Media figures across the ideological spectrum criticized presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's first joint event with his running mate Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN), calling it "the most half-assed big-time political event I've ever seen," "the worst VP introduction ever," and "really, really unnerving."

Trump Holds First Joint Event With Running Mate Mike Pence

Trump Formally Introduces Mike Pence As Running Mate. Trump formally introduced Mike Pence as his running mate at their first joint appearance at the New York Hilton Midtown. From a July 16 CNN.com article:

Donald Trump formally unveiled Mike Pence as his running mate Saturday, candidly saying he hoped the pick would unite the fractured Republican Party, in a typically unconventional rollout event that was more about the man at the top of the ticket than his new sidekick. The presumptive Republican nominee introduced the Indiana governor at a Manhattan hotel two days before the start of the Republican National Convention. It was a spectacle that underscored the odd couple nature of the GOP ticket, that now unites Trump, a brash, volatile outsider with a sparse ideological track record, with Pence, a strait-laced, disciplined warrior of the social conservative movement. [CNN.com, 7/16/16]

Media Figures Trash Trump's "Half-Assed" Event

Politico's Glenn Thrush: Event "Wasn't Unconventional Or Outsidery -- It Was The Most Half-Assed Big-Time Political Event I've Ever Seen."

Anyone who's writing this up: It wasn't unconventional or outsidery -- it was the most half-assed big-time political event I've ever seen — Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

MSNBC's Benjy Sarlin: "Does Trump Think He Can Filibuster The Pence Announcement?"

Does Trump think he can filibuster the Pence announcement? — Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

NY Times' Adam Nagourney: "The Quote Of The Morning: 'Back to Mike Pence.'"

The quote of the morning: "Back to Mike Pence." — adam nagourney (@adamnagourney) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

National Journal's Ron Fournier: "'Back To Mike Pence…' Is A Perfect Transition For Trump To Talk More About Himself."

"Back to Mike Pence..." is a perfect transition for Trump to talk more about himself — Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

National Journal's Josh Kraushaar: "There's More Sincere Praise Of Bobby Knight Than Mike Pence In This Trump Speech."

There's more sincere praise of Bobby Knight than Mike Pence in this Trump speech — Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

Vox's Ezra Klein: Event "Is Funny, But It's Also Really, Really Unnerving."

This is funny, but it's also really, really unnerving. — Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

National Review's Rich Lowry: "Mike Pence Has To Be Wondering How He Stumbled Into Being The Subject Of The Worst VP Introduction Ever."

Mike Pence has to be wondering how he stumbled into being the subject of the worst VP introduction ever — Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

National Review's Jim Geraghty: "'Welcome Back To Hour Nine Of Donald Trump's Introduction Of Mike Pence As His Running Mate…'"

"Welcome back to hour nine of Donald Trump's introduction of Mike Pence as his running mate..." — jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

CNN's Amanda Carpenter: "We Are At The Point Where A Presidential Candidate Is Bragging About The Non-Endorsement Of His VP. What Alternate Reality Am I In?"

We are at the point where a presidential candidate is bragging about the non-endorsement of his VP. What alternate reality am I in? — Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) July 16, 2016

[Twitter, 7/16/16]

CNN's Dan Pfeiffer: Event "Was An Affront To Everything Everyone Has Learned About How To Run A Campaign Ever."

Well that was an affront to everything everyone has learned about how to run a campaign ever — Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) July 16, 2016

