WASHINGTON (TND) — Former President Donald Trump’s campaign claimed victory in the presidential debate on Tuesday night. Before the debate was over, they released a statement touting their victory.

While it is common for political campaigns to prepare such statements and plan to release them at such events, and the debate lasted longer than its advertised 90-minute duration, the timing stands in stark contrast to the opinions of even conservative pundits about Trump’s performance.

“President Trump delivered a masterful debate performance tonight, continuing Kamala Harris’ horrific record of failure that has hurt Americans for the past four years,” said campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles. “We saw President Trump lay out his bold vision for America and how he would build on the successes of his first term by boosting the economy, securing the border, and ending the crime that has ravaged communities across the country.”

In contrast to the campaign’s self-righteous attitude, conservative commentator Brit Hume offered a different take on the evening on Fox News: “Make no mistake, Trump had a bad night.” Former Fox News host Chris Wallace said that “she pitched a shutout,” using the language of baseball.

Reporters close to Trump’s campaign have also reported that allies and advisers of the former president have privately admitted that Trump fell for Harris’s attempts to challenge him, such as when Harris focused on the size, duration and content of his campaign rallies amid heated discussions about immigration.

Harris’ campaign appeared confident in the vice president’s performance, with campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon saying, “Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?”

Trump previously proposed a debate for September 25, moderated by NBC, and agreed.