“Morons Did His Debate Prep”: Trump Slammed for Poor Debate Strategy
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Former President Donald Trump severely undermined his own chances at the Philadelphia debate by selecting questionable figures like Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to help prepare him, according to prominent liberal podcaster Tommy Vietor, who spoke on MSNBC’s The ReidOut on Wednesday evening.
Trump’s performance, which even many Republicans deemed a “trainwreck,” featured him struggling to answer basic questions, becoming visibly agitated as Vice President Kamala Harris attacked his record, and promoting an unfounded internet hoax about Haitian migrants eating pets.
Host Joy Reid noted that Trump appeared hesitant to commit to another debate. “Trump has been a little iffy on whether he would be willing to debate again,” Reid said. “It would seem now he needs it, but it is the Harris campaign that’s saying, ‘Bring it on, let’s debate again.’ And he doesn’t seem 100 percent sure he’s willing to do it, even on Fox.”
Vietor agreed, pointing out that poor choices in preparation led to Trump’s dismal showing. “I think the first mistake was letting morons like Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard do your debate prep and call it policy sessions. Maybe a little more discipline in preparation would help him,” Vietor remarked.
Vietor explained that Trump, after losing badly in the debate, retreated to familiar territory. “He lost so badly he had to go to the spin room, and then he went to his safe space, which is Sean Hannity’s show,” Vietor said. “There, they pressed him about whether he would do another debate with Fox because Fox obviously wants to make money off of it. And he would not commit to doing a debate.”
As for the Harris campaign, Vietor suggested they are eager for another showdown. “I can imagine Kamala Harris’ team is chomping at the bit to get another debate,” he said. “Because she is good at this and she is disciplined, and he is not.”
Vietor added that Trump’s advisers are likely concerned that another debate will only showcase more of the same behavior. “I imagine his advisers are just worried that the same, angry, red-faced, brooding Trump will show up and make a fool of himself again.”
He concluded by highlighting some post-debate data: “There’s some data out today that shows 45 percent of the people who watched that debate are now more likely to vote for Kamala Harris. 50 percent of independents think that she won. So this was obviously beneficial for her.”
