President Trump’s economic adviser Stephen Moore earlier this month called the president’s debate performance “crappy” following the first debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“It was not a great performance by Trump; in fact, I thought it was a pretty crappy performance,” Moore said at an Oct. 2 conference hosted by the pro-Trump FreedomWorks nonprofit organization, HuffPost reported.
In late September, the debate between Trump and Biden was widely regarded by viewers and critics to be riddled with cross talk and political mockery, leaving many questions unanswered about the two combatting presidential platforms.
Moore also conceded that Trump’s first debate with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election was similarly just as bad.
The economist recalled leaving New York’s Hofstra University after the 2016 debate with now-White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, telling the conference audience, “My friend called me and said, ‘Steve, looks like you and Larry aren’t going to the White House any time soon.’”
Still, Moore added that Trump later “rallied” and “clobbered” Clinton in subsequent debates, saying “that’s what’s going to happen” in future Trump debates with Biden, “God willing,” he added.
During his speech at the conference, Moore lauded the Trump administration’s strong economy but echoed other speakers railing against mail-in ballots, adding that the Nov. 3. election is going to be “really tight.”
Moore has gone on record repeatedly in recent weeks voicing apprehension against a $2 trillion coronavirus pandemic stimulus package, arguing the U.S. economy is showing signs of growth without the need for a package.
“The economy really is showing signs of picking up. I don’t care what the newspapers say,” he said on John Catsimatidis’s radio show on WABC 770.
The Hill contacted FreedomWorks but did not immediately receive a response regarding Moore’s comments.