Republican senators, one after the other on Wednesday, panned the first presidential debate between President Trump
Donald John TrumpPresident Trump, Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19 Trump, first lady to quarantine after top aide tests positive for coronavirus Secret recordings show Melania Trump was frustrated about criticism of Trump 2018 border separation policy: CNN MORE and Democratic nominee Joe Biden
Joe BidenPresident Trump, Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19 Poll: Biden notches 7-point lead ahead of Trump in New Hampshire Jim Carrey to make his SNL debut as Joe Biden this week MORE.
They appeared exasperated by the chaotic, roughly two-hour clash that was marked by near constant crosstalk and personal attacks. And they argued more more focus should be put on policy when the two candidates meet again next month.
“It was awful,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiVulnerable Republicans break with Trump on ObamaCare lawsuit Overnight Health Care: Six Republicans break with party on ObamaCare vote | Pfizer CEO ‘disappointed’ vaccine discussed ‘in political terms’ | Trump Supreme Court pick signed ‘right to life’ statement in 2006 GOP lawmakers gloomy, back on defense after debate fiasco MORE (R-Alaska) told reporters.
Asked what she thought about the debate Sen. Deb Fischer
Debra (Deb) Strobel FischerGOP senators pan debate: ‘S—show,’ ‘awful,’ ’embarrassment’ Hillicon Valley: Election officials prepare for new Russian interference battle | ‘Markeyverse’ of online fans helps take down a Kennedy | GOP senators unveil bill to update tech liability protections Google, Apple, eBay to meet virtually with lawmakers for tech group’s annual fly-in MORE (R-Neb.) paused for a moment, before responding: “It was exhausting.”
Other GOP senators were more direct in their criticism with Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyMcConnell: Next Trump-Biden debate should be more respectful The Hill’s Campaign Report: Team Trump on defense over president’s comments on white supremacy One down, three more debates to go MORE (R-Utah) calling it an “embarrassment” and Sen. Ben Sasse
Benjamin (Ben) Eric SasseMcConnell: Next Trump-Biden debate should be more respectful GOP senators pan debate: ‘S—show,’ ‘awful,’ ’embarrassment’ Schumer rips Trump, GOP over debate: ‘How are you not embarrassed?’ MORE (R-Neb.) calling it a “shitshow.”
“It was the least educational debate of any presidential debate I’ve ever seen,” said Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsVulnerable Republicans break with Trump on ObamaCare lawsuit Overnight Health Care: Six Republicans break with party on ObamaCare vote | Pfizer CEO ‘disappointed’ vaccine discussed ‘in political terms’ | Trump Supreme Court pick signed ‘right to life’ statement in 2006 GOP rejects Schumer bill protecting ObamaCare amid Supreme Court fight MORE (R-Maine), who is in a tough reelection fight.
Sen. John Cornyn
John CornynHillicon Valley: Senate panel votes to subpoena Big Tech executives | Amazon says over 19,000 workers tested positive for COVID-19 | Democrats demand DHS release report warning of election interference On The Money: GOP cool to White House’s .6T coronavirus price tag | Company layoffs mount as pandemic heads into fall | Initial jobless claims drop to 837,000 GOP cool to White House’s .6T coronavirus price tag MORE (R-Texas) compared the debate to a “brawl,” while Sen. James Inhofe
James (Jim) Mountain InhofeGOP lawmakers gloomy, back on defense after debate fiasco GOP senators pan debate: ‘S—show,’ ‘awful,’ ’embarrassment’ Romney calls first Trump-Biden debate ‘an embarrassment’ MORE (R-Okla.) urged Trump to “restrain himself a little” during the next debate.
Biden and Trump clashed over a host of issues during Tuesday’s night face off, the first of the 2020 cycle, including climate change, healthcare and the Supreme Court. But the debate will be remembered more for how quickly it went off the rails as moderator Chris Wallace
Christopher (Chris) WallaceTrump: ‘I condemn all white supremacists’ McConnell: Next Trump-Biden debate should be more respectful Hillicon Valley: Senate panel votes to subpoena Big Tech executives | Amazon says over 19,000 workers tested positive for COVID-19 | Democrats demand DHS release report warning of election interference MORE struggled to get the candidates to stick to their time limits and Trump sparked bipartisan criticism when he refused to denounce white supremacists.
Several GOP senators, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell: Next Trump-Biden debate should be more respectful McConnell signals he’s open to confirming Supreme Court pick in lame duck House approves .2T COVID-19 relief bill as White House talks stall MORE (R-Ky.), distanced themselves from Trump over those remarks.
“With regard to the white supremacy issue, I want to associate myself with the remarks of Sen. Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene ScottThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Team Trump on defense over president’s comments on white supremacy Third-party candidate in SC senate race drops out, throws support behind Graham McEnany defends Trump comments on white supremacy at combative briefing MORE,” McConnell told reporters. “I think he said it exactly correctly and that’s exactly how I would express myself on that issue.”
“He said it was unacceptable not to condemn white supremacists and so I do so in the strongest possible way,” the GOP leader added.