Trump War Room Blog for CNN Presidential Debate
In this blog, we are capturing statements and reactions from the Trump campaign, the RNC, and tweets from surrogates throughout and after the CNN President Debate. Enjoy!
Coverage for this event has ended.
Doug Burgum says Trump can win election 'without a VP'
"You look around the room tonight, you look at all of the, just the potential VP's that are in this room. The bench on the Republican side is so deep and so strong and so broad. President Trump right now, has got the ability to probably win this election just by himself without even without a V.P. And the real V.P. question, I think, is because it's going to be coming up after tonight is the choice that Joe Biden has four years ago about his VP. That's going to play into this election," North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum told reporters after the debate
JD Vance says 'contrast' was 'really bad' for Biden
"This is important because Donald Trump showed that he actually has the talent and the energy to be President of the United States. What does that guy, meaning Joe Biden, looks like in three years?" Sen. JD Vance told reporters.
"I don't want to find out the answer to that question. What I saw in Donald Trump was a guy who can be president. He's already done it successfully. And I think that contrast was really, really bad for Joe Biden."
Faith & Freedom Coalition chair declares Trump 'clear winner' of debate
“Tonight's debate resembled a prize fight that should have been stopped in the early rounds. ... The Biden campaign picked the time and city, set the rules, and selected the network and moderators. Still, Trump was the clear winner tonight.” — Faith & Freedom Coalition founder and Chairman Ralph Reed
Tom Cotton compares Trump 'debate beat down' of Biden to other historic match-ups
Lara Trump says she 'felt a little bit sad' for Biden
"I think we could not have asked for greater success for him. It's very clear to anybody watching the difference between these two candidates. One is ready to lead, one is a leader, and the other one looked very weak. I think everybody saw Donald Trump as the clear winner of this debate," Lara Trump told reporters after the debate.
"I think it was an unfortunate performance and truly I felt a little bit sad for Joe Biden. And that is a really shocking thing to say. It doesn't feel like this is a person who is capable of leading our country and as American citizen, that makes me very concerned."
RNC Chair praises Trump's debate performance, says Biden couldn't 'understand the questions'
Trump campaign declares debate victory against 'incompetent' President Biden
"Tonight President Trump delivered the greatest debate performance and victory in history to the largest voter audience in history, making clear exactly how he will improve the lives of every American. ... Joe Biden on the other hand showed exactly why he deserves to be fired. Despite taking a week-long vacation at Camp David to prepare for the debate, Biden was unable to defend his disastrous record on the economy and the border. ... President Trump is spot-on when he says that if Joe Biden is too incompetent to stand trial, then Biden is too incompetent to be President." – Senior Trump campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles
Elise Stefanik claims victory for Trump
Trump VP contender says second debate can't happen after 'Trump dominated'
Vivek Ramaswamy predicts Biden won't accept Democratic nomination for president
'Maybe Robert Hur was right?' – Sen. Eric Schmitt
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., also wrote in a follow-up X post, "Could you possibly imagine what the Joe Biden we are watching tonight will be like in four years? Try to imagine that. He wants a four year job! Does he look like someone who you’d want in charge of anything, even now?!?”
Trump VP contender asks if Democrats will switch Biden with Kamala Harris during commercial
Senior Trump campaign adviser on reports Biden has 'cold'
LaCivita also said in a follow-up post on X, "Oh!!!! it’s a cold ! The Adderall never took."
Former White House physician says Biden needs 'performance enhancing drugs'
Ted Cruz predicts Michelle Obama will be subbed in as Dem candidate
Nancy Mace suggests CNN moderators might vote Trump after debate
Trump super PAC attacks Biden's foreign policy record
"As Obama’s former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, Biden 'has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.'" — MAGA Inc. press release
Donald Trump Jr. praises CNN Presidential Debate format
Donald Trump Jr. praised the format of the CNN Presidential Debate, saying that it was keeping his father "disciplined and focused."
"I actually like this format for my father," Trump Jr. wrote in an X post. "Keeping him disciplined and focused."
The former president's oldest son said that Trump was "dismantling Biden’s disastrous and failed policies one by one piece by piece."
Prior to the debate, Biden and Trump mutually agreed to CNN's format and rules.
Their rules included no studio audience, each candidate's microphone would be muted except when it's their turn to answer questions, no props or notes allowed on stage, and no opening statements.