Mike Pence advises Donald Trump ahead of Harris face-off as he draws on 2020 VP debate experience

WASHINGTON, DC: Former vice president Mike Pence offered a piece of straightforward advice to Donald Trump ahead of his debate with Kamala Harris, reflecting on his face-off with her four years ago.

Pence, Trump's ex-running mate-turned-critic, was the last person to debate the incumbent vice president in 2020.

The 65-year-old said in an interview with Real Clear Politics, published on Monday, September 9, that Trump could succeed in the debate against Harris by forcing the Democrat to "defend her record."

The upcoming debate hosted by ABC News on September 10 would be Trump and Harris' first face-off. In June, the real estate mogul debated President Joe Biden on CNN, eventually leading to the latter's exit from the 2024 race.

Mike Pence's debate advice for Donald Trump

Before advising his former boss on how to contradict Kamala Harris, Mike Pence reflected on his experience during the 2020 election.

"We went into that debate with the expectation that she would be formidable, that she would be poised, and that she would make her case," he said. "I think we were right about the first two things, and not really the third in this sense: She either can't, or won't, defend her record."

The former VP then counseled Trump to focus more on the Democratic presidential nominee's policies instead of resorting to personal insults.

"My advice to my old running mate is that he should challenge her to defend her record," Pence stated. "Answer the question as quickly as you can, but then I think he should attack."

In October 2020, Pence sat down to debate his Democratic counterpart following Covid-19 protocols. At one moment, Harris retorted, saying, "I'm speaking," as the incumbent VP interrupted her.

Another key moment from the head-to-head sparked a meme fest when a fly seated on Pence's head for nearly two minutes.

Harris arrived in Pittsburgh on September 5 to prepare in advance and is "holed up" in the Omni William Penn Hotel room, according to The New York Times.

Despite the advice, Pence doubled down on his opposition to the real estate mogul, emphasizing that he would not endorse Trump. The former VP distanced himself from his two-time running mate following the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, when pro-Trump supporters stormed the building chanting "hang Mike Pence" over his support to certify Biden's 2020 election victory.

Internet rejects Mike Pence's debate advice to Donald Trump

Weighing in on Mike Pence's counsel to Trump on how to debate Harris on September 10, netizens denied his advice, reminding the ex-VP about his performance in 2020.

"President Trump had weeks of listening to people tell outrageous lies about him in court without reaction. He's got this," a user said.

"There is no reason to take seriously the analysis or opinion of someone who thinks Trump did well at the last debate," another opined.

"Mike Pence is probably a nice guy. But, I wouldn't be taking advice from him on debating," added a third user.

"Yeah, cause Pence came off as a stellar debater when he was on stage. The fly had more panache than than Pence did. And trust me friends, if anything is an expert at finding a POS it’s a fly," read a fourth response.

"As I recall, Pence wasn't particularly adept at debating. What might he have to offer by way of advice ... "Don't repeat my debate performance, wear fly repellent"?" someone else commented below Newsweek's report.

"This is pretty funny coming from a guy who lost his debate with Harris in 2020. The fly on his head and talking over her didn't help him at all. "I'm speaking, Mr VP, I'm speaking" was humiliating for him. hahaha," an individual wrote below Raw Story's report about Pence's advice to Trump.

"He's not endorsing Trump but giving him advice to beat Harris in the debate from a man who didn't even feel a fly land on his head. Proves their is nothing upstairs," another user added.

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