Trump has wavered on whether he'll appear at the debate ever since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Previously, he's tried to change the date, hosting network, and format, suggesting he and Harris should go head-to-head on Sept. 4 on Fox News with a live studio audience reacting in real time.
Obviously, this was not agreed upon, but the Sept. 10 date with ABC was confirmed by both teams. Now, upon hearing of his hesitancy, people online are sharing their initial reactions.
Whether you agree with their takes or not, here's what they're saying: 1. "One of the reasons he wanted a Sept. 4 debate was so the conversation would shift from the DNC convention.
That’s even more important for him now since the DNC convention blew his convention out of the water. Better speakers, better energy, better content, better celebrities. More important to him, better ratings.
" "The GOP members who endorsed Harris last week was icing on the cake. By saying he won’t appear next week, he’s trying to swing the conversation back to the debate. Unfortunately for him, it’s not about hyping the debate later this week; it’s going to be about him chickening out of the Sept.
10 debate. I say he’ll show up Sept. 10.
Harris already said she would regardless, and he will be branded as a coward if he doesn’t. This is a show to get attention in the press." — Most-Resident 2.
"It’s a lose-lose situation for him. If he skips it, he’ll be mocked for being a coward; if he goes, Harris is going to mop the floor with him, and he’ll be ridiculed as an idiot. It’s no wonder why he’s breaking down and freaking out right now.
" — Apalis24a 3. "Harris should still show up and answer questions." "She'll have 90 minutes (or however long it's scheduled) to lay out her platform and not have to worry about countering Donald's lies.
" — Raskel_61 4. "I think he will do the debate. This is his warmup for the excuses and complaints of how unfair he will say ABC is to him.
Just more from his tired-ass playbook." — Up_All_Nite 5. "I don't know if debates are worthwhile in the first place.
Nobody is going to change their mind based on a debate." But, "I suspect he's gonna avoid debating Harris at all. He knows she's not going to take any shit or let him get away with bullshit.
" — angry_old_dude 6. " He didn’t debate his Republican opponents as they, too, would have shown him up." — castion5862 7.
"He can no longer rely on the juxtaposition of him and Biden, where he looked physically better and mentally ‘more there.’" "He doesn’t want to be on a split screen with Kamala, who’s younger and way smarter and would run circles around him in a debate about issues. All he has is personal attacks and fearmongering.
That’s what’s going on here." — Jealous_Inevitable33 8. "Trump basically fantasized about having a debate with Harris at a Trump rally.
..hosted by FOX News.
" — Tagostino62 9. "This idiot is just trying to create 'hype' for the debate." "He’s going to show up, talk nonsense for however long it is, and then claim he destroyed Harris.
His playbook is fucking so stale now." — IronMonkey18 10. "He knows he’s out of his depth.
This isn’t Sleepy Joe, it’s the prosecutor." — manufan1992 11. And finally, "The best part of this is Trump claims to be the best negotiator on the planet.
And he got outdone by the first standoff." "'You agreed to X, so we will be there. Then we can talk about next.
' He should've come out swinging with the anytime, anywhere approach. Saying he would wipe the floor with her. That would've been much smarter.
" — Innerouterself2 What are your thoughts on Trump possibly dropping from the debate? Let us know in the comments. H/T: r/InTheNews.
