Senate Republicans are asking former President Trump to avoid repeating his widely criticized debate performance against President Biden four years ago when the two reconvened onstage Thursday for a critical time in their rematch.
Trump’s 2020 debate performance is notable for interruptions, badgering, and riding roughshod over Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace—as well as his controversial statement that the Proud Boys should “stand back and stand by.”
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Republicans are now encouraging Trump to tone it down in order to be successful as president.
Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the Senate’s No. 2 Republican and a potential leader next year, advised against succumbing to the temptation. “Demeanor is vital; tone is important. I believe you can be as decisive and strong as he is, but I believe you want to give President Biden as much leeway as possible because I don’t believe that would work in his favor.”
“This is why you play them, correct? “The debates will be important, as they always are,” he added. “If [Trump] comes in there and just shows strength and leadership while maintaining a calm demeanor and letting Biden go, it goes well for him.”
This week’s discussion, planned before both national conventions for the first time since the introduction of televised debates in 1960, is expected to be one of the first key events of the general election campaign.
It might be a turning point in the race, as Biden has struggled to defeat Trump in battleground state surveys.
But, as failed candidates in the past have demonstrated, a campaign may transform with one poor night, as Trump’s did four years ago. Republicans are hoping to turn the tables this time.
“The main focus is going to be: is Biden capable?” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a significant Trump ally in the upper chamber, expressed this sentiment.
“If I were President Trump, I would talk about the right track and the wrong track,” he said. “I don’t believe he needs to be overly forceful. Just argue that if you think we’re on the wrong track, you’re correct.”
Trump promptly agreed to Thursday’s debate at CNN’s Atlanta studios, after stating for months that he wanted as many debates as possible against Biden. His campaign has spent weeks lowering expectations for Biden’s performance, presenting the president as weak, ill, and intellectually inept.
But Trump’s staff is also bracing for the likelihood that Biden may outperform expectations, laying the groundwork to dismiss the performance as a sham, just as it did after Biden’s State of the Union address in early March.
Biden’s campaign also jumped at the opportunity to debate next week, hoping to elevate the stakes of the election and put it on the map for some people who have yet to pay attention to the political season.
“I think they’re going to be looking for other cues in terms of: Is President Biden capable of answering all the relevant questions, and is President Trump within the rails?” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) said. “Who knows?” That’s why I believe [the debate] raises a variety of problems.”
Biden left for Camp David on Thursday to participate in days of intensive debate preparation, a procedure Trump has avoided since launching his 2016 presidential campaign.
Thursday’s significance is not lost on Trump supporters, who are well aware of what happened four years ago. Not only was Trump incredibly aggressive, barely allowing Biden to speak, but he was also noticeably sweating, a condition exacerbated days later when he tested positive for COVID-19.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who is allegedly on Trump’s shortlist for running mate, acknowledged the stakes but remained optimistic about the former president’s chances.
“I think it’s going to be a good night, but it’s a very important night,” Vance told the crowd. “He simply has to present his argument to the American people. There’s a stark contrast between how things were under him and under Biden. He just needs to hit on that topic, which is what we’ll do.”
Other Trump supporters are optimistic that he will change the script in 2020.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) boldly stated, “You can quote me on this, Trump’s going to kick his a‑‑.”
