So, let me get this straight. The ABC-hosted debate was unfair. Trump said it would be unfair. Fact-checking Trump was unfair. Not fact-checking Harris was unfair.

This sounds like a childish excuse for being trounced in a situation by circumstances Trump said he knew would happen. He acted like a nine-year-old who didn’t do his homework.

The key one is fact-checking. But first, a little history. In the debate with President Biden, Biden’s dismal and sad performance overshadowed anything Trump said.

I invite you to go back and listen to that debate. Ignore Bien’s performance and listen to the nonsense from Trump. If there was one truthful statement, it amounted to his being president from 2016 to 2020. Other than that, it was the usual lies and more lies about his economy, foreign policy, election denial, and overall performance.

The hosts of that debate, likely as stunned as the rest of the nation by Biden’s appearance, just let those lies hang out there.

ABC decided they would not do that. Trump knew, or he should have, if he is anywhere near as brilliant as he claims—a stable genius, I believe is his favorite saying—they would ponce on any lies.

Then why say things so easily debunked?

If Trump knew it was unfair. If he knew they would fact-check him. If he expected this, why fall into the trap?

His innate arrogance won’t let him accept someone might challenge anything he says.

And the two primary lies he told–that immigrants Harris invited into the country were eating pets and that the Democratic platform proposed by Harris includes abortions up to birth and even after birth (which any middle schooler would know is murder, not abortion, and not lawful anywhere in the country)—had to be addressed. Leaving them out there unchallenged was like accepting them as truthful.

Both statements are so outrageous they demand to be countered by facts.

To be fair, one could question Harris’s assertion that Trump is involved with Project 2025. The former President denies this. Yet he is personally named 310 times, and his administration is named 158 times. If Mr. Trump does not embrace the premise of Project 2025, why has he not demanded his name be removed from the project?

One could argue the hosts didn’t challenge the candidates enough when they didn’t answer the questions. Both candidates were guilty of that, and neither was challenged on it. But that is a different situation than stating an outright lie.

Vice President Harris waffled on some questions, using that to measure her suitability as a candidate is reasonable. Mr. Trump covered his waffling with outright false statements and contemptuous allegations targeting minority immigrant communities and inflaming the abortion issue with horrendous lies.

He deserved to be challenged on his false statements. The more significant issue is, if we’re measuring his qualifications for the Presidency, how could he be so easily tripped up in a situation he expected?

If he couldn’t handle what he knew was coming—according to his own words—how can he be trusted to handle the daily and infinitely more challenging and unforeseen circumstances a President faces sitting in the Oval Office?

Simply put, don’t lie. The truth is difficult to challenge. Or blame everyone but yourself for your disastrous performance.

Say what you like about Joe Biden; he recognized when he was over his depth. It’s too bad every candidate doesn’t abide by the commonsense philosophy, “to thine own self be true.”

There is a path to redemption. Agree to another debate. Make it on FOX News if you think that will make a difference.

I hope he does, but I doubt it. I suspect Mr. Trump cannot handle the fact a woman trounced him in a debate and another one called him on his lies. Maybe that really is the issue here.