Trump Proposes Debate with Harris on Fox News; Harris Campaign Accuses Him of Avoiding ABC Debate as Campaign Feuds Intensify
Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, suggested a debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News on September 4. The Harris campaign, however, responded by accusing Trump of attempting to back out of a prearranged debate scheduled to air on ABC.
Trump, in a Friday night Truth Social post, mentioned that the debate rules would resemble those of his previous face-off with President Joe Biden, who has since withdrawn from the race. This time, Trump proposed a “full arena audience” in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state.
Previously, Trump and Biden had agreed to a second debate on ABC News on September 10. Trump had recommended relocating it to Fox News, which has a large following among his supporters.
Harris, who secured the necessary delegate votes on Friday to secure the Democratic nomination for the November 5 election, confirmed her intention to participate in the original debate on September 10. On social media platform X, she noted the discrepancy between Trump’s flexible debate terms and his current demands, stating, “I’ll be there on Sept. 10, as agreed. I hope to see him there.”
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Harris’ spokesperson, Michael Tyler, accused Trump of being “afraid” and stated that her campaign is open to discussing additional debates after the one scheduled for September 10, which both campaigns had previously agreed upon.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump claimed Harris is “afraid to do it” and insisted that he would see her on September 4, “or not at all.”
Both candidates have been actively campaigning across the country. Trump has used recent events to launch new criticisms against Harris, who is reportedly in a tight race with him, according to some polls.
During a Saturday night rally in Atlanta, Trump criticized Harris’s character and policies, also questioning her racial identity. He had previously suggested at a major Black journalists’ conference that Harris had minimized her Black heritage, despite her self-identification as both Black and Asian and her history with a prominent Black sorority.
At the same Atlanta stadium where Harris had recently held a rally, Trump disparaged Harris, calling her a “lunatic” with a “low IQ” and mocked the pronunciation of her first name. His campaign also displayed an article calling Harris the “first Indian-American senator.”
Trump also devoted part of his speech to attacking Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for their roles in the 2020 election.
This aggressive approach by Trump contrasts with the advice from some senior Republicans who have recommended he avoid attacking Harris’s identity and conservatives.
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After Trump’s speech, the Harris campaign stated Geoff Duncan, Georgia’s Republican lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023 and a Trump critic. Duncan criticized Trump for his “incoherence and vindictiveness,” claiming that Trump is not focused on uniting the country or addressing voters.
Regarding the debate, Trump claimed on Friday that the ABC debate had been “terminated” due to Biden’s withdrawal and ongoing litigation with ABC. ABC had detailed debate qualification requirements on July 26 but did not specify any candidates. These requirements include demonstrating polling support and ballot access by September 3.
Recent polls indicate a close race between Harris and Trump, who had previously gained a lead over Biden following Biden’s uneven performance in the first debate.
ABC News declined to comment on Trump’s claims, and Fox News did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump’s suggestion to hold the debate on Fox News followed the Democratic National Committee’s ad campaign mocking him as “afraid to debate” and questioning his stance on abortion.
David Plouffe, an adviser to former President Barack Obama and a recent addition to the Harris campaign, criticized Trump on social media, suggesting that Trump only feels comfortable debating in a controlled environment like Fox News, and questioning his ability to debate someone younger.
Trump Proposes Debate with Harris on Fox News; Harris Campaign Accuses Him of Avoiding ABC Debate as Campaign Feuds Intensify
