President Joe Biden’s aides are preparing him to provoke President Donald Trump during the upcoming presidential debate on CNN, according to NBC News. The debate, set for Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, will be moderated by CNN’s Dana Bash and Jake Tapper from Atlanta, with Newsmax simulcasting.
Biden’s team has left Washington for Camp David to focus on debate preparation. They are training Biden to handle various tactics Trump might use and to deliver effective counter-attacks. Former Vice President Dan Quayle suggested that Biden should try to make fun of Trump to provoke a reaction.
Sources familiar with Biden’s preparation said he might reference the 2020 election and the January 6th Capitol breach to depict Trump as having lost control. Biden’s aides aim to ensure he stays on topic while effectively responding to Trump’s policy points.
Recent incidents have intensified scrutiny of Biden’s cognitive fitness. During the G7 summit, Biden wandered away from a skydiving demonstration and was guided back by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also appeared to freeze at a campaign event and was led offstage by former President Barack Obama. The White House dismissed the G7 video as a “cheap fake.”
Political commentators have warned against setting low expectations for Biden. Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary, emphasized Biden’s extensive political experience and debating skills, urging that the bar should not be set too low.
Trump has adjusted his expectations for Biden, recalling Biden’s strong performance against Paul Ryan in a previous debate. “He destroyed Paul Ryan,” Trump said, indicating that he is not underestimating Biden’s abilities. The upcoming debate is expected to be a significant event, with both candidates preparing rigorously.