Megyn Kelly gets debate advice for Trump and Clinton from Charles Krauthammer
Monday night is the highly anticipated first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and on Sunday night, Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer — a fan of neither candidate — gave his unsolicited advice to both on Megyn Kelly's Kelly File. He started with Trump, advising that "between now and tomorrow night, decaf only, don't talk about your hands, and in the end, think of yourself in the press conference with the president of Mexico." Kelly pointed out that Trump drinks neither alcohol nor caffeine, so no coffee, and Krauthammer said, "He's off on the right foot."
"Your job in this debate is to make people look at you and think you're a plausible president," Krauthammer said to Trump, and viewers "won't appreciate snarkiness or disrespect," as in the GOP primary debates. Trump's goal isn't to "win on points, not to win on substance," but "to show himself to be calm," he added, which means first and foremost don't "shout."
With Clinton, on the other hand, "I think what she needs to do is jab," Krauthammer said, "not to go for the haymaker, not to go for the one thing that's going to knock him out. He's very good at rope-a-dope and slipping away — you see, all the metaphors are boxing, because this really is a spectacle of boxing." In that vein, what Clinton "needs to do is the flurries, in other words to attack him on many points, calmly but one after another. I'm sure at some point he's going to want to succumb and strike back, and that's her opportunity." What if the debate is boring? Kelly asked. "Boring, he wins," Krauthammer said. "If he can be up there for 90 minutes and be dull, he wins the debate." "I'm excited to see them be dull," Kelly said. "I don't care." Watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'Colleges warn of punishment for disruptions'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
The murky role of military contractors in war
The Explainer A civil case against US company has revived debate over the increasing use of private security firms in military operations
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published