Trump and Harris Clash Over Presidential Debate Schedule and Venue
US presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are in disagreement regarding the specifics of their first debate, each advocating for different networks and dates.
The Harris campaign has proposed a debate on ABC News on September 10, a slot originally intended for a debate between President Joe Biden and Mr. Trump. However, Trump insists that the ABC debate is off the table following Biden’s exit from the race and is instead pushing for a Fox News debate on September 4.
This conflict arose after President Biden exited the race on July 21, positioning Ms. Harris as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. The presidential election is scheduled for November 5.
Following Biden’s withdrawal, Trump has been ambiguous about participating in the previously scheduled ABC News debate. TV networks are now in discussions with both campaigns to finalize new debate dates.
On Friday night, Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he had accepted Fox News’ proposal for a debate on September 4 in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state. He mentioned that Fox News’ Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum would moderate and the rules would mirror his previous debate with Biden.
“If Kamala is unwilling or unable to debate on that date, Fox and I have agreed to a major Town Hall event on the same evening,” Trump posted.
The Harris campaign responded sharply, accusing Trump of trying to avoid the agreed-upon ABC debate and running to Fox News for a more favorable setting. “Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” said Michael Tyler, Harris Campaign communications director. “He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept 10.”
Kamala Harris took to social media, reiterating her commitment to the September 10 debate. “It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space,’” she wrote.
On Friday, Ms. Harris officially secured enough support to become the Democratic nominee. During a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday, she directly challenged Trump to face her in a debate, saying, “If you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.”
The debate scheduling dispute comes shortly after a Homeland Security Department report criticized the US Secret Service’s handling of the January 6 Capitol attack. The report revealed that Ms. Harris, then vice president-elect, was just 20 feet away from a live pipe bomb planted outside the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters. Similar explosives were discovered at the Republican National Committee headquarters, but the perpetrators remain unidentified.
