Former President Donald Trump didn’t need to say anything in June’s debate against Joe Biden. In fact, at times, it seemed he didn’t know what to say as Biden tanked his own debate.  

The debate was stacked against Trump. It was hosted by CNN moderators who are known for being rabidly anti-Trump. As expected, the hosts handled Biden carefully. There was no live audience at the debate, presumably because Biden could not fire them up like Trump does. And muted microphones meant Biden could spew falsehoods with no interruption. 

It wasn’t enough. Despite their best efforts, Trump defeated Biden so severely that the Democratic nominee took his bat and ball and went home a few weeks later. 

In September, Trump can do it again in a face-off against the childish Kamala Harris. But he seems wary of engaging Harris in a hostile venue. 

ABC News will host a debate on September 10, the only debate both candidates have agreed to before the November election. This agreement happened after much discussion, with Trump wanting a debate on September 4 hosted by Fox News, which the vice president’s campaign hasn’t agreed to. 

But after watching Jonathan Karl’s interview with Tom Cotton on ABC’s “This Week,” Trump is pumping the brakes. “Why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” Trump posted on Truth Social. 

Trump turned his attention to Donna Brazile, who used to lead the Democratic National Committee. In 2016, she was caught sending Hillary Clinton’s campaign the topics ahead of a town hall meeting. Trump also claimed that Harris’ long-time close friend, Dana Walden, runs ABC. 

The ABC debate was officially set up earlier this month, but Trump has asked for changes, such as having the debate in a packed arena hosted by Fox News. 

Both candidates are practicing for the debate. Harris plans to visit Georgia this week and will make a few campaign stops while she focuses on preparing. 

Trump has brought in former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who once debated Harris during the Democratic primary. Trump said he isn’t spending much time getting ready for the debate, explaining that he feels his “whole life” has prepared him for it.  

There is also an ongoing argument about muting the microphones when a candidate isn’t speaking. Both Biden and Trump agreed to mute for their June debate. In retrospect, Team Biden wishes they had let voters hear Trump’s interruptions during the discussions. While this wouldn’t have mattered for Biden, it might make a difference for Harris. 

In most televised presidential debates, microphones have been left on for both candidates. However, after the first Biden-Trump debate turned into a shouting match, the debate commission announced that microphones would be muted when a candidate wasn’t speaking for the October 2020 debate. The second debate with this rule was praised for being less chaotic than the first. 

According to Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for Harris, the campaign now wants the microphones on all the time.  

Fallon said that Trump’s team wants the microphones muted because they don’t believe Trump can “act presidential for a full 90 minutes without interruptions.” He added that Trump should stop “hiding” behind the mute button. 

But Trump said he’d prefer the mics to be on. “I didn’t like it the last time, but it worked out fine,” he said. 

Trump’s spokesman, Jason Miller, says that Trump agreed to the ABC debate with the same rules as the CNN debate. He said Harris’ team wanted a discussion where she could sit down, use notes, and give opening statements. Harris’ campaign denies this. 

Miller also criticized Harris for not conducting interviews or news conferences since Biden ended his reelection campaign. He suggested that her campaign now wants to give her extra help for the debate.  

Harris’ team has agreed to a second debate, but a date and venue have not been announced. The Harris-Walz campaign said earlier this month that the debate argument is finished. They mentioned that Trump’s campaign agreed to their plan for three debates: two for president and one for vice president. 

Governor Walz will meet JD Vance on October 1, and a second presidential debate is tentatively scheduled for later in October. 

Trump supporters hope the former president debates Harris. Without forcing her to voice her policies, her election becomes almost certain. If Trump dodges this opportunity, there will only be one debate loser – America.