Trump on Biden debate: ‘I don’t want to underestimate him’
Former President Trump said Thursday that he doesn’t want to underestimate President Biden ahead of their debate next week.
Trump joined the hosts of the “All-In” podcast, where he was asked about his prediction for the debate next Thursday, the first time the duo will go head-to-head since the 2020 presidential debate.
“Well, all I can say is this: I watched him with Paul Ryan, and he destroyed Paul Ryan,” Trump said, later adding, “And he beat Paul Ryan, so, I’m not underestimating him.”
Biden faced off against former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in the 2012 vice presidential debate before he went on to serve as vice president for former President Obama.
Biden was largely viewed as the dominant figure in the debate, with a combative and energetic performance.
Trump and Biden reached an agreement in mid-May to debate twice ahead of the election. Trump skipped the GOP primary debates this cycle and opted for campaign events instead.
The June 27 debate will take place in Atlanta and will be hosted by CNN.
Both candidates agreed to a set of rules for the showdown, which includes automatic microphone muting, in an attempt to avoid a chaotic event like the last time Trump and Biden met on stage.
In the podcast episode a week before the debate, Trump said, “We’ll see what happens,” but he thinks Biden is “incompetent” and has the “worst policies, both foreign policy and internal policy.”
The former president, who recently turned 78, has often criticized Biden, who will turn 82 shortly after the election, for his age. Trump was asked by one of the co-hosts if he thinks Biden is in cognitive decline.
“I shouldn’t be the one to say that, but I don’t think he’s doing particularly well,” he said. “But I don’t think he was well 25 years ago.”
Trump added that he never thought Biden was “a smart person” and has never been a fan of the longtime senator.
“I was never a fan of his, but I will say he beat Paul Ryan — still years ago, but he beat Paul Ryan badly,” Trump said. “And I assume he’s going to be somebody that will be a worthy debater, I would say, I think. I don’t want to underestimate him.”
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