House Speaker Paul Ryan praised Donald Trump’s debate performance Monday night, and suggested party’s presidential nominee passed the commander-in-chief test during the 90-minute event.
“I think Hillary gave a very polished, well-rehearsed, status-quo defense and Donald Trump gave a unique, Donald Trump response to the status quo,” Ryan told reporters following a weekly GOP conference meeting. “I think he gave a spirited argument and I think he passed a number of thresholds, which showed … for 90 minutes he could go toe-to-toe with Hillary Clinton.”
Most Republicans leaving the morning GOP meeting praised Trump’s performance, despite criticism that Trump passed up several opportunities attack Clinton about her email server, her performance while secretary of state or the influence of the Clinton Foundation.
But they also appeared relieved that Trump was to avoid the kind attacks and defensive behavior that have prompted Democrats to label him as unqualified for the presidency.
“He showed he could get on the stage and he was able to look presidential,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., told the Washington Examiner. “That, in and of itself, is something people didn’t think he could do so I [think] that was a victory.”
Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., whose state shows the two candidates deadlocked, said Trump “scored some points on trade,” an issue on which Clinton has changed course and now opposes the Trans Pacific Partnership deal.
But Clinton, Dent said, “scored some points on the birther issue.” Debate moderator Lester Holt asked about his previous argument that President Obama may not have been born in the U.S., and Trump responded by saying he “did a good job” by forcing President Obama to produce a birth certificate.
Dent said he considered the debate a draw. “I don’t know if many minds will be changed based on what we witnessed last night,” he said.
