“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” This famous quote that is attributed to several great generals of history is a truism that applies to military and election campaigns. Since the debate, former President Donald Trump has kept himself from the limelight as the Biden campaign struggles to allay concerns about President Joe Biden’s age. This public discipline is different from his previous campaigns and is being rewarded this week.

Even during the debate, Trump’s strategy was clearly different from his past performances in 2016 and 2020. This more restrained Trump was not just a result of the muted microphones, though they certainly helped. An example is one of Trump’s most memorable lines from the debate, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.” This quote is not as aggressive as some other famous Trump rhetorical jabs, letting Biden’s incoherence speak for itself.

There were several times in the debate Biden fumbled when speaking, but Trump did not pounce. Public attention has been focused on Biden’s struggle to speak clearly, rather than a typically aggressive Trump who can turn off voters.

Since the debate, the Biden campaign has been in continual crisis mode as it faces increased scrutiny from the media and within the Democratic Party. Editorials have called for Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Even elected Democrats have kept the door open to his replacement in their interviews with the press while backroom negotiations continue within the party.

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The Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday that Trump has presidential immunity for “official acts” would normally have dominated the news cycle. But Biden’s poor debate performance and Trump’s continued discipline have kept the public square’s conversation firmly focused on Biden’s candidacy. Aside from a speech regarding his judicial victory and some low-profile interviews, he has stayed away from significant media appearances since the debate.  

There are still months until November, and it is far from certain that Biden will remain the Democratic nominee. Nevertheless, Trump’s increased public discipline compared to previous elections is working and will continue to benefit him. With Trump already established as a national political figure, any extra media attention will only negatively affect his campaign. In the reverse of “any publicity is good publicity,” Trump’s best bet at winning the White House is if he lets his opponents remain the focus of public attention.