Carville Bets Trump Will Skip Presidential Debate

Democratic strategist James Carville said he would wager "even money" that former President Trump will be a "no-show" at next week's presidential debate.

Democratic strategist James Carville has predicted that former President Trump will not show up for next week's presidential debate against President Joe Biden.

"If I was a gambler — and I am a gambler — I'd take even money that Trump doesn't show up," Carville said on MSNBC's Ari Melber on Monday.

Carville Bets Trump Will Skip Presidential Debate

Carville's comments come after Trump suggested last week that there is only a "10% chance" CNN will be fair to him during the debate. The first debate between Trump and Biden will be moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who have both been critical of Trump in the past.

"I think that it's important for there to be a debate. So [the Biden campaign] said, ‘You want to debate?’ 'Yep, I'll accept. You don't even have to tell me.' Then they said CNN, they said the different people that are involved, but let's see what happens. I used to get along with [debate moderator] Jake Tapper. We'll see what happens, but it doesn't matter. Whatever it is, it is," Trump said on Logan Paul's podcast.

Carville Bets Trump Will Skip Presidential Debate

CNN has since released the debate rules and format, which will have both candidates standing behind a podium without any props or prepared notes. The 90-minute debate will have two commercial breaks, during which the candidates will not be allowed to consult with their teams. Microphones will also be muted when the other candidate is speaking.

Trump and Biden are also set to debate in September on ABC and moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.

Carville Bets Trump Will Skip Presidential Debate

In addition to the potential for unfair treatment by the moderators, Carville also believes that Trump may simply not want to participate in the debate.

"I think he's gonna wake up and decide, just like he said he was going to testify in the defense of his trial. He didn't even put on a defense," Carville said. "Let him show up. I wouldn't be shocked but I certainly would not be surprised. If you gave me even money, I'd say he's a no-show. He'll just get up that morning and say 'I'm just not going to do it.'"

Carville Bets Trump Will Skip Presidential Debate

It remains to be seen whether Trump will actually skip the debate, but Carville's prediction is certainly plausible. Trump has a history of making impulsive decisions and breaking with tradition. He has also repeatedly attacked the media, including CNN, and may view the debate as an opportunity for his opponents to attack him.

If Trump does skip the debate, it would be a major blow to his campaign. Debates are a key opportunity for candidates to reach out to voters and make their case for why they should be elected. By skipping the debate, Trump would be giving up a valuable opportunity to connect with voters and could potentially damage his chances of winning the election.