Donald Trump is not happy that his supporters have been anonymously conceding that he lost his first presidential debate to the press. According to CNN, during a conference call with surrogates after the debate, Trump advisors “made clear the Republican nominee is upset that his allies publicly acknowledged they pushed him to change his preparation and tactics before his next bout with Hillary Clinton. And he wants them to stop it immediately.”
Trump’s reportedly requiring his allies to defend him vigorously on network television and to other journalists, refusing to admit he fumbled answers, lost his cool, and alienated voters again and again. A source familiar with the call told CNN that the message was “not subtle.” Talking points passed onto surrogates reportedly include that Trump was able to cement his “outsider status,” and to repeat his line that although Clinton has experience being in public life for 30 years, it was all “bad experience.”
Jason Miller, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, denied the report. “The entire description of today’s call is completely false and anybody saying otherwise is just making it up,” he said.
CNN notes how, in post-debate coverage, Trump allies have been quoted expressing the sentiment that they hope he will better prepare for the next two presidential debates after learning first hand that “winging it” is not a good strategy. One advisor said Tuesday that Trump had been “made aware” that he did not perform well at the debate.
(Via CNN)