Chris Wallace says Trump ‘lost the presidency’ in 2020 debate

Chris Wallace, the moderator of the sole debate between President Biden and President Trump in 2020, said that lost the presidency due to his performance that night. 

Biden and Trump will face off against each other Thursday in a CNN-hosted debate in Atlanta. 

“I actually think it was one of the most consequential presidential debates in history,” Wallace said Wednesday on “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” on CNN. “I actually think Donald Trump lost the presidency in that debate by his performance. He dropped about 4 or 5 points. He never regained it.”

Wallace, who worked at Fox News in 2020, is now an anchor for CNN.

Wallace added that the “key question” for Thursday’s debate is, “Has he learned his lesson?” 

During the 2020 presidential debate, Trump interrupted Biden and Wallace dozens of times. 

“We had somebody count,” Wallace said. “He interrupted Joe Biden or me 145 times in 90 minutes. … If he does that, I think it would be a big mistake, and he’ll pay a price for it.” 

The 2020 presidential debate was a fiery clash. Each candidate called the other one a liar, and Biden, at one point, said, “Will you shut up, man?” adding, “This is so unpresidential.”

Trump and Wallace also tangled at one point during the debate. 

“Mr. President, I’m the moderator of this debate, and I’d like you to let me ask my question,” Wallace said.

“I guess I’m debating you, not him,” Trump responded. 

After the 2020 debate, CNN “State of the Union” anchor Jake Tapper, who is moderating Thursday’s debate, called the debate “a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck. That was the worst debate I have ever seen. In fact it wasn’t even a debate; it was a disgrace.” 

In the lead-up to Thursday’s debate, political strategists are waiting to see which version of Trump will show up, with some saying he needs to show restraint.

At a rally in Philadelphia last week, Trump asked his supporters whether he should be “tough or nasty” or “nice and calm” during the debate. 

Trump has also ratcheted up tensions with the CNN anchors who are hosting this year’s debate in recent days. 

CNN Anchor Kasie Hunt cut off Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt after she repeatedly attacked CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.  

“I would be surprised if he did not attack the media, and the negotiators, and the rules from the stage,” said CNN political commentator Jamal Simmons, former communications director for Vice President Harris.  

Trump is ahead in polls, with the national polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ standing at a 1.2-point lead for the former president.