Trump Triumphant: The First Debate
If Trump continues to match last night’s triumph, victory in November will be within reach.
The Democrat party, in their moment of “absolute panic,” to quote CNN, are squarely blaming President Biden for his own defeat in last night’s presidential debate, citing his clear cognitive decline and trailing feebleness as having cost him the night. Republicans, quite understandably, are dancing around the dumpster fire that the Democrats have been forced to acknowledge.
That said, it is the contention of this article, in some contrast to the current chatter, that this debate was won moreso due to Donald Trump’s strength rather than Joe Biden’s weakness. The whole setup was stacked against Trump, and just a bit of moderator interference could have ruined the night. Instead, Trump gave the performance of a lifetime, doing exactly what was necessary. It was glorious.
Trump Won
The fate of this debate, and thus the momentum of the race, rested in Trump’s hands last night for one simple reason: this debate could have easily been a repeat of the first 2020 presidential debates between him and Biden. In 2020, the media portrayed Trump, like usual, as childish, thereby making Geriatric Joe seem like the calm adult that America, at that time, thirsted for in the midst of chaotic times.
The witty, machine-gun of owns that won Trump the 2016 Republican primary and wrecked Hillary Clinton served to harm him against Biden last time; the words of Jeb Bush, that he could not “insult his way to the presidency,” ironically came back to haunt him. This time, the candidiate was too unconscious to even take the bait and the media had learned their own lesson about just using Trump just for ratings.
If 2020 Biden was a mouse-trap, then 2024 Biden was a bear-trap. Biden is more feeble and rickety than he was three years ago. This decline, paired with his awful presidency, gave Trump numerous opportunities to swoop in play the schoolyard bully, as Biden often references. This error, if committed last night, would have made him out to be the chaotic force that the media desired so badly. Yet, he played his cards perfectly.
How Did He Do It?
Last night, Trump set his habits aside and “locked in.” You could see this masterful strategy on full display: the dancing glances and instantaneous objections of 2020 were replaced with a focused silence and darting eyes, clearly full of deliberate thought. Trump patiently bided his time, like a big cat preparing to pounce. He continuously let Biden sputter off into nonsense so as to set the stage for a clean, charismatic blow. In particular, Trump was smart to constantly tie every issue back to immigration, putting Biden on defense.
All of the debate’s highlights, such as Trump saying “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence;” his tactful approach to the problem of illegal immigration (such as shifting the topic towards the border when oddly Biden brought it up at the end of question about Roe v. Wade), “let’s not act like children, Joe;” and the countless moments where mouth-agape Biden shuts down mid-sentence were all allowed to happen thanks to Trump’s new strategy of paying attention and locking in. This new strategy won Trump the debate last night and has sent the democrats into a spiral.
Now What?
At the time that this article is being written, the debate wrapped up a mere five hours ago, thereby making the cataclysmic vibe-shift that just occurred extremely fresh. Republicans are secure, and democrats are freaking out. What is one to make of the new circumstances?
Trump’s win last night has made clear an argument that was presented in The American Postliberal’s endorsement of Trump from back in January of this year, also called Trump Triumphant. That article stated that “a return to constitutional government will require harnessing political power in a way that only a leader whose charisma and force of personality can mobilize the masses on behalf of his agenda.”
That charismatic mobilization, brought forth by President Trump, is precisely what has solidified the Republican Party in the wake of this debate. Likewise, an utter lack of “force of personality” by Joe Biden is what has led his party to declare that the sky is falling. Remember, debates are never about policy or substance, but the men at the podiums.
Of course, it is important to recognize that while the race’s trajectory has changed, it is still June. Many more make-or-break choices lie before Trump and his campaign. However, if Trump continues to match last night’s triumph, victory in November is within reach.
The AdamoZone is a column by Luca Adamo, Vice President of The American Postliberal.
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Prior to last night, there was about a 5% chance that Joe would be replaced as the nominee. This morning, I suspect that percentage is now about 25%. (Still a long shot, but within the realm of possibility.) This would be disastrous for Donald Trump. Voters don't like him. Were Biden to be convinced to drop out, the Dem convention would be messy, but they would nominate someone younger and likely female (and not named Kamala). 51% of the voters will vote against Biden. I suspect 51% would also convince themselves to give Gretchen Whitmer (for example) a shot over Trump.
Trump's ego shot him in the foot last night. He performed well, but he should have mandated that the first debate be held after nominations at the conventions had been clinched.