Former CNN anchor Don Lemon expressed his belief that former President Trump‘s campaign is struggling to strategize against Vice President Harris, as she gains momentum in the polls. In a discussion with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki, Lemon endorsed Harris’s campaign’s push to keep microphones live during the upcoming presidential debate, viewing it as a strategic move to reveal Trump’s unfiltered responses.
Lemon posited that Trump is uneasy about debating Harris, remarking that he is confronted with a situation he is unfamiliar with: responding to a highly intelligent Black woman. He suggested that Trump is currently unsettled and finds himself at a loss, having anticipated debating President Biden rather than Harris. According to Lemon, Trump’s discomfort is evident as Harris’s rising popularity narrows the polling gap, leaving him flustered.
The debate has sparked controversy over its rules, particularly concerning the decision to keep microphones unmuted—a shift from previous protocols. Trump has downplayed the importance of this change but criticized ABC News, the debate’s host, and hinted at the possibility of not participating.
Lemon theorized that Harris’s campaign is advocating for live microphones to capture any potential gaffes or outbursts from Trump, which could work to their advantage. He remarked that Harris’s presence evidently aggravates Trump, noting his tendency to react strongly to anyone who challenges him or does not acquiesce to his demands.
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed Lemon’s comments, accusing him of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and asserting that Trump had decisively outperformed Biden in previous debates. Cheung claimed that the real apprehension lies with Harris’s team, fearing that their candidate might falter when unprepared.