Former Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin said he expects both Donald Trump and Joe Biden to attend Thursday's debate “with caution” and “seriousness,” and that he expects there to be a “substantive” discussion of the issues, despite the chaotic debates between the two candidates in the 2020 presidential election.
“I would love to see that conversation take shape,” Zeldin, who is supporting Trump in the November election, told CNN.
Former Congressman Zeldin reflected on the heated political discourse of this election cycle as someone who has been personally affected in the past: While campaigning for the 2022 New York gubernatorial election, Zeldin was attacked by a man with a gun who told him, “You're finished.”
“I can't tell you how many times I've received things like death threats for not putting out a press release,” Zeldin said. “As a leader, you have people who follow you. It's important to lead people, not be followed. … I think rhetoric matters.”
Asked whether Trump was living up to his rhetoric about preventing political violence, Zeldin gave no clear yes or no answer.
“There's a lot I want to say about what President Trump has said and what President Biden has said that may not be my style,” the former congressman said.
The former congressman continued, “I think at the end of the day, a lot of Americans are also looking to people to move forward and be strong and be powerful. … I prefer that positive, uplifting message.”
