Trump knocks Biden, touts criminal justice reform passage ahead of first Democratic debate

President Trump on Wednesday touted the passage of criminal justice reform under his administration roughly an hour before the start of the first Democratic presidential primary debate, calling for candidates to be asked why past administrations failed to do the same.

In a pair of tweets sent aboard Air Force One, Trump specifically knocked his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, as well as 2020 candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, who will not be onstage until Thursday night.{mosads}

“Ever since the passage of the Super Predator Crime Bill, pushed hard by @JoeBiden, together with Bill and Crooked Hillary Clinton, which inflicted great pain on many, but especially the African American Community, Democrats have tried and failed to pass Criminal Justice Reform,” Trump tweeted, noting that a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill was passed during his presidency.

“Many said that nobody but President Trump could have done this,” he added. “All previous administrations failed. Please ask why THEY failed to the candidates!”

….They came to me asking for help, and I got Criminal Justice Reform passed, with help from both Republicans and Democrats. Many said that nobody but President Trump could have done this. All previous administrations failed. Please ask why THEY failed to the candidates!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019

Trump made the comments while en route to Japan for the Group of 20 summit. He had tweeted minutes earlier that his campaign team would be offering live reaction as the debate unfolded because he was “off to save the Free World.”

For tonight’s #DemDebate, be sure to follow @TeamTrump, @TrumpWarRoom, @Parscale, @KayleighMcEnany, @TimMurtaugh, and @Marc_Lotter for RAPID RESPONSE, FACT CHECKING, and the TRUTH! #MAGA #KAG Sorry, I’m on Air Force One, off to save the Free World!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019

The president told Fox Business Network on Wednesday morning that he would watch the debate “because I have to,” despite it being a “very unexciting group of people.”

The first night of the debates will include Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D).

Thursday’s debate will see Biden go head-to-head with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D).

The president has previously targeted Biden over his support of the 1994 crime bill, and has fixated on the former vice president as the likely front-runner.

Several Democratic candidates, including Warren, Booker and O’Rourke, have offered plans detailing prison reform or further changes to the criminal justice system.