Donald Trump’s bravado about debating President Joe Biden anytime, anywhere, has led him into a trap of his own making. After hastily accepting the Biden campaign’s offer to debate in June and September, Trump quickly tried to renege on the terms, claiming the debate would be held on Fox News in October.
The Biden campaign swiftly called out Trump’s lie, accusing him of “playing games” and pointing out his history of backing out of commitments.
The GOP is now in full damage control mode, spinning Trump’s faceplant before it even happens. Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump claimed the debate is “rigged” in Biden’s favor, while Sen. Mike Lee and other MAGA pundits denounced the debate as a trap.
Trump’s Erratic Behavior at Trial Raises Concerns About His Ability to Debate
Fox News hosts and pundits are also trying to frame the debate request as a ploy to “change the subject” from bad polling. However, it’s clear that Trump is the one searching for excuses to back out, objecting to debate terms and moderator selections.
Republicans are worried about Trump’s ability to hold it together during the debate, given his recent struggles with public speaking and slurred words.
His criminal trial in Manhattan has also exposed his erratic behavior, with Trump frequently sleeping through proceedings and his defense team trying to keep him calm.
The steady stream of Republican politicians attending the trial appears to be a strategy to keep Trump from flying off the handle, with some even acting as human pacifiers to quench his narcissistic thirst.
The Biden campaign is hoping that a debate will provide a high-profile opportunity for Trump to embarrass himself and cut through voter inattention, which is helping him in the polls.
Given Trump’s history of tantrums and gaffes, it’s a reasonable expectation. In 2020, Trump’s disastrous first debate with Biden led him to cancel the second one, and his recent behavior suggests he’s even more unstable now.
If Trump does freak out in a memorable way, it could provide valuable fodder for ads and social media videos to distribute to low-information swing voters who need a reminder of his unfitness for office.
