Trump ramps up debate prep: ‘Policy discussions’ instead of mock debate

Former President Donald Trump has been holding a series of private meetings with senators, policy experts and other allies to prepare for his debate next week with President Joe Biden.

The meetings, described by several of Trump’s allies as informal “policy discussions,” began earlier this month, when the former president sat down with Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, a top contender to become his running mate, at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in South Florida.

The meeting, which centered on the economy, has been followed by similar sit-downs featuring a rotating cast of senators, experts and Republican strategists, according to the allies granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

In a break from convention, Trump is not expected to hold a mock debate to prepare for what’s likely to be a blockbuster televised confrontation with Biden, according to one of the people. Instead, Trump’s advisers have been arranging the sessions focused on individual topics they expect will likely come up at the debate.

For instance, Trump had a recent session on immigration that included Tom Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Trump administration. A session last week included former Trump White House official Stephen Miller. Former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway has also been involved in Trump’s policy conversations.

Trump also speaks regularly with Ric Grenell, who was Trump’s acting director of national intelligence, about a range of foreign policy and national security issues. Questions about the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict are almost certain to play a major role in the debate.

Last week, Trump met with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), another Republican on Trump’s vice presidential shortlist, and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) at the Republican National Committee offices in Washington. That meeting with Rubio and the expectation that Trump will not have anyone play Biden in a mock debate were first reported by The New York Times.

Some of the meetings are not policy-specific, cover a host of issues and give Trump the opportunity to pick the brains of experts and allies, the people familiar with the meetings said. His team has been squeezing in the sessions between Trump’s regular campaign appearances, private meetings, and fundraising and political calls. He campaigned in Michigan over the weekend. On Tuesday, Trump will give a speech in Racine, Wisconsin. He will hold a fundraiser in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, before rallying supporters in Philadelphia on Saturday.

“President Trump takes on numerous tough interviews every single week and delivers lengthy rally speeches while standing, demonstrating elite stamina. He does not need to be programmed by staff or shot up with chemicals like Joe Biden does,” Trump adviser Jason Miller said in a statement.

Miller is among the top Trump strategists involved in his debate preparations, as he was in 2016 and 2020.

The June 27 debate — to be broadcast on CNN and moderated by anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash — represents a pivotal moment in the campaign. It will be the first time Trump and Biden have gone head-to-head since the 2020 debates.

Biden has not yet done a formal debate prep session, though he is slated to head to Camp David on Thursday night, where preparations are expected to begin in earnest. Ron Klain, Biden’s longtime adviser and his first White House chief of staff, is involved in the preparations.

CNN announced the ground rules for the 90-minute debate over the weekend. According to the network, there will be two commercial breaks, podium positions will be determined by coin flip and a candidate’s microphone will be muted when the other candidate is speaking.

Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.