Trump reportedly won’t prepare for presidential debates against Biden

WASHINGTON — President Trump has no plans to formally prepare for his first debate face-off with Joe Biden in Cleveland in three weeks, telling aides that he’s banking on the former veep being felled by his own blanking and gaffes, according to a new report.

Unlike 2016, when then-candidate Trump held mock debate sessions — which included former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie playing Hillary Clinton — the president is instead relying on his gut instinct and record to do the work, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told NBC News.

Trump has joked to allies that he has been preparing for the debates his entire life, and at one point argued that his ability to hit opponents in his trademark pugilistic style “isn’t something you have to practice,” the report said.

The decision has reportedly unnerved people close to Trump, who fear he may be overconfident heading into his first face-to-face match-up with Biden in Cleveland on Sept. 29.

They fear that the president’s laissez-faire approach hearkens back to then-President Barack Obama’s decision not to exhaustively prepare for his own 2012 debate with GOP candidate Mitt Romney, who ended up wiping the floor with Obama and surging in the polls.

So far, the president has held information discussions with key advisers including Christie, campaign manager Bill Stepien, senior adviser Jason Miller and son-in-law Jared Kushner to brief him on the topics that are likely to come up, but has spurned scripted talking points.

Trump has reportedly been provided with information on Biden’s voting record throughout his 47 years in Washington and will also focus on the differences between the septuagenarian candidate and his more liberal running mate, Kamala Harris.

Trump and Biden will duke it out over three 90-minute debates in Cleveland, Tennessee and Miami. Harris and VP Mike Pence will also have one debate in Salt Lake City.

It’s unclear how Biden is preparing for his showdown with Trump, but he has repeatedly told reporters he is looking forward to debating, while dismissing questions about his mental acuity.

Biden is already battle-tested, having endured a brutal primary season and crowded debate stages with a dozen other Democratic candidates to become the last man standing.

Stepien told NBC News that Biden was in fact a skilled debater and said Trump 2020 was preparing by watching all of his former debates.

“He’s a politician. He gives speeches. He’s really good at doing it. He’s also very practiced at it,” Stepien said.

“Joe Biden is not formidable anywhere else but he is formidable on the debate stage,” he added. “We just hope he shows up.”

The Trump campaign previously sought assurances that Biden would attend all three presidential debates. Biden said he will debate the president.