Expectations vary widely ahead of the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, which will air tonight on CNN. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) discussed the upcoming debate in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, saying Trump should challenge Biden to say the names of Jocelyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, and Laken Riley, three high-profile murder victims of illegal immigrants, and the names of the 13 slain U.S. troops killed at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan.
The discussion began on the topic of the border crisis, as a supposed 400 illegal immigrants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) have entered the country. However, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said were only 150 arrested, not 400. However, 50 remain unaccounted for.
Host Maria Bartiromo speculated if CNN's debate between Trump and Biden would bring up the topic of the border crisis, as the network did not cover the death of 12-year-old Houston girl Jocelyn Nungaray at the hands of two illegal immigrants in recent weeks.
Rep. Waltz acknowledged CNN's lack of coverage of the border but said the topic was impossible to ignore.
"If you did not watch Fox and you listen to this administration, you would think everything was fine. The mainstream media is not reporting on it at all. I hope the President does something very simple and just challenge Biden to say their names," said the Florida Congressman, mocking the President's infamous flubbing of Laken Riley's name during the State of the Union in March.
"You know, when he was challenged at the State of the Union, he could not even pronounce one name. Say three names, and oh, by the way, how about the Abbey Gate Gold Star families? Say the word 'Afghanistan,' [and] acknowledge those 13 Gold Star families. I do not think Biden cognitively could do it. He certainly does not want to do it," Rep. Waltz continued.
Fox previously reported that Biden's debate strategy will focus on "triggering" Trump on abortion and January 6th, which Waltz agreed with "because [Biden] has nothing to run on. Certainly not Bidenomics, certainly not the border, certainly not crime, certainly not the Middle East or the world on fire."
