The campaigns are reportedly sparring over microphone rules ahead of the first debate, with the former president's team reportedly requesting muted mics.
My understanding is that debates are exempt from the equal air time laws, so if Trump no-shows, it just turns into a bunch of 90 minutes of free Harris air time.
Put a large picture of Trump's mug shot on the podium and have Mark Hamill off camera read relevant quotes from Trump speeches and rallies in the Joker's voice.
Maybe it's just naivety, but I still hope for a world where people hear him speak, he gets appropriately ridiculed for the bullshit he says, and people stop trying to follow him. If there's any shred of a chance that that's still possible, I think it'd be better that he shows.
It also would create soundbites and video clips that would hit every major platform, though. Every one of which will note that Trump was too cowardly to debate, and possibly include chicken clucking sounds 🐔