Former President Donald Trump may be downplaying his debate prep publicly, but behind closed doors, he’s far from slacking off. According to insider sources speaking with ABC News, Trump is actually putting in a substantial amount of preparation with a select group of advisers.
Trump’s prep squad includes some notable names, such as GOP Representative Matt Gaetz and former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard, who once squared off with Vice President Kamala Harris in a high-profile 2019 debate, is lending her experience to the former president. Gaetz has been keeping Trump on his toes by grilling him on various tough topics, including his ongoing legal issues. This includes the federal indictments related to election interference and the mishandling of classified documents, as well as his criminal conviction in the New York hush-money case. Gaetz is also making sure Trump is ready to address questions on sensitive issues like abortion.
In addition to this, Trump has been studying past debates involving Harris to ensure he’s well-prepared. One particularly memorable moment that Trump is keen to avoid is Harris's sharp retort to former Vice President Mike Pence: "Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking." This exchange became a viral sensation and Trump has privately vowed to his allies that he won’t be caught off guard in a similar manner.
Despite these preparations, Trump’s recent press conference on Friday raised some eyebrows among Republicans. The former president took the opportunity to discuss, in often graphic detail, the allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women—accusations he vehemently denies. This came right after he filed an appeal against the $5 million awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll, who found Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation. His behavior left some GOP members uneasy as they headed into the debate season.
On the flip side, Vice President Kamala Harris is also getting ready for the big night. ABC News reported that she has been engaged in traditional debate prep in Pittsburgh. During a walk around the city with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Harris was spotted but chose not to address shouted questions about Trump’s claims that he intends to jail his political opponents or how she plans to handle personal attacks from Trump during the debate. Her nonchalant response was simply to affirm her readiness with a thumbs-up before moving on.
In related developments, Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, will be hitting the spin room following the debate. This appearance is sure to add another layer of intrigue and spin to the post-debate analysis.
The highly anticipated ABC News presidential debate is scheduled for September 10 at 9 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast live on ABC and available for streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. As the debate approaches, both candidates are ramping up their preparations, with Trump’s behind-the-scenes activities suggesting that he’s far more engaged in prep than his public comments might imply. Meanwhile, Harris is sticking to traditional methods, focusing on strategy and readiness as she gears up for what promises to be a compelling debate.
Login