"Trump also would not directly answer questions about whether he'll debate in 2020."

[highplainsdem]

From an article at TheHIll.com. This includes the quote about Trump saying he's "calling the shots" on debates, but unlike a TPM article and a tweet I've seen quoted here, this indicates there were multiple questions about whether Trump will debate before the GE, and he didn't answer them.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/457893-trump-slams-fox-news-polling

"I don't know what's happening with Fox," he told reporters as he prepared to leave New Jersey, saying he doesn't "believe" the polls.

"Fox is different. There’s no question about it," he said, adding that he's "the one calling the shots" on the general election debates.

Trump also would not directly answer questions about whether he'll debate in 2020.

I've been saying for a while now that I don't expect Trump to agree to debate our nominee, UNLESS he's doing so badly in the polls that he's desperate enough to think a good debate performance is his only chance of winning.

[Moostache]

1. Good debate performance?

In 2016, I watched him stalk, seethe, sniff and invade Hillary's space on the stage and would not call that a "good performance"...it was borderline sexual harassment, maybe not even so much borderline.

He is a boor. An adderall-sniffing, nasal inhaling, assclown. A petulant child and fool. The debate commission should simply schedule the debates and send invites, if he does not show, allow the Democratic nominee to simply respond to audience questions uninterrupted for 2 hours of national air time.

Once again and always, FUCK YOU Donnie 2 Scoops. You were the LOSER in 2016 and will be a bigger LOSER in 2020 and won't be reinstalled for a second term. You will then suffer the rest of your miserable life as people put your enormous failure into historical context and label you as :

Worst. President. Ever.

[highplainsdem]

3. I don't think he's a good debater. I think he believes he is. But he may still not risk a debate

unless he believes it will help him win.

[sacto95834]

8. The Dems...

should start saying how they fear debating him next Fall.

[murielm99]

6. If he does any more of that creepy stalking around,

our nominee, whether male or female, will need to call him out.

That should never have been allowed.

I can't see him trying to pull that on any of the men. Imagine, if it is Biden, the pugnacity that would result.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. But he loves being on center stage. I don't know how his ego would allow him

to forego a debate. He thinks he's smarter than everybody else and that he could crush any opponent. He's too much of a narcissist to give up an opportunity to (he thinks) show off.

[dalton99a]

4. I think he will "debate" once. He will ignore the rules, he will talk over everyone, and he will

bully the moderators.

Nobody can remove him from the stage.

Immediately afterward he will declare victory and refuse further debates.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. There is no sense in debating a narcissist

He would only lie, blame others, and call our nominee names. Remember stalking Hillary around the stage. She was really unprepared for that, and who could blame her or her team?

I'm good with no debates. We're better off focusing on democracy and our turnout rather than risk a drama queen moment.

[empedocles]

7. trump's current 'word' or future 'promise' are worth less than a Confederate Dollar