Staff Reports
Donald Trump recently expressed doubt about participating in future debates against Vice President Kamala Harris, a move that raised eyebrows and fueled speculation among his supporters. Initially, Trump declared that his performance in the recent debate was a “big” win for him despite an army of pundits claiming otherwise. In a stunning twist of irony, the man known for dominating the political stage was now hesitant to re-enter the lion’s den, stating he wasn’t certain he wanted to take another crack at debating Harris.
The wind is clearly blowing in a different direction for Trump’s camp. Just a day after his noncommittal chatter, his own associates were practically begging him not to stray from a previously laid-out plan of three debates. Representative Matt Gaetz, ever the Trump loyalist, suggested that any chance to let Trump unveil his vision to the American public should be seized. Meanwhile, former GOP rival Vivek Ramaswamy echoed this sentiment, calling for more debates, insisting they’re beneficial to democracy—though say that to anyone who’s lost a good day’s work due to endless political chatter.
Latest @MabintyQ dispatch from Philadelphia, from the debate spin room: Republicans urge debate do-over against Harris despite Trump hesitation https://t.co/CtbaG0MmWq
— David Sivak (@DISivak) September 11, 2024
In his post-debate analysis, the parade of Trump allies tried to paint the event as favorable for the former president. They concocted narratives that Harris merely tried to get under Trump’s skin but failed gloriously. However, it was hard to escape the reality that the debate spotlight shone brightly on Trump. Predictably, some Republicans kicked off the blame game, eyeing the ABC moderators who subjected Trump to constant fact-checking as they munched on their popcorn. In contrast, others pointed fingers at Trump’s uncharacteristic lack of discipline compared to his June showdown with President Biden.
Senator Lindsey Graham was less than supportive, labeling Trump’s performance as a “disaster” and suggesting that it was time to clean house in the prep team. Such a statement from Graham might have given Trump’s supporters whiplash, given the rollercoaster ride of backing their man has become. Meanwhile, Republican ships were now sailing through troubled waters, with the GOP navigating a storm characterized by media scrutiny and internal disagreements.
Democrats, on the other hand, were, of course, clamoring for another chance at Trump. Following a previous debate where Biden appeared to struggle to string together coherent thoughts, it seemed like they were ready to pounce on any perceived weakness from the former president. Governor Gavin Newsom, in a gleeful presage of what he hoped, would be a second showdown, almost salivated at the thought of facing Trump again, reinforcing the idea that while Trump may be hesitant, the Democrats were eager to engage in what they deemed as ‘productive discourse.’
With Trump’s reputation for controlling the debate stage becoming a point of contention, his skepticism about participating—even with agreeable networks—leaves the political landscape shrouded in mystery. Trump’s insistence on only appearing under certain conditions signals an underlying tension between wanting to slate the competition and merely wanting to dominate the narrative from the sidelines. The clock is ticking, and with it, the anticipation of his next move grows ever more palpable.
