The judge at the Trump trial in Manhattan might like to muzzle the Donald, but that isn’t easy. In fact, Donald Trump one day last week emerged from his trial as feisty as ever. A reporter asked if he would like to debate President Joe Biden. Trump didn’t hesitate. He effectively reiterated his earlier statement that he’s ready to debate Biden, “Anytime, anywhere, any place.”

Bring it on.

Biden, in turn, didn’t back down. He told vulgarian shock-jock Howard Stern he’s “happy to” debate Trump.

But whether that’s good thinking by either man is, well, a matter of debate, especially for Trump.

Remember what happened in 2020. I’m convinced — and I’m not alone — that Trump lost his reelection bid in his first debate with Biden on Sept. 29, 2020. Trump behaved like a maniac. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Interruption, interruption, interruption.

In his defense, I know why Trump took such a combative approach. His advisers were mindful of then-Vice President Biden’s debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan in October 2012. Biden was insufferably condescending, smirking, rolling his eyes, rudely scoffing at his opponent like a petulant brat. It was one of the ugliest debate displays I’ve ever seen. Trump and his advisers in 2020 must have been mindful of that. And so, Trump didn’t give old smirkin’ Joe a chance this time around. Each time Biden opened his mouth, Trump pounced. He unleashed himself, throwing punch after punch even after the bell rang.

Not that Biden was any better. He embarrassed himself this time, as well. Though, unlike in 2012 with Ryan, he was the one getting punched. Frankly, it was much deserved, though it didn’t score Trump points with voters. Quite the contrary.

Trump-Biden wasn’t exactly Lincoln-Douglas.

To be sure, Trump redeemed himself in the second and final debate Oct. 22, 2020. He was excellent, much more controlled and measured. But it was too late. In the four-week interim, with the election less than two weeks away, the sitting president lost millions of mail-in ballots after that first debate, which, in the narrow election (narrow in terms of Electoral College votes in key swing states), was decisive.

Trump wants to redeem himself in 2024. He’s champing at the bit, ready to attack, again. But that will not serve him well, again.

Trump supporters relish the prospect of an addled “Sleepy Joe” embarrassing himself on national television, struggling with his teleprompter; they’re hoping for a humiliating “dementia Joe” moment. It’s a sad wish, yes. But they should ask themselves: If Biden has such a moment, would he really lose many supporters? They will vote for him and against Trump no matter what.

Look at what happened here in Pennsylvania in the Senate debate between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz. Fetterman couldn’t even read from the teleprompter. Did it matter to his voters? Not at all. The same would be true if Biden self-destructed on national television.

In other words, Trump has nothing to gain but much to lose from a debate. He has been ahead of Biden in the polls since October. He could do what Biden did in 2020: campaign from his basement. When you’re ahead, don’t do anything dumb to blow your lead. Restrain your worst impulses. Assuming that’s possible for Trump.

As for us spectators, we’ll watch the spectacle. But whether the debacle will be good for democracy is a matter of debate.

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