Detroit: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic opponent Kamala Harris are set to face off in their first debate on September 10 on ABC, marking a key moment in a closely contested race.
In a news conference at his Palm Beach, Florida residence, Trump expressed his desire for additional debates on September 4 and September 25, which he hopes will be broadcast on Fox and NBC, respectively.
Harris, in a post on X, expressed her eagerness for the September 10 debate after Trump “finally committed” to the schedule. Following a campaign stop in the Detroit area, Harris stated she is open to discussing more debates but emphasized that a September 4 Fox debate is not under consideration, as the Harris campaign prefers networks that hosted recent primary debates.
The possibility of further debates hinges on Trump participating in the September 10 debate on ABC. The Harris campaign had previously opposed a Fox debate, arguing that the network should be one that sponsored recent primary debates from both parties.
Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from the ABC debate, initially scheduled before Harris, the U.S. Vice President, replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee less than three weeks ago. The September 10 debate on ABC was intended to be the second of two agreed-upon debates between Biden and Trump, following their June 27 debate on CNN.
An Ipsos poll released on Thursday shows Harris has extended her lead over Trump since late July, now at 42% compared to Trump’s 37%. This contrasts with a July 22-23 Reuters/Ipsos survey, which had Harris leading 37% to 34%.
Thursday’s Palm Beach news conference was Trump’s first public appearance since Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday. Harris and Walz have been actively campaigning in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, drawing large crowds and energizing Democrats.
Harris’ rapid ascent has prompted Trump’s team to reevaluate their strategy and messaging. Polls indicate Harris has erased Trump’s previous lead over Biden, and the Democrats have garnered substantial financial support since Harris became the nominee.
Trump, however, maintained on Thursday that his campaign approach remains unchanged. During an extended Q&A session with reporters, Trump criticized Harris and Walz, labeling them as weak candidates. Trump also lamented not being able to face Biden in the November 5 election, suggesting that Biden was pushed out by a plot within the Democratic Party.
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Regarding his controversial remarks about Harris’ race, Trump said: “You’ll have to ask her that question, because she’s the one that said it, I didn’t say it. … To me it doesn’t matter. But to her, from her standpoint, I think it’s very disrespectful to both, really, whether it’s Indian or Black, I think it’s very disrespectful to both.”
Trump’s comments, made to a group of Black journalists, faced widespread backlash and confusion among his aides and donors. The Trump campaign did not provide additional evidence regarding Harris’ remarks that Trump claimed he was referring to.
Trump also mocked the size of Harris’ campaign crowds, despite them matching his own recent rallies. He controversially compared his January 6, 2021 rally size to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, though the figures differ significantly.
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In addition, Trump criticized Harris for not participating in a press interview since the start of her campaign, calling her “barely competent” and “nasty”, a term he frequently uses to disparage female critics. Trump has continued to conduct media interviews, predominantly with right-leaning outlets.
Trump announced the Palm Beach news conference on his social media platform early Thursday, with only select reporters given advance notice. Reuters was not invited to cover the event.
Harris, after meeting with auto workers in Wayne, Michigan, and receiving the United Auto Workers union’s endorsement, said she aims to schedule a sit-down interview “before the end of the month.”
