NBC reporter responds to blowback after declaring Trump the winner of first Democratic debate

Allen went on to explain that “even though he is a uniquely antagonizing and energizing force for Democratic voters,” the president emerged “largely unscathed,” despite a few mentions from candidates such as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who described him as the nation’s greatest threat, to much applause.

“But for the most part, he was an afterthought,” Allen wrote, arguing Trump served as “the chief beneficiary” of the numerous candidates fighting to keep their heads above water.

Allen concluded that the Democrats risk “losing sight of Trump, [which] will allow him to exploit their divisions and position himself for re-election. He was one step closer to that after Wednesday’s debate.”

Allen later tweeted, “On the twitters, some people are angry at me for writing that Trump was a big winner in the Dem debate last night — because there was little mention of him and because Dems out-lefted each other — but I’d be shocked if you don’t hear a lot more about Trump tonight.”

From aboard Air Force One as it flew to Japan for the G-20 summit, the president dubbed the debate “boring” and also tore into NBC for experiencing embarrassing technical difficulties that forced a commercial break.