House Republicans need to quit whining and stand with Trump.
House Republicans are expressing concern over former President Trump’s performance in the inaugural debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, which took place in Philadelphia and might be the only debate between the two candidates. Many GOP members believe that Harris effectively riled up Trump and disrupted his typically composed demeanor.
During the lengthy debate, Harris seemed intent on provoking Trump with pointed critiques regarding the size of his rallies, his considerable wealth, and allegations of global ridicule aimed at him. Some Republicans feel that these tactics succeeded in rattling the former president.
One Republican, who supports Trump but wished to remain anonymous, shared their disappointment. “It’s disheartening,” they remarked. “Harris knew exactly which buttons to press to unsettle him. It’s disappointing that he couldn’t maintain his composure as he did in past debates.”
Another GOP member, also speaking off the record, noted that many within the party were disillusioned with Trump’s inability to stay on message. “She’s adept at provoking him, but he struggled to stay focused on policy,” the lawmaker commented. “It’s a missed opportunity, and his performance was not up to par.”
Despite Trump’s claims of a strong performance, with his post-debate comments suggesting he felt the debate was favorable to him, reactions from Capitol Hill were mixed. Trump described the debate as a success in his interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, although he criticized the moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, for what he perceived as unfair treatment.
Supporters like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) defended Trump, praising his policy positions and branding the debate as skewed. However, Trump’s unconventional move to appear in the spin room to reaffirm his positive outlook on the debate raised eyebrows, particularly as he hesitated about committing to a second debate.
The Harris campaign swiftly called for another debate, a suggestion Trump’s team is considering but has yet to commit to. Trump suggested that Harris’s call for a second debate was a sign of her defeat in the first one.
Criticism from House Republicans was not limited to Trump’s performance; some also took issue with the debate moderators and Harris’s scripted delivery. One GOP member criticized Trump’s debate strategy, noting he missed critical opportunities to challenge Harris on her record effectively.
Overall, while Trump’s supporters remain optimistic, there is a growing sense among some Republicans that the former president’s debate performance fell short of expectations and missed valuable chances to press his advantages.