Ahead of the first 2024 debate between President Joe Biden and presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, conservative Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis has offered scathing commentary on Trump's handling of the debate.
In his June 25 column, the Never Trumper slammed Trump for "whining" that if he loses the debate, it's because the debate is "rigged" — which, Lewis wrote, is typical of Trump's "infantile behavior."
Lewis was equally biting the next day during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," arguing that Biden and his team put the president in a good position by helping shape the rules of the debate.
READ MORE:Trump’s 'next crime' will put US democracy in 'far more danger' than 2020: election lawyer
The Never Trump conservative told "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough (another anti-Trump conservative) and Mika Brzezinski, "You know, Joe Biden outmaneuvered Donald Trump. The timing of this debate, the rules of this debate — those were all set by Joe Biden, because Donald Trump allowed it to happen."
Lewis continued, "Joe Biden's team, I think, really outsmarted and outmaneuvered Donald Trump. And if he goes on to lose, there will be one person to blame: Donald Trump. And that I think that Republicans, rather than blaming the moderators or Mountain Dew, should blame Donald Trump for that."
The debate is set for this Thursday, June 27 in Atlanta and will be moderated by CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
Lewis argued that Trump is trying to "work the refs in advance" of the debate in the hope that they will perhaps "go easy a little easy on him."
READ MORE:'Really shameful': Multiple GOP reps slam fellow Republican over 'stolen valor'
Watch the full video below or at this link.