Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki suggested the upcoming presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden may not happen.
On Wednesday, Biden challenged Trump to two debates, which the former president agreed to shortly after. It was later confirmed the two would participate in a debate on June 27 and Sept. 10 hosted by CNN and ABC, respectively.
No live audience will be present and mics would be cut after each respondent's time has expired, per debate rules.
Psaki, now an MSNBC host, said she was skeptical of the debate's likelihood during a Wednesday appearance on Pod Save America.
"Trump could certainly say, ‘I never agreed to those terms in the letter,’ and he probably will," Psaki said. "That's how this all falls apart."
Psaki said it was an "interesting play" for the president to challenge Trump to debate, noting Biden may be under pressure to participate as his polling has waned in response to his handling of ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.
"It feels chaotic," Psaki said. "And it feels a little weak that he can't unilaterally make all these things calm."
The former White House press secretary said Biden could be playing into the "Sleepy Joe" nickname Trump gave him. She then sarcastically referred to rumors he appeared to be on uppers during his State of the Union (SOTU) earlier this year.
"I think internally they knew that at some point this was going to hit a head," Psaki said, lauding Biden's decision to challenge Trump to debate. "They were either going to be ahead of it, or they’d be responding to Trump."
However, Psaki did not reference Trump's multiple offers to debate Biden throughout this election cycle.
On Wednesday morning, Biden released a video announcing he was willing to participate in two presidential debates with Trump.
“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, and since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he is acting like he wants to debate me again," Biden said. "Well, make my day, pal. I’ll even do it twice."
Trump responded to Biden's offer by saying the president was the "WORST debater [he] had ever faced." "Crooked is also the WORST President in the history of the United States, by far," Trump continued. "It’s time for a debate so that he can explain to the American People his highly destructive Open Border Policy, new and ridiculous EV Mandates, the allowance of Crushing Inflation, High Taxes, and his really WEAK Foreign Policy, which is allowing the World to 'Catch on Fire.'" The former president went on to suggest more than two debates should be held for "excitement purposes." The CNN debate will be moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, Mediaite reports.
