UPDATED: May 26, 2016, 10:06 AM ET
Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) both said Wednesday night that they’d be willing to debate one-on-one.
Asked during an appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” if he would consider debating Sanders, Trump said he would, adding it “would have such high ratings.”
“If he paid a sum toward charity I would love to do that,” the billionaire said.
Shortly later, Sanders tweeted: “Game on.”
Game on. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 26, 2016
But on Thursday morning, CBS News reported confirmation from multiple anonymous sources that Trump was kidding about debating Sanders.
Sanders has hammered Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton for declining to debate in California before a slew of June 7 primaries.
Let me guess…neither one of them are going to utter a peep about tax returns…
When will our incompetent senior Democrats rise up and say “ENOUGH, Senator Sanders!”
This debate, should it happen, will have one big loser – Secretary Clinton. Our party leaders know this and they sit and do nothing.
They must speak out! Now!
IF.
Translation: Ain’t gonna happen.
Like you did (almost not!)? Why are you demanding Sanders pay “a sum toward charity” as a condition of debating you?
Also: Bernie, if you follow through with this, debating Trump one-on-one and you NOT being the Democratic nominee, you will be showing your bare ass, dude. If you do, I hope they bar you from attending the Democratic Convention next month. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you, man? Check your damned ego, Bernie – it’s gotten out of control.
Sanders is not the nominee, and he needs to give this kind of stunt up.
Imagine the screaming of presumptuousness and Her Royal Highness and other stupid accusations from the Sanders camp if Clinton said this before securing the nomination completely.