Trump Declines ABC-hosted Debate with Kamala Harris, Proposes Fox News Instead

In a dramatic turn of events, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for presidency, has declared that he will not be participating in the scheduled debate in September with Vice President Kamala Harris on ABC. Instead, Trump has proposed that they face off on Fox News. This unexpected move has cast significant uncertainty on the prospects of the candidates confronting each other on stage before the fast-approaching November election.

Trump’s Stance

Trump recently posted on Truth Social, announcing his withdrawal from the September 10 event and expressing his preference for a debate structured across similar lines to his earlier confrontation with President Joe Biden on Fox News. Trump added that if Harris, who is the expected Democratic nominee, does not comply with the proposed network switch and date change, he intends to host a major Town Hall with Fox News.

Reactions

Critics argue that this sudden shift in plans suggests a lack of commitment on Trump’s part. Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for Harris, accuses Trump of “running scared” and trying to evade the debate which he had earlier agreed to. He further noted that Trump was leaning on Fox News for support in this endeavor. It remains unclear whether ABC will modify their September 10 event into a Harris town hall in the absence of Trump.

Harris’s Response

Harris has remained determined to keep her time slot, regardless of Trump’s participation. Tyler stated that Harris would use this prime time slot to speak to a national audience, “one way or the other”. He further indicated that Harris was stepping up to the challenge laid down by Trump, expressing her readiness to face him in person.

Trump’s Previous Experiences

Trump seems to be using his rich history of legal disputes with ABC News to justify his reluctance to participate in the network’s debate. He had earlier sued the network for an assertion by George Stephanopoulos, one of the ABC News anchors, claiming that Trump had been held “liable for rape”. After filing the lawsuit, however, Trump agreed to the September 10 debate on ABC.

Moving Forward

Trump has a significant history of skipping presidential primary debates, having dropped out of all the debates during the 2024 Republican presidential primary. It remains to be seen if Harris will accept Trump’s offer to debate on Fox News, or proceed with the scheduled ABC event without him. The American public awaits further developments as the drama continues to unfold.