Trump and Harris Dispute Over First Presidential Debate
Trump and Harris Clash Over Presidential Debate US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are clashing over their upcoming first head-to-head debate, each advocating for a different broadcaster and date.
Debate Scheduling Dispute
The Harris campaign is pushing for the debate to be hosted by ABC News on September 10, a slot originally allocated for a debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump. However, Trump contends that the ABC debate is no longer viable since Biden has exited the race and has proposed a debate on Fox News on September 4 instead.
Campaign Reactions and Scheduling Issues
The conflict arose following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21, which made Harris the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination. Since Biden’s departure, Trump has been ambiguous about participating in the previously scheduled ABC News debate. Negotiations between US TV networks and both campaigns are ongoing to establish new debate dates.
On Friday night, Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he had accepted Fox News’ offer for a debate on September 4 in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state. He specified that Fox News’ Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum would moderate the debate and indicated that the format would mirror his previous debate with Biden. Trump also stated that if Harris is unwilling or unable to debate on that date, he has agreed with Fox News to hold a major Town Hall event on the same evening.
Trump explained that the agreement with ABC News was terminated due to Biden’s withdrawal and due to a conflict of interest arising from his ongoing defamation case against the broadcaster.
Harris Campaign’s Response
The Harris campaign has accused Trump of “running scared” and attempting to back out of the previously agreed debate. Michael Tyler, Harris’ campaign communications director, criticized Trump for seeking an alternative debate venue, suggesting that he is looking to Fox News—a conservative network—for favorable terms. Tyler urged Trump to honor the commitment to the September 10 debate, stating, “He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to.”
Harris also addressed the issue on social media, highlighting the contrast between Trump’s stated willingness to debate “any time, any place” and his current insistence on a specific date and location. She reaffirmed her commitment to the debate on September 10, noting that Trump had already agreed to this date.
Future Debate Prospects
Harris’ team has expressed a willingness to discuss additional debates after the initial agreed-upon one. The upcoming debate will attract significant attention as both candidates prepare to face off. Harris secured enough pledges on Friday to officially become the Democratic nominee.
Context of the Debate Announcement
The debate news comes shortly after a report from the Homeland Security Department revealed errors by the US Secret Service in their response to the January 6 attack on the Capitol. During the attack, Harris, then vice president-elect, was within 20 feet of a “viable” pipe bomb planted outside the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters in Washington.
