Harris Agrees to Only One Debate with Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Thursday that she will only participate in one debate before the upcoming election, declining former President Donald Trump's proposal for three debates.

A campaign official revealed that Harris will not partake in the September 4 debate on Fox News that Trump suggested. ABC News correspondent Selina Wang reported this in a post on X, indicating that Harris’s decision is based on whether Trump attends the ABC News debate scheduled for September 10.

Trump’s campaign had previously unveiled plans for three debates in September: one on ABC News, another on Fox News, and a final one on NBC News on September 25. During a press conference, Trump expressed skepticism about Harris's willingness to engage in multiple debates, labeling her as "barely competent" and criticizing her for avoiding interviews.

Harris, however, expressed anticipation for the September 10 debate on NBC News, where both parties have confirmed their attendance, according to ABC News. While NBC News and Fox News have communicated with the campaigns regarding their debates, no official announcements have been made by either network as of Thursday.

In a recent debate held in late June by CNN, Trump faced off against President Joe Biden. Biden’s lackluster performance reportedly caused a crisis of confidence among Democrats, leading to his withdrawal from the race. After securing the nomination, Harris has been cautious about committing to additional debates, focusing instead on campaign appearances with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, across key battleground states.

Last week, following Harris’s nomination, Trump expressed willingness to debate her on Fox News but indicated he might skip the ABC debate, prompting criticism from Harris's campaign. They accused Trump of "running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to." While Trump did initially agree to the ABC debate, it was under the assumption that Biden was still running.

Additionally, Trump announced that CBS would host a vice presidential debate between his running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH), and Tim Walz. However, CBS has not yet confirmed a date for this event.

As the election approaches, Harris’s strategy of limiting debates could impact voter perceptions. The decision underscores the challenges both campaigns face in navigating the political landscape leading up to November.

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