(Scypre.com) – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has proposed a debate with Democratic U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News scheduled for September 4th. However, the Harris campaign claims that Trump is attempting to withdraw from a previously agreed debate set to air on ABC.
In a post on Truth Social late Friday, Trump stated that the debate’s rules would mirror those of the first debate he had with President Joe Biden, who has since exited the reelection race. This time, Trump noted, the event would feature a “full arena audience” and occur in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Initially, Trump and Biden had arranged a second debate for September 10th on ABC News, but Trump suggested relocating it to Fox, a network favored by his supporters.
On Friday, Harris secured the necessary delegate votes to win the Democratic nomination for the November 5th election. She responded on Saturday, affirming her intention to partake in the debate as originally planned.
“It’s interesting how ‘any time, any place’ becomes ‘one specific time, one specific safe space,'” Harris posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I’ll be there on Sept. 10, like he agreed to. I hope to see him there.” Her spokesperson, Michael Tyler, accused Trump of “running scared” and reiterated that her campaign is open to further debate discussions after the September 10th event, which both campaigns had agreed upon.
In response, Trump declared on Truth Social that Harris is “afraid to do it” and added he will see her on September 4th “or, I won’t see her at all.” He also mentioned on Friday that the ABC debate was “terminated” because Biden would no longer participate and due to his ongoing litigation with ABC.
On July 26, ABC outlined the qualification requirements for the debate, which include demonstrating polling support and state ballot access by September 3rd, but did not specify any candidates by name. Recent polls indicate a close race between Harris and Trump, who had a more substantial lead over Biden after their first debate.
ABC News did not comment on whether Trump had officially withdrawn from the debate. Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump’s suggestion for a Fox-hosted debate followed the Democratic National Committee’s launch of an advertising campaign on Friday. The campaign mocked Trump, labeling him “the convicted felon afraid to debate” and questioning if his reluctance was tied to his abortion stance.
David Plouffe, an adviser to former President Barack Obama who recently joined the Harris campaign, criticized Trump on social media: “Now, he seems only comfortable in a cocoon, asking his happy place Fox to host a Trump rally and call it a debate. Maybe he can only handle debating someone his own age.” Trump is 78, while Harris is 59.
Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who will turn 100 on October 1st, commented, “I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,” as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday.