President Trump offered a slightly delayed response Wednesday to the widely criticized Democratic presidential debate in Charleston, South Carolina the night before, providing a classically Trumpian, succinct critique of the performances of each of the candidates and poking fun at himself in the process.
The debate Tuesday has been widely panned, by Republicans and Democrats alike, as a frustrating to view “fiasco,” in which the CBS moderators were unable to maintain control of the participants, who repeatedly interrupted each other, talked and even shouted over each other, and ignored their time allotments.
President Trump agreed overall with the consensus on the “chaotic” event. “Crazy, chaotic Democrat Debate last night,” he wrote in a pair of tweets before offering some thoughts on the candidates’ performances.
First up was former frontrunner Joe Biden and his false claim about gun violence. “Fake News said Biden did well, even though he said half of our population was shot to death. Would be OVER for most,” wrote Trump in reference to Biden’s 150 million deaths claim.
“150 million people have been killed since 2007 when Bernie voted to exempt the gun manufacturers from liability. More than all the wars, including Vietnam, from that point on, carnage on our streets,” Biden claimed. “And I want to tell you, if I’m elected, NRA I’m coming for you and gun manufacturers I’m going to take you on and I’m going to beat you.”
Trump then hit “Mini” Mike Bloomberg and his commercials. “Mini Mike was weak and unsteady, but helped greatly by his many commercials (which are not supposed to be allowed during a debate).”
The president was particularly unimpressed with Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) performance. “Pocahontas was mean, & undisciplined, mostly aiming at Crazy Bernie and Mini Mike,” he wrote.
Trump then worked in some light self-disparagement, referencing his famous typo from the 2016 primary election. “They don’t know how to handle her, but I know she is a ‘chocker’,” he added, a reference to his tweet aimed at his then-primary opponent Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
Rubio went on to jab Trump over the typo during a rally, providing a dramatic reading for his supporters. “‘He is a chocker. And once a chocker, always a’ — a choker, I guess that’s what he meant to say,” said Rubio.
Trump rounded out his comments by slamming Tom Steyer: “Steyer was a disaster who, along with Mini, are setting records in $’s per vote.”
The president signed off by making clear that he’s ready for whoever Democrats end up nominating. “Just give me an opponent!” he declared.
….during a debate). Pocahontas was mean, & undisciplined, mostly aiming at Crazy Bernie and Mini Mike. They don’t know how to handle her, but I know she is a “chocker”. Steyer was a disaster who, along with Mini, are setting records in $’s per vote. Just give me an opponent!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2020
As The Daily Wire highlighted, it wasn’t just Trump who thought the event in Charleston Tuesday was a “chaotic” mess. The response to the CBS-hosted debate was overwhelmingly negative, with voices from both the right and left slamming the network and the moderators.
“The View” co-host Meghan McCain weighed in Tuesday night, tweeting, “These moderators need to get this under control. This is way worse than any bad day @TheView hot topics table. At least Whoopi has the bell…”
In response to Lady Gaga expressing apparent frustration about the event, The Daily Show tweeted: “MODERATOR: The next question is for—EVERY CANDIDATE ON STAGE:”
These moderators need to get this under control. This is way worse than any bad day @TheView hot topics table. At least Whoopi has the bell… #DemDebate2020
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) February 26, 2020
MODERATOR: The next question is for—
EVERY CANDIDATE ON STAGE: https://t.co/UKOmoqxmMR— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) February 26, 2020