Debate rules: Who is going to do the pat-down on Donald Trump?

As everyone knows, rules for tonight’s debate will be different from those used in previous debates, most of which have been overseen by the Commission on Presidential Debates.  There will be no audience, which is seen to benefit President Biden, as Trump is said to have “fed” off audience response at debates in 2016 and 2020.  Microphones will be muted when the other candidate is speaking, another advantage for Biden according to debate experts, as Trump repeatedly spoke over Biden in the first 2020 debate.  Candidates will stand at podiums.  All they are allowed to have at the podium with them will be a pen, paper, and water.  No pre-written scripts will be permitted. 

There will be two breaks for commercials.  Unlike previous debates, the candidates will not be allowed to consult with their campaign teams during the breaks.

But here’s one for the CNN moderators:  who is going to make sure Trump doesn’t use his phone during the breaks?  Will the candidates be required to surrender their phones before the debate begins?  If so, who is going to do a search for a burner Trump may carry with him for use backstage during the breaks?  Typical burner flip-phones can be tiny things, easily concealed in a pocket or even within underwear or other private garments.  I think we can be assured that President Biden won’t try to conceal a phone on his person that he could use during the breaks, but what about Trump? 

The very idea of Trump without his phone is unthinkable.  It’s his lie-line to the MAGA faithful.  He begins and ends every day on his phone, posting on Truth Social whatever outrageous falsehood springs into his mind.  Are we supposed to think he’s going to follow the rules and leave his phone behind when he walks out on that stage to debate President Biden?  He’s never followed a rule in his life.  Do you think he’s going to start now, just because CNN tells him to?

So, who’s going to pat-down Donald Trump, CNN, because he’ll be consulting with Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon and Roger Stone and every other lunatic he listens to during both breaks in the debate unless steps are taken to guarantee that Trump will not have access to any kind of electronic communication device.