Will Trump show up at next week's debate?

[Cyrano]

The rules don't favor him. My understanding is that there will be no audience, a two minute limit to answer a question, and mics will be cut off when the other person is speaking.

Given that there will be no one to cheer for him, his endless rambling being cut short after two minutes, and his inability to interrupt Joe because his mic will be dead, I can see Trump either throwing a tantrum, or walking out. His handlers know that, and are probably trying to talk him out of showing up. I'm sure they have a dozen excuses prepared.

[BoRaGard]

1. He's checking with his draft-deferment consultants

Dodging the military draft five times worked bigly for the republican felon, so maybe (he figures) he should also cash in on a debate deferment.

After all, he doesn't want to be a "sucker and a loser."

[sop]

2. Hair spurs?

His weave has been looking particularly ratty of late.

[FSogol]

3. If you saw some of the tapes of him meeting the GOP Senators last week, you saw he had 3 handlers that

were obviously not Secret Service. They kept within 3-5 feet of him to direct him around and they seemed panicky whenever he hugged / kissed people or moved around.

He won't show up because they won't have any way to control him on stage. They'll need some reason to cancel and blame it on Biden.

[Omnipresent]

4. Hopefully he'll bring a coat, because the studio might be cold.

That Dumbass convict forgot to bring a coat, every day he was on trial

[Ocelot II]

5. If he doesn't he knows he will be taunted relentlessly as a chicken and a loser.

I think he'll show up for that reason, and also because he can't stand to turn down a free opportunity to bloviate to a national audience. HE doesn't think he's senile and nuts, even though his handlers must be painfully aware that although the wheel is still turning the hamster is dead. He wants to show how smart and strong he is and how slow and old Biden is. And he definitely doesn't want to be seen as a chicken and a loser.

[SWBTATTReg]

11. He already IS a chicken and coward as well as a loser.

I predict that he'll chicken out. He will state something like Pres. Biden refused to take a drug test or some other BS reason.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. my crystal ball and gaydar have been broke for years .

[sop]

7. Trump without a mic or an audience is like a shark on dry land.

[jimfields33]

13. I can't believe he didn't negotiate for a better deal for himself.

[FalloutShelter]

8. ON KO today, he mentoned that TSF had posted on truth social,

that he "Heretofore agrees", to meet Joe Biden for debate at FOX News on October 5.

The Biden campaign shot back that there is NO plan to debate TSF on Fox.

My guess is this will be the out..."I agreed to Fox News and if not then, the headline will be "Biden chickens out on Oct5 Debate in Fox News, and therefore I'm out."

Just MHO.

[Torchlight]

9. I think he shows up (in form maybe, if not in function)

I tend to think his ego is too large to allow himself any possibility to excuse or avoid a public confrontation with very person he's unleashed his years-long tantrum on. It would be seen by his flock, and advertised by his opponents, as laying on the floor with a curled tail and showing his belly.

But, it's Mr. trump, and I've learned (late, but I've learned) to never expect a rational reaction from him.

[Johonny]

10. The assumption is no

But how he backs out and what Biden does if Trump no shows . . .

I think Biden needs to speak more in public and show his mental fitness. You have to feel Biden benefits for showing and laying out his agenda.

[Ocelot II]

12. I think Biden should show up even if Trump doesn't,

and his campaign should announce in advance that Biden will be there no matter what. If TFG doesn't show up Biden gets free air time to debate an unoccupied lectern.

[Cyrano]

16. Bad idea. At the 2012 Republican Convention, Clint Eastwood

addressed an empty chair. He was supposedly speaking to Obama. (Mitt Romney was the Republican candidate.)

It fell flat and I'm sure Eastwood probably regrets it, even now.

[Ocelot II]

17. But Eastwood wasn't the candidate, and he handled the show poorly by addressing the chair.

It was just a symbolic performance at the GOP convention, not a real debate for which one candidate didn't show up. If Biden appeared unopposed, he could answer the moderators' questions and show how normal and not-senile he is, and he wouldn't have to address the vacant lectern at all.

[Happy Hoosier]

18. Not close to the same situation

Without TCF there, it essentially becomes an opportunity for Biden to present his case without having to split the time.

[pfitz59]

22. Biden should take questions in the debate format

With crickets chirping during Trump's time.

[Tribetime]

14. I think he will have to do prime time rallies.Nonstop

The trump does not show up

[Rebl2]

15. Hope not

[republianmushroom]

19. I agree with peppertree after NY Highest court ruling on gag order.

"And you can bet this will be his excuse for ducking the upcoming debates
The gag order will become what the "tax audit" was for Cheeto in 2016:
His pretext for avoiding anything and everything that makes him uncomfortable." peppertree

[LetMyPeopleVote]

20. I doubt that TFG will show up

[Polybius]

24. I'll bet you $1,000 right now that he does

[Silent Type]

26. You'd win. He showed up in 2016 and 2020, although he did weasel out of primaries.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. Hannity seems worried

Link to tweet

[Bucky]

31. Well played, Mitt

[BigmanPigman]

21. He is already working on a list of excuses

[lpbk2713]

25. I think Trump will be "seriously ill" at the last moment.

His handlers will insist that he doesn't embarrass himself any more than he already has.

[brooklynite]

27. Trump will show up for the same reason he won't be wired with an earpiece...

He believes he’s a brilliant communicator.

[Emile]

28. I really don't care, do u?

[Arne]

29. I'm going to go with Trump Tantrum,

on stage, drug fueled, uncontrollable tantrum.
Ranting bumbeling mishmash of absurd nonsense.
And then,,,
next question sir.

[EndlessWire]

32. I think he'll show up.

I never understood why he called for the debate in the first place. How quickly Biden accepted seemed to stun him. And now he's backed into a corner. The debate rules favor him, really, if he had anything substantive to say. He frequently doesn't, and removing his punching bags might leave him without a plank to stand on.

But, he can't back out now without seeming cowardly. If he is going to, I'd say by Monday. I agree that the most likely excuse would be the gag order ruling. But, because he has started setting up an excuse for losing the debate, I think he'll show up. If not, what an excellent opportunity for Joe to deliver a speech. And, that's another reason he'll probably show up.

[617Blue]

33. He has to...entire campaign built on Biden's age

he can't chicken out.

[Ping Tung]

34. In this case, if he shows up or not, he'll get what he always wants.

To the dunce, everything is just Showbiz and performance.

If he doesn't show it''ll be "It's rigged! Why should I have to entertain the low-life, reporters giving creepy Joe a chance to insult me and you the people."

If he does show and and walks out, headline, "Trump walks out. Claims the debate is rigged.'

If he does show, and stays, headline, "Trump claims overwhelming, history making, victory."