Frank Luntz Suggests Democracy Could Come ‘Undone’ if Trump and Biden Aren’t Civil During Debate: ‘At Some Point, Our System Breaks’

Pollster Frank Luntz believes Thursday night’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump could contribute to the undoing of American democracy.

Speaking with Martha Raddatz on ABC’s This Week, Luntz said the debate could “add to our discontent and division” rather than “heal it.” And Luntz suggested that if the debate furthers discontent and division, American Democracy could come “undone.”

“I have to be candid with you,” Luntz said. “I’m very nervous about the outcome of this debate. A lot of people are going to watch. A lot of people have made up their minds about the two candidates, but haven’t made up their minds whether or not our democracy still works. If we have another reaction like that first 2020 debate — where the two candidates just go at each other — at some point, our system breaks. Our democracy comes undone. And so I’m going to be watching not just for the cute quip, or trying to figure out who won or lost, but I’m going to be watching American reactions and whether or not this adds to our discontent and our division, or whether it begins to heal it.”

Raddatz’s follow up focused on former President Donald Trump.

“The subsequent debates…President Trump did calm down in those debates,” Raddatz said. “It wasn’t like the first in 2020. So do you think he’s learned any lessons after breaking all the china in that initial debate? I mean, it doesn’t look like he wants to change much. He’s already saying he has no strategy, accusing that Joe Biden will get a shot in the arm and be jacked up before the debate. Is that what has you worried?”

But Luntz’s response largely focused on President Joe Biden.

“It’s how they treat each other,” Luntz said. “Is it with respect or contempt? Is it wanting to listen and learn, or is it wanting to abuse and attack? And Donald Trump is the best at it. He is good at tearing apart his opponents. The question — and the thing I’m going to be watching for — is how Joe Biden responds. Because don’t forget, it was Joe Biden who said to Donald Trump, ‘Would you just shut up?’ And the idea that you say that to a President of the United States in a national debate — that coarseness divides and undermines this sense of democracy, being civilized and disciplined. And I just hope that both candidates remember that there actually are some things more important than an election. The next generation.”

Watch above, via ABC.