Ex-Trump staffer reveals why she thinks old boss may back out of debate

A former White House communications director for Donald Trump believes her old boss may back out of the Sept. 10 debate — and that Democrats are pining to debate with hot mics in hopes that he becomes "unhinged."

Alyssa Farah Griffin, former Trump White House communications director, spoke Monday night with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on "Anderson Cooper 360°" and noted that Trump's waffling on the debate shows how much the "calculation" has changed for Trump now that Kamala Harris is in the race instead of President Joe Biden.

"Kamala Harris is a confident debater," said Griffin. "A former prosecutor. And I think their calculation is they want to see Donald Trump get a little unhinged. They want the American public to hear if there's cross-talk, if there's name-calling, if there's some kind of, you know, goading her into something while she has the floor."

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Griffin also noted this would be a change from the agreed-upon rules, but said Trump appears to be laying the groundwork on his social media site Truth Social to back out altogether.

"He's been going after the moderators, he's been going after the rules. He knows this is a very different candidate than he's ever had to debate before. She's the younger candidate, she's got the momentum. It's not going to be expected to be against."

Griffin said she sees no reason the Harris campaign will back out. Not so for Trump.

"I think Donald Trump's keeping that door open," she said.

Watch the clip here or at this link.