The former president took a shot at ABC News, which is set to host the debate in September.

Former President Donald Trump continued his attacks against ABC News on Monday as he moved to shift his commitment to the next presidential debate now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the frontrunner to be the Democratic nominee.

Trump began laying the groundwork this weekend to dodge or change the rules of the second debate he’s agreed to, which is set to be held Sept. 10 and broadcast on ABC. The former president has been livid after President Joe Biden ended his bid for reelection on Sunday.

“ABC Fake News is such a joke, among the absolute WORST in the business,” he wrote on Truth Social. “They then tried to make ‘Sleepy’ look like a great President — he was the WORST, and Lyin’ Kamala into a competent person, which she is not.”

  • Soup@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    The problem is that if he doesn’t show up his base will just say that he’s “rebelling against the liberal media”. Like, would you show up to a Daily Wire debate hosted by Benny S.? That’s what they do here, they tell the base that regular media is evil and then when they run away like cowards it’s seen a strong move. Everyone else already knows that he’s chickenshit so it’s no real loss to run away.

    It’s all bullshit but that’s what we’re dealing with here against conservatives. They don’t live in reality and so reality almost can’t hurt them. I’m willing to bet that’s why they only notice stuff that directly affects them; they can’t ignore it when they have to face the music themselves but they can pretend and pretend and pretend when it’s “over there”.

    • Boozilla@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I don’t disagree. However, it always comes down to undecided voters. (Which is an uncomfortable truth for multiple reasons.) Anything that makes Trump look bad is potentially helpful with that small but vital percentage.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      That’s true but we aren’t trying to convince his base. We’re looking at about 100,000 people spread over a few swing states.

      • Soup@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        The better aim is to fire up the people who don’t vote and to make sure people have the chance to vote. The left sweeps when people actually go out and vote and that’s why voter restriction is such a core goal of far-right parties.

        Debates are great but a big problem for apathetic voters isn’t about who’s better but rather who’s worth standing in line for.

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          That is absolutely a valid approach. The gold standard is to get both. But convincing the undecideds is the traditional fallback. And why our Overton is screwed up.