I don’t think Trump needed to agree to CNN and two CNN Trump-bashers. Biden needs these debates at least as much as Trump does - he has to do something to combat the perception that he’s a senile old man. Trump could have held out for far more favorable debate conditions - the fact that he didn’t makes me wonder who’s managing his campaign.
I agree with everything you said there.
This current debate situation is far from unique. The Democrats get a favorable debate venue, every time. And the Republicans agree to it, every time.
Why not have four questioners, with the candidates picking two each? Nothing would be fairer. And the country would learn so much more.
But no Republican candidate ever demands such an arrangement. It is a real mystery to me why they don’t.
It could be possible that Trump intentionally entered the lions’ den.
Sure there are a few people out there who are too stupid to realize he will be debating the moderators as well as Biden.
But most people realize the whole set-up is unfair, which may be Trump’s point of doing this.
Trump would have been seen as weak and whiney - he should just lay out what the future looks like under him and also under 4 more years of Biden or whoever they replace him with after re-election
It’s just Trump being over confident. Trump truthed his acceptance very quickly. I doubt he runs these truths by anyone first (one of the things that separates him from the others). He was convinced that they didn’t really want to debate so he didn’t want to them an out. I tend to agree with your perspective. When, however, Trump did the CNN townhall many thought it a bad idea and when he did well he got a boost. If he knocks this out of the park it could be the Presidency. If, however Biden knocks it out of the park it could be exactly what he needed. Trump is playing a high stakes game. He’s putting the fate of the Republic in the hands of his ability to debate under the most difficult of circumstances. I can’t believe someone would see this as dictatorial in any way shape or form. This is a part of the democratic process. Trump could have done the basement play. It would be a much easier way to beat an unpopular incumbent.