President Trump
Donald John Trump2020 Democrats spar over socialism ahead of first debate Senate passes .5 billion border bill, setting up fight with House 'Teflon Don' avoids the scorn of the 'family values' GOP — again MORE offered his first opinion via Twitter of the Democratic presidential debate roughly a half-hour into the Wednesday night event, making it clear he was not entertained.
"BORING!" Trump tweeted.
BORING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
The tweet came right after the debate had taken its first commercial break of the evening and as candidates began weighing in on the migrant family separations that have taken place during the Trump administration.
Trump tweeted while Air Force One was stopped in Alaska to refuel en route to its final destination in Japan.
During the stop in Anchorage, Trump met with troops stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. He quipped that he chose to spend time with the troops over watching the debate.
“I think they’re all going to do poorly,” Trump said of the Democratic candidates.
Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamBooker calls for hearings on reports of ICE using solitary confinement GOP lays debate trap for 2020 Democrats Overnight Defense: Trump says he doesn't need exit strategy with Iran | McConnell open to vote on Iran war authorization | Senate panel advances bill to restrict emergency arms sales MORE (R-S.C.), a 2016 Republican presidential candidate and staunch Trump ally, responded to the president by piling on the Democratic contenders.
"To associate this crowd with BORING is an unfair attack on BORING people," Graham tweeted. "BORING would be a step up!"
Mr. President, I respectfully disagree.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 27, 2019
To associate this crowd with BORING is an unfair attack on BORING people.
BORING would be a step up! #DemocraticDebate https://t.co/Atygj6718r
The president weighed in again minutes later to rip NBC News over a technical difficulty with audio and microphones that necessitated an extra commercial break, saying it was befitting a "fake news organization."
.@NBCNews and @MSNBC should be ashamed of themselves for having such a horrible technical breakdown in the middle of the debate. Truly unprofessional and only worthy of a FAKE NEWS Organization, which they are!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
The president sat down for an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" last week, but has regularly criticized the network for its coverage.
Trump's name was lightly mentioned during the first hour of the debate. Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Amy Jean KlobucharPelosi: Congress will receive election security briefing in July 2020 Dems say they will visit Homestead facility holding migrant children The Hill's 12:30 Report: Anticipation high ahead of first debate MORE (D-Minn.) criticized him over his economic policies and his inability to lower drug prices.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
Jay Robert InsleeThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Anticipation high ahead of first debate Where 2020 Democrats stand in betting markets ahead of first debate 150 young activists to camp out at DNC for climate debate MORE (D) chided Trump for his unfounded claims that wind turbines cause cancer.
"He says wind turbines cause cancer. We know they cause jobs," Inslee said.
—Updated at 10:11 p.m.
