F ormer President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that he would not debate Vice President Kamala Harris unless she agreed to participate in a Fox News debate next month. Trump made this announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating, "I’ll see her on September 4th or, I won’t see her at all." Later, at a rally in Georgia, Trump reiterated his stance, emphasizing, "We’re doing one with Fox, if she shows up," and added, “I don’t think she’s going to show up,” criticizing Harris's ability to speak without a teleprompter.
This ultimatum follows Trump's withdrawal from a planned September 10 debate hosted by ABC News, an event he committed to in May after a mutual agreement with President Joe Biden to accelerate the debate schedule. Harris, responding to Trump’s remarks, tweeted, “It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space.’ I’ll be there on September 10th, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there.”
An insider informed CNN that ABC News might provide airtime to whichever candidate attends, even if only Harris shows up. ABC News has not commented on this matter. The ongoing debate over the debate continues as both campaigns exchange taunts and accusations. Trump has attacked Harris’s intelligence, suggesting she lacks the “mental capacity” to debate him, while Harris's campaign argues that Trump is afraid to face her.
The debate saga intensifies against the backdrop of Biden’s withdrawal from the reelection race, endorsing Harris following a poor performance in the June 27 CNN debate. Trump has baselessly claimed that Democrats orchestrated a “coup” to remove Biden from the ticket. Trump's recent comments raise doubts about the possibility of any debate happening at all. Despite securing the Republican nomination without attending primary debates, Trump insists he doesn’t need to debate due to his lead in the polls and his established public persona.
Trump justified his withdrawal from the ABC News debate, citing Biden’s absence and his ongoing litigation against the network. Trump is suing ABC News and George Stephanopoulos for defamation, following comments about his legal battles with writer E. Jean Carroll, who was awarded $83.3 million in damages for sexual assault and defamation.
The call for a Fox News debate marks another shift in Trump’s strategy since Biden stepped aside. Trump had previously expressed willingness to debate Harris, emphasizing the importance of debates in presidential races. However, his campaign has since stated they would not commit to any debates until the Democratic Party officially nominated a candidate. The Democratic National Committee confirmed Harris as their nominee after securing the majority of delegates.
In a Fox News interview, Trump indicated he might debate Harris but also considered not participating due to both candidates' high public profiles. Trump's campaign has fluctuated in its stance, reflecting similar arguments used to justify skipping GOP primary debates, claiming the public already knows who he is.
Harris and her team have continued to challenge Trump to fulfill his debate commitment, with Harris calling on Trump to face her on stage, underscoring the importance of direct confrontation in the political arena.
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