A conservative commentator splashed cold water on speculation that Donald Trump would back out of his first debate against president Joe Biden.
Democratic strategist James Carville wagers that Trump won't take the stage with Biden, but former Republican congressional staffer Amanda Carpenter told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" the presumptive GOP nominee wouldn't pass up a chance to spew lies and inflict pain on his Democratic rival.
"I'm not a betting woman, but I would happily take the other side of James Carville's wager for the exact point that Donald Trump will not turn down an opportunity for confrontation," Carpenter said. "When it comes to messaging to his supporters, a presidential debate, even though it's the earliest one in history, is a huge opportunity to speak on the mass level. I'm almost certain, I will take the bet had he will use it as an opportunity to reinforce the lies about Joe Biden that he has been actively telling. If you look at every big media opportunity, the CNN town hall earlier this year, he use it is to do a few things. One, reinforce the 2020 big election lie, and No. 2, promote the lie that the Department of Justice is being unfairly weaponized against him by 'puppeteer' Joe Biden. The Biden campaign better be preparing for Trump to directly confront him about that because, as you noted, no one understands how to play to the cameras like Donald Trump."
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The June 27 debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, and there will be no studio audience, unlike past debates, and both of their microphones will be muted until it's their turn to speak – but Carpenter said the former president would likely find ways to disrupt the proceeding.
"Yes, his microphone maybe muted, but he is going to go hard at him and try to use the power of dynamics of the stage to knock Joe Biden off his game," Carpenter said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he also hits him in the gut with the Hunter Biden stuff. The GOP understands that that gets to the heart of Joe Biden. I just don't think there's any chance that Donald Trump says, 'You know what, I'm not going to use that opportunity that's laid before me' to directly reinforce those lies to his supporters."
"Stand back and stand by," added co-host Mika Brzezinski, recalling Trump's infamous statement at a 2020 debate to the right-wing extremist Proud Boys organization whose members later helped plan and carry out the Jan. 6 insurrection.
"Exactly," agreed host Joe Scarborough. "He's a disrupter, and he is going to figure out, cut off the microphones and do whatever you want to do, he's a disrupter. He doesn't really know the facts of the issues well at all, so he has to disrupt, he has to shock."
