Republican fears that Donald Trump will falter during the debate with President Joe Biden are palpable. Despite Trump’s initial demand for debates, his team was reportedly surprised when Biden agreed to the schedule, hinting at a reluctance on their part.
However, just hours after the agreement, Republican allies of the former president began expressing dissatisfaction with the arrangements, sparking speculation that they are laying the groundwork for Trump to find an excuse to back out entirely.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a far-right GOP candidate in the 2024 primary against Trump, questioned Biden’s sudden willingness to debate, suggesting ulterior motives at play.
“Call me cynical, but why is Biden suddenly so willing to debate?” wrote Ramaswamy before uggesting that “it’s a set-up.”
Don't Miss
“You don’t often see a sudden 180 like this unless there’s more to the story,” he added.
Senator Mike Lee criticized CNN’s selection as moderator, insinuating bias and undermining the legitimacy of the debate. Observers like Justin Baragona see these objections as a strategic move to pave the way for Trump’s withdrawal from the debates.
“With CNN moderating, is it even a debate?” wrote Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) from his personal account, @BasedMikeLee. “It seems like it should be called something else. It’d be a far more accurate description of CNN’s intentions to call it something like: ‘Live From CNN: Let’s Make Biden Look Presidential While Turning Trump Into A Piñata.'”
Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, echoed these concerns, claiming debates are inherently biased in Biden’s favor, despite acknowledging Trump’s preparedness.
“It’s rigged so heavily in Joe Biden’s favor, but everything always is,” she said, adding, “Despite that and even the judicial system at this point, he is beating Joe Biden in every poll out there. It’s amazing to see.”
While recent polls show Trump leading in swing states, Democrats caution against drawing conclusions from singular polls, emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to sway undecided voters. Amidst this backdrop, the anticipation surrounding the debates intensifies, with Republicans wary of Trump’s performance against Biden.
