Harris Only Agrees To One Debate With Trump
Vice President Kamala Harris has agreed to debate former President Donald Trump, but some critics argue that this move highlights her reluctance to engage fully.
The debate invitation was initially for three debates, yet Harris, known for her scripted and often robotic demeanor, has only committed to one, which will be hosted by ABC.
“I think it’s very important to have debates, and we’ve agreed with Fox on a date of September 4. We’ve agreed with NBC. Fairly full agreement subject to them on September 10. And we’ve agreed with ABC on September 25,” Trump stated during a press conference.
Subsequently, the campaign clarified that the debates are scheduled for September 4 with Fox News, September 10 with ABC, and September 25 with NBC.
“The other side has to agree to the terms. They may or may not agree. I don’t know if they’re going to agree. (Harris) hasn’t done an interview. She can’t do an interview. She’s barely competent, and she can’t do an interview. I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight,” Trump added.
However, when reporters questioned Harris about committing to additional debates beyond the ABC event, she remained noncommittal.
“I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on September 10th. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope he shows up,” Harris remarked.
“I’m happy to have that conversation about an additional debate after September 10th,” she continued.
Before Trump confirmed his participation in the ABC debate, Harris's campaign communications director, Michael Tyler, also refrained from committing to more than one debate.
“The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime-time national audience,” Tyler said of the ABC debate. “We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to.”
On Thursday, during an interview with NBC News, Harris once again avoided discussing any debate beyond the one with ABC.
“I am looking forward to debating Donald Trump, and we have a date of September 10th. I hear he’s finally committed to it, and I’m looking forward to it,” she reiterated.
Trump had initially expressed enthusiasm for a second debate with Biden on ABC, accepting the offer back in May. However, he later hinted at possibly skipping it after Biden effectively passed the baton to Harris, despite her poor performance in the 2020 Democratic primaries and Biden receiving all the primary votes this year.
ABC News has announced that David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the upcoming debate.
After a campaign event in Michigan on Thursday, Harris briefly addressed reporters, mentioning that her team is arranging a full-blown press conference, which would be her first since Biden essentially anointed her the party’s nominee.
An insider from Harris’s team told ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang on Thursday night that the vice president is not opposed to additional debates. However, these discussions are “contingent on Trump showing up” on September 10.
This debate issue emerges as long-time Democratic strategist James Carville criticized Harris for frequently deferring to the party’s far-left faction, warning that this could be a costly mistake in November.
Carville’s comments came just days before Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, a staunch progressive, immediately faced criticism from conservatives for his handling of the George Floyd protests, which led to significant damage in Minneapolis during the spring and summer of 2020.