“We’ll see if Trump shows”

| 3:55 pm EDT July 29, 2024
Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.

Donald Trump has verbally backed out of his scheduled September 10th debate with Kamala Harris, in a clear signal that he’s afraid to share a stage with her. But if Trump falls behind in the polling averages by three points or more, he’ll have no choice but to consider rolling the dice and showing up for the debate. Now the Harris campaign is seizing upon Trump’s no win situation.

The Harris campaign says that Kamala Harris will show up for the debate on September 10th, and “we’ll see if Trump shows.” This is a smart approach because it keeps the debate in play in the eyes of the public. It’ll result in growing media pressure on Trump to show up, and growing narratives about his cowardice for as long as he sticks with his position that he’s not going to participate.

Like I said, if Trump falls far enough behind, he’ll have to try debating her. And if he doesn’t show, then Kamala Harris will be able to highlight Trump’s cowardice by doing something like a town hall with an empty podium for Trump.