'Scared little punk': CNN panel slams 'big, strong man' Trump after he backs out of debate

Former President Donald Trump's decision to exit the September debate against Vice President Kamala Harris was the topic of conversation on CNN, with one panelist even going so far as to call him a "scared little punk."

Abby Phillip, host of CNN's "NewsNight," began her show Thursday night with Harris goading Trump on the social media app X.

"What happened to 'any time, any place'" she quipped.

Phillips teed up her panel asking for their reaction on Harris "calling his bluff."

Jane Coaston, a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, led off the panel's reaction with a shot at the former president.

"You mean Donald Trump wants to back out of a commitment? Stunning news!" she said.

Phillip asked why Trump would hand Harris a win and noted that "backing out of a debate isn't a good look for any candidate," leading Coaston to agree and note she believes Trump wants the debate to feel "less certain than it already appears to be."

Coaston suggested Trump wants the limelight back on himself, likely doesn't want to debate Harris and probably doesn't want to give Harris the "respect she would deserve" by agreeing to it.

Read also: Trump backs out of debate as camp says it's 'inappropriate to schedule things with Harris'

The Trump campaign told media outlets in a statement Thursday night that "There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party - namely Barack Hussein Obama - that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone 'better.' Therefore, it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds," the statement said.

After Phillip read the statement to the panel, political commentator Elie Mystal unloaded on Trump.

"I would like him to say that to her face, right?" said an emphatic Mystal. "But he won't because he's a little punk! Right? And that's what you always have to remember about Donald Trump. He's a scared little punk."

Mystal then mocked the "big, strong man," beating his chest, as he spoke, and saying if that were the case, he'd debate whomever the Democrats put on stage.

Watch the clip below or at this link.