Trump on message is bad news for Democrats

While the main takeaway from Thursday night's presidential debate was the diminished mental faculties of President Joe Biden , former President Donald Trump showed just how formidable he is when he is disciplined in his rhetoric.

The Trump that showed up to the debate last night was one who is at ease and on message as he seeks to reclaim the job he held from 2017-21. And with concerns about Biden's mental fitness now front and center due to his abysmal performance, the former president could not be happier with the way the night went for him.

Instead of constantly rehashing past issues, Trump reminded voters that his promise to "Make America Great Again" is why they supported him in the first place. Under Biden, inflation has skyrocketed, illegal immigration is out of control, border security is nonexistent, housing prices are unaffordable, and the Justice Department is eager to jail those opposed to the current regime.

While moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash repeatedly attempted to goad Trump into relitigating the 2020 election and defending the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the former president wisely did not take the bait and instead used each opportunity to talk about his opponent's abysmal record in office.

In one particularly notable exchange, Trump deflected a question about the riot to point out that on Jan. 6, 2021, the border was secure, taxes were low, government regulations had been cut down, and the United States was "respected all over the world."

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Trump also pivoted to immigration in response to several other questions about the economy and other issues, reminding the millions of viewers that the president's abysmal record on border security has pushed public opinion in favor of mass deportations.

If Trump is able to continue to focus on policy issues and his vision for the country during the remaining five months until the presidential election, the Democrats are going to be in real trouble. And not just because the party's candidate is a senile old man.