Will Kamala take him up on it?
On Friday, former President Donald Trump announced he would not take part in a planned debate on ABC scheduled for September. Instead, Trump proposed a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News on September 4. He explained that the ABC debate was initially set up when President Joe Biden was the presumptive Democratic nominee, but since Biden has exited the race, he believes the debate is no longer relevant. Trump also mentioned a defamation lawsuit against ABC and its anchor George Stephanopoulos, though this lawsuit was initiated before the debate agreement was made.
Fox News responded to Trump’s proposal by extending invitations to both him and Harris for a debate on their network, suggesting Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum as moderators. Trump accepted the invitation, stating the debate would be held in Pennsylvania with a live audience. This contrasts with a recent debate between Trump and Biden, which was conducted without an audience.
The Harris campaign criticized Trump for backing out of the debate he had previously agreed to, accusing him of avoiding the event due to his perceived fear of facing Harris. Campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler urged Trump to honor his commitment to the debate on September 10 and expressed confidence that ABC would provide airtime to any candidates who show up.
Trump’s announcement came on the same day as the Harris campaign ran digital ads and criticized him for avoiding the debate. In response, Trump reaffirmed on social media that he would only participate in the debate scheduled for September 4, dismissing the ABC debate. This back-and-forth continued as Trump questioned the need for additional debates given his current polling lead.
Senator Jon Ossoff, speaking at a Harris rally, labeled Trump as “too scared” to debate Harris, which prompted chants from the crowd. Harris herself addressed Trump directly, urging him to reconsider and engage in the debate. This debate dispute highlights the ongoing tension and strategic maneuvering as the election campaign progresses.
