Former President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he’ll debate Vice President Kamala Harris next month in battleground Pennsylvania, marking what would be the first clash between the presidential candidates. She hasn’t agreed to the format.
While Ms. Harris challenged the former president to the debate stage, Mr. Trump argued that he didn’t want to debate her until the Democratic Party locked its nominee in place.
Ms. Harris clinched the nomination Friday during a virtual vote with thousands of Democratic delegates.
“I have agreed with Fox News to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Mr. Trump wrote on TruthSocial. “The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant, and I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thereby creating a conflict of interest.”
The former president was slated to debate Mr. Biden on Sept. 10 until the president dropped out amid his party’s fears that his remaining on the ticket would guarantee Mr. Trump victory in November. So far, Ms. Harris hasn’t confirmed she’s OK with a Fox arrangement.
“The Fox News Debate will be held in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at a site in an area to be determined,” he continued. “The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and the Rules will be similar to the Rules of my Debate with Sleepy Joe, who has been treated horribly by his Party — BUT WITH A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!”
June’s 90-minute debate between Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden featured no live audience, a rarity in modern face-offs.
Meanwhile, the Harris team ripped Mr. Trump for dodging the Sept. 10 setup.
“Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” said Harris campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement Saturday.
“We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to,” he continued. “Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th.”
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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