Trump campaign sets expectations for Vance debate against ‘wily political veteran’ Walz

A top Trump campaign official sought to manage expectations ahead of Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), praising the governor as a talented debater and signaling Vance would go on offense over immigration and Walz’s military record.

“Tim Walz is very good in debates. Really good,” senior Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller said on a call with reporters previewing the debate. “He’s been a politician for nearly 20 years. He’ll be very well prepared for tomorrow night. He’s not going to be the wildly gesticulating effeminate caricature we see at rallies pointing to Kamala Harris and dancing about on the stage; Walz is going to be buttoned up.”

Miller and Trump allies told reporters Walz would be willing to “lie on command” about Harris’s record and his own, citing some of his past comments that have come under scrutiny about his travel to China and his time serving in the National Guard. 

Former President Trump has repeatedly mocked Walz for his gestures and excited personality when on the rally stage. Trump has also at times been fixated on Walz’s criticism that the Republican ticket is “weird.”

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who has stood in for Walz during Vance’s debate prep, dismissed the idea that Walz would be able to “lean on his folksy demeanor” to appeal to the audience.

“I spent the last month going through all of Walz’s old debate footage and studying his mannerisms and policy positions,” Emmer said. “Based on what I’ve seen, JD Vance is prepared to wipe the floor with Tim Walz and expose him for the radical liberal he is.”

Emmer overlapped with Walz when the governor served in Congress. 

Trump allies signaled Vance would seek to go on offense over immigration in particular, attacking Walz over the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border and arguing Vice President Harris has not done enough to address the surge of migrants there.

Vance’s allies argued the senator would be able to speak with authority about the impact of inflation on American families, citing his own upbringing dealing with poverty.

They also signaled Vance could call out Walz for his handling of riots in Minnesota following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

Tuesday’s event, which will be hosted by CBS News, is the only debate on the calendar between Walz and Vance. 

It is also potentially the final debate of the presidential campaign before Election Day, as Harris and Trump do not have another showdown on the calendar despite Harris’s push for a second one.