed his hand tonight… I don’t think it worked for him tonight. I think he came out way too hot.”
• Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci: “Biden won. Trump lost. The massive gaps in polls will grow larger. A historic landslide draws nearer. Only remaining question is margin of victory. Will Texas turn blue?”
• Former Rep. Joe Walsh: “He interrupted EVERY Joe Biden answer. He refused to condemn white supremacists. He told a far right hate group to ‘Stand by.’ He viciously attacked Biden’s son. He was rude, indecent, immoral, unhinged, & cruel. It’s over. Donald Trump lost this election for good tonight.”
The media thinks Trump lost the debate:
• New York Times’s Farhad Manjoo: “Very good closing by Biden. He’s done well. Trump gains nothing. He lost.”
• Mother Jones’s Ben Dreyfuss: “Everyone on TV is being such a coward. “America lost” seems to be the consensus. Sure. America lost four years ago. But in the terms of this awful debate, Biden won. It was pretty obvious. And I am sure the polls will show that.”
• Jon Meacham: “No hyperbole: The incumbent’s behavior this evening is the lowest moment in the history of the presidency since Andrew Johnson’s racist state papers.”
• John Harwood: “Trump lost the debate”
• Harry Enten: “Folks, Joe Biden has never trailed in this race. Based upon these insta-polls, he will continue to lead this race. Every day Trump doesn't gain is a bad day for him. There is zippo sign he's gaining after this debate.”
Even Trump appeared to feel like he lost the debate:
• Washington Post’s Matt Viser: “‘This is the end of the debate,’ Chris Wallace says. And, fittingly, President Trump ends by yelling and grimacing while Joe Biden ends by silently smiling.”
• CBS News’s Bo Erickson: “Last split-screen image of Trump and Biden tonight:”