PHILADELPHIA — Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday night that the biggest challenge in a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris will be the fact that she has changed positions on many issues over the years.
“You don’t know what’s in store for you. He’s changed all his policies over the years,” Trump told NBC News by phone Tuesday morning.
However, he added that he believes it “makes it easier” to identify him in the minds of voters.
“It makes it a lot easier. He’s not credible anymore,” Trump said.
Tuesday night’s ABC-sponsored debate here is Trump’s second in the 2024 election, but his first against a new challenger. This is Harris’ first general election debate as a presidential candidate.
Trump heads into debate day feeling — in his words — “great.” Preparations were made for the discussion of the former president less extensive and structured That’s more than what Harris did, but according to a familiar source, he’s been involved in intensive sessions over the past two days.
Three sources who speak regularly with Trump, including one directly involved in the debate preparation process, described Trump as either nervous or unprepared for the debate over the past few weeks. But as the controversy approached, this changed and he was increasingly referred to.
Three sources, who requested anonymity to describe their private conversations with the candidate and his team, said Tuesday that he was more focused than in recent days — two suggested. recent favorable public inquiry It helped to show that it could be a “change” candidate.
Two of the sources said Trump’s strategy would not be to paint Harris as a fraud, but to take his most liberal past and own it. One person pointed to comments from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as a road map. On Sunday he left NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Harris is progressive but “does what he thinks is right to win elections.”
Trump has often changed his positions over the years, including on such issues abortion, TikTok and even childbirth.
Harris, in turn, will work “reminds people What it was like during the Donald Trump years, according to a source familiar with his debate strategy.
His team tried unsuccessfully to have the candidates’ microphones on at all times. But even if the microphones are muted while the other person is speaking, they are preparing for unscripted and potentially volatile moments, including the possibility that Trump will make derogatory comments about him, according to sources familiar with his preparations.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Amanda Terkel, Jake Traylor and Summer concept contributed.