Don Lemon, former CNN host, has highlighted the uncertainty in Donald Trump’s campaign about how to handle Vice President Kamala Harris, whose rising poll numbers have put Trump on the defensive. Speaking to MSNBC’s Jen Psaki, Lemon praised Harris’s campaign for requesting that microphones remain unmuted during the upcoming presidential debate, calling it a strategic move that could expose Trump’s reactions.
Lemon noted that Trump appears unsettled by the prospect of debating Harris, a situation he’s not accustomed to. According to Lemon, Trump was prepared to face President Biden but now finds himself contending with Harris, whose popularity is increasing and closing the polling gap. This, Lemon suggests, has left Trump in a state of confusion and frustration.
Lemon suggests Harris’s rising popularity is putting Trump on the defensive and causing frustration
The debate’s format has become contentious, with Harris’s campaign advocating for microphones to stay live throughout the debate, a deviation from the rules established when Biden was the leading Democratic candidate. Trump has expressed indifference about the microphone issue but has criticized ABC News, the debate’s host, and questioned his participation.
Lemon speculated that Harris’s team’s strategy might be aimed at provoking Trump into making damaging remarks. He argued that Trump is particularly irritated by Harris, who challenges his narrative and does not back down.
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed Lemon’s comments, suggesting that Trump had previously outperformed Biden in debates and would similarly excel against Harris. Cheung argued that it is Harris’s team that is anxious, highlighting concerns about her performance when not following a scripted narrative.
