Donald Trump Has One Debate Mode: Bullying
By: Philip Elliott (TIME)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Philip ElliottJune 26, 2024 7:00 AM EDT
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Like most bullies, Donald Trump is a deeply insecure man. You can see it at moments of tremendous consequence and those where the stakes are clear only in his own mind. It's apparent whenever anyone dares to challenge him with questions he cannot simply spin away with his razzle-dazzle showmanship. And when he feels backed into a corner, there's a good chance he will lash out with every ounce of viciousness held in reserve, counting on the shock to overtake substance. It's how, either during past debates or soon after less-than-stellar ones, Trump spoke openly about Hillary Clinton's bathroom rituals, moderator Megyn Kelly's reproductive system, and even the size of his own genitalia.
Because if everyone else is diminished in perceived standing, that only stands to build up the foul-mouthed Trump by comparison. Trump doesn't have to win any part of the arguments if everyone else has already lost them just by participating.
It's been more than eight years since Trump first set foot on a debate stage as a presidential candidate. Through the slog of the 2016 primary, to one-on-one matchups with a former Secretary of State and a former Vice President, Trump's behavior has veered from playful and rakish to angry and unhinged. But the general throughline—beyond the perpetual lying—has been his inclination to retreat to bullying whenever he feels even remotely threatened. This is the Trump that uses his precious little debate time to call Hillary Clinton "a nasty woman," and "the devil," or belittle Joe Biden with jabs like "you graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class."
And it's the Trump we are likely to see at least glimpses of on Thursday. The former President has been bragging about his indifference to preparing for the evening, telling audiences that Biden has holed-up in a log cabin to rest up, is loaded up on performance-enhancing drugs, and getting favorable treatment already from debate moderators with CNN. (Biden is at the presidential retreat of Camp David in Maryland and has shown no indications of juicing or winning help from a network who negotiated the debate terms with reps from both campaigns.) Trump is trying to bully Biden even before the studio lights go up. Which is what Trump has done with shocking consistency, treating these hallowed events like jam sessions where he riffs on themes and variations of his meandering rally monologues, throwing rivals for a loop.
As a first-time candidate in the 2016 cycle, he barely engaged in any debate prep. Instead aides were tasked with making him feel comfortable. After consistent schedule changes to strike formal prep from the books, his campaign team essentially had to trick Trump into doing debate prep in small bursts, occasionally over lunch—until he caught onto what was happening. The goal, according to various memoirs and numerous deft books about the era, was to keep Trump happy because a cranky candidate was one who felt insecure and could say anything.
That was what arguably "worked" for Trump for a long time, as millions of viewers tuned into the debates in 2016 to see what wild things Trump would say next.
When it came time to face Clinton in that cycle's head-to-head debates, Trump reached for everything in a bully's back pocket to try to intimidate her—including invading her physical space, an experience every woman watching immediately recognized for what it was. He also tried to bring women who had alleged sexual relationships with former President Bill Clinton into the debate hall. (They were barred.) His vow to jail the former Secretary of State for some never-fully-explained crimes drew mild horror. Clinton's demolition of Trump's house of cards was devastating and his responses were disasters by objective standards of decorum.
Yet Trump was still the victor on Election Day, a reminder that "winning" or "losing" a debate doesn't always correspond with how voters ultimately behave.
Four years later, as a President struggling to guide the country through a pandemic, Trump acquiesced to a semblance of debate prep before facing Joe Biden. Still, he did just about everything he could to dodge the sessions in which his sparring partner, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was hammering him and making him stammer. (In an only-in-Trump World twist, Christie would contract Covid-19 during one such visit to D.C.; Christie said it was certainly from Trump.)
Ultimately, per Michael C. Bender's book about the 2020 campaign, Trump joined 11 debate prep sessions, although aides were perpetually frustrated that the boss was spending more time on his golf courses than in tutorials. They also were not sure that Trump fully appreciated their opponent or the frustration of voters who didn't spend hours in line to attend his super-spreader rallies.
Trump's first debate with Biden was ultimately seen through a belligerent Trump's constant interruptions, and Biden's now infamous plea to the President: "Will you shut up, man?" This was also the debate where Trump, pressed to denounce white supremacists and military groups, responded with, "Proud Boys—stand back and stand by."
Days later,Trump disclosed he had Covid. (A former White House aide later claimed that Trump had tested positive ahead of the debate and the forum's moderator openly theorized that Trump brought the virus into the studio.) For safety's sake, organizers proposed turning the second debate of that year into a virtual one. Trump refused to participate and, instead, Trump and Biden held dueling town hall-style meetings. During his, Trump tried to interrupt and cower NBC News' Savannah Guthrie. The skilled anchor and former white-collar litigator was having none of it, boxing Trump into a corner when he refused to condemn conspiracy theories he had re-upped using what was then Twitter. It was a signal that Trump, when confronted with a fast pace, digs in and denies—often to his detriment.
Finally, during their second debate—the last time the two men have spoken to one another was that evening in October of 2020—things seemed to smooth out. (A mute button did a lot of the heavy lifting to force a wait-your-turn dynamic; it will return on Thursday.) Trump finally took the task seriously and gave answers that may have helped ease the nerves of skittish GOP voters and swayed some undecided independents. But that final debate was on Oct. 22, after 40 million Americans had already cast their ballots, a point advisers to the Trump campaign still bemoan. Thursday's debate, on the other hand, is coming before either man officially becomes the nominee.
The mutual enmity between the current president and his predecessor will naturally color the tone and substance of whatever unfolds Thursday evening in an Atlanta TV studio. The two oldest nominees in U.S. history are also some of the most dissimilar contenders for another four years in a job both have now done. What remains unknown is if Trump realizes just how much he has already accomplished in politics and decides to ditch the chip on his shoulder. It would be welcome, though completely disorienting, if Trump were to treat Biden like a worthy equal, but the schoolyard snarl is kind of Trump's established default. Even so, it is never too late to grow up.
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It was Joe Biden who threw personal insults. Trump attacked Biden's record and actions as President; that's normal for political campaigns. It was Biden who attacked Trump's character, motives, personal appearance, and morality.
Biden tried to be the bully, in typical Democrat fashion, but completely and utterly failed.
You know what, that is the way it went.
As a matter of fact, once Trump realized that the timing of whatever they gave Biden hadn't kicked in yet, he kind of relaxed a bit.
I expect President Biden will be honest, decent and Presidential...
And,Trump will behave badly and tell a hell of a lot of whoppers!
They need more than a week prepping him if they are hoping for any of that.
Nah, they have it all figured out...
Biden is not known for being honest and decent or being the least bit presidential.
He's very likely to look weak, angry, and confused. Trump's best strategy would be to quietly sit back and let Biden destroy himself for 90 minutes.
Interesting article on this today where they showed that in the last 11 events where Biden spoke, only three of them were for more than 30 minutes and the remaining eight were less than 30 minutes. People will be watching his stamina for a 90 minute event.
John
I agree with you that Trump's modus operandi in debates (hell in every day life) i the role of self serving bully and the Biden administration sincerely hopes that persona will appear on stage tonight.
If it does - it is very good for Pres Biden
If it does not - it is very, very bad for Pres Biden
As long as Trump has people who will cheer him for being "reasonable" or "polite" tonight but will also cheer him going back to being the world biggest jackass tomorrow he has nothing to lose by being "polite" tonight.
So, very good for Biden if Trump is his normal buffoonish self, but “very, very” bad if he is not? Why? Nothing is going to change the fact that Trump knows hardly anything about government, history, geography, geopolitics, or anything else required of a functional commander in chief? Why are you sooooo biased?
Neither does Biden- he has proven it repeatedly with his unConstitutional student loan forgiveness; and renters/home owners debt forgiveness. The Supreme Court ruled against him both times- yet he persisted in reinstating them by simply using another federal government department.
Worse yet Biden doesn't even know his own family history. He simply makes shit up and the media sycophants and Democrat lemmings lap it up. "Joe being Joe" is the most harsh criticism that he will get from the left.
Real question is why are you so biased?
Hal
From your comment, it seems you did not even read or understand what I said in my comment.
Try reading it again.
I said the exact opposite of what you imply
And now with hindsight, while Trump was only slightly more behaved than his normal bully mode, President Biden performed so poorly that he was unable to take advantage of that churlish, bullying manner.
I am not biased (as John has made me see, I am a "neither sider" when it comes to Biden and Trump - the debate was somewhere between a Jerry Springer reality hour and a segment of Jackass.
Neither of the participants looked the least bit presidential during the debate
Well the debate results are in and everything that Pres Biden didn't want to do - he did and Trump remained reasonably non bullying simply letting Biden ramble and then responding in kind to personal attacks by the President.
Clear winner Trump
I used to think you had some credibility. That ship has sailed. Apparently you have become blind to malignant narcissism and obviously uninformed nature of Trump. That is sad. Yes, Biden did not shine, but Trump is about as appealing as a dirty lump of coal.
To give Trump any sort of compliment on his debate performance is to admit that you are indeed a Trump supporter. His performance was exactly as bad as anyone could have predicted based on his past performance. To normalized that trash is repulsive. You’d know a lot about that.
that is taking alternate reality to a whole new level
Hal
"Biden did not shine"
That is such an understatement as to be a lie, he proved himself totally inadequate to the situation and millions of people watched him do it.
I totally agree that Trump should never be President, but I am starting to think that Biden as the D candidate is not the way to insure that he is not elected.
I have never been blind to Trump's inadequacies, but neither am I blind to Biden's inadequacies which apparently you are.
This is a ridiculous comment that you should re-iterate in a more perceptive way. Your comment suggests Trump only retaliated when he was wronged by Biden, and he otherwise would have been calm and reasonable. That is alternate reality of the highest degree.
John
Pres Biden made personal attacks and Pres Trump responded with personal attacks - that is a fact that does not need to be reiterated in a more perceptive manner.
We both knew before the debate that Trump should not be President and now after the debate unless you are totally blind to Biden's faults, we both know that neither of them should be President
Just because you disagree with a comment does not make it "ridiculous"
Tessy
I did not say that Press Eisenhower won the debate.
News Flash - President Eisenhower is dead and no longer debating
utter nonsense. you are revealing your maga proclivities.
You are clearly implying that Trump only attacks after someone attacks him first, which is a bizarre conclusion.
In the 2016 presidential primary debates Trump IMMEDIATELY started calling the other candidates names and lying about them. It is the story of his life.
Utter nonsense
I am implying nothing, I said what I meant about the situation at the debate and the personal attacks from both Biden and Trump.
It is not my fault that your "perfect candidate" imploded on the debate stage.
You should spend more time explaining what happened rather than attacking people who point out to you that Trump did not win the debate, Biden conceded the debate with his horrible performance in front of the American people/
I stand completely behind what I just said.
THE ONLY REASON BIDEN MADE THE FIRST NEGATIVE COMMENT IS BECAUSE HE SPOKE FIRST.
If you seriously believe that, if Trump spoke first, he would not have personally attacked Biden you are living in a dream world.
Yet you made a point of saying Trump was being reasonable and only REACTED to what Biden said.
You are giving away your true position on this election.
I do not care who spoke first or last - Biden and Trump both made negative personal attacks part of their strategy and it was despicable on both their parts.
I did not say Trump was reasonable, he acted reasonably for Trump - there is a huge difference.
My true position n this election has always been apparent to anyone with the sense and mental clarity to comprehend it - I want NEITHER Trump nor Biden to be president and will not be voting for either one of them.
Unlike many on the left and on the right though, I will be supporting whoever the American people elect in November because he (or maybe she) will be the President of all of the people.
I have no problem that you stand firmly behind something that is incorrect
Good for you
"He's very likely to look weak, angry, and confused. Trump's best strategy would be to quietly sit back and let Biden destroy himself for 90 minutes."
That's exactly what happened. As usual, I was spot on, only Biden did much worse than expected. Rather than verbal retorts, Trump's smirks and eye rolls expressed his scorn vividly. It was genius.
It's sad that a convicted felon is the best the GOP has to offer.
MrFrost
I agree, but after Biden's performance it may be all they need.
Biden is mentally unfit, he attacked trump first putting to rest the lie he would act more presidential.
Normally I would have agreed with the left that Biden is far more presidential in his behavior but people who are in the final stages of mental illness act unpredictably and lash out angrily which just confirms what many of us have been saying all along.
lol
Your failure to see what is right in front of you just demonstrates that partisans will always support party over what is best for the country.
There is no existing universe where Trump is best for the country. He is a traitor. Should Benedict Arnold have been president ?
At the debate Jake Tapper asked Trump about his "inaction" on Jan 6th. Trump didnt say "no thats wrong , I did this or that to try and end the violence at the capitol", rather, he said "the border was secure on Jan 6th" and then tried to blame Jan 6th on Nancy Pelosi.
That is consciousness of guilt.
He knows he's a shitbag traitor and is likely proud of it.
Not defending trump but didn’t Nancy Pelosi just admit it was her responsibility to protect the capitol? Also it is documented that Trump offered national guard troops before the rally, the 10,000 number is a lie but he made the offer.
Are there only 2 candidates on your Ballot? Mine has more than 2.
Open question, if or when the democrats replace Biden on the ticket what excuses are we going to get? Since so many here are in denial of Biden’s mental state what excuse are we going to get?