Donald Trump has paid a rare compliment to his counterpart Joe Biden in the run up to their first face-to-face debate, describing the current US president as a “worthy” opponent.
In an episode of the “All In” podcast, hosted by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Mr Trump said he did not want to “underestimate” Mr Biden.
“I assume he’s gonna be somebody that will be a worthy debater. ... I don’t want to underestimate him,” he said.
His comments were a peculiar u-turn on former remarks. After the presidential debates were announced earlier this year, the former White House resident described Mr Biden as “the WORST debater” he had competed against.
“Crooked Joe Biden is the WORST debater I have ever faced - He can’t put two sentences together!” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social.
It comes as the federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against Mr Trump is hearing arguments today on a long-shot defense effort to get the indictment thrown out based on the claim that the prosecutor who brought the charges was illegally appointed.