EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek reportedly stunned debate moderators Thursday evening after responding to a question about lengthy DMV wait times by slowly reaching beneath her podium and producing a small Donald Trump hand puppet.

“Governor Kotek, the question was about Oregonians waiting weeks for DMV appointments,” the moderator clarified.

Kotek nodded solemnly before raising the puppet higher.

“Which is exactly why we need to talk about Donald Trump.”

According to witnesses, Christine Drazan stared silently across the stage for several seconds as Kotek began making the puppet shake its tiny felt fists.

“You think these DMV lines just happened?” Kotek asked, turning the puppet toward the audience. “Ask him.”

The Trump puppet declined to comment, although Kotek appeared to whisper something into its ear before announcing that it had “a lot to say about Oregon transportation policy.”

Moderators attempted to move the debate along by asking about housing affordability.

Kotek immediately turned the puppet around.

“Oh, he’s definitely going to want to hear this one.”

When the discussion shifted to wildfire prevention, education funding, homelessness, potholes, electricity rates, and whether studded tires should still be legal, Kotek reportedly placed the puppet on top of her podium so it could “remain available for context.”

At one point, a moderator asked the governor whether there was any Oregon issue she believed could be discussed without involving Trump.

Kotek stared at him in disbelief.

The puppet stared too.

“Wow,” she finally said. “That sounds exactly like something Trump would ask.”

By the end of the debate, organizers had reportedly provided the puppet with its own microphone, name placard, and 90-second closing statement.

Drazan was last seen leaving the stage while Kotek remained behind explaining Oregon DMV appointment scheduling to the puppet with a flowchart.