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Journalism of Courage
Republican presidential nominee and Former US President Donald Trump proposed a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News on September 4, although the Harris campaign responded, accusing Trump of attempting to back out of a debate that was originally scheduled to air on ABC, news agency Reuters reported on Saturday.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that the debate would take place on September 4 in Pennsylvania. The former president claimed there was a conflict of interest following his defamation lawsuit against ABC and network host George Stephanopoulos, regarding Stephanopoulos’s assertion that Trump had been “found liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case.
“The Debate was previously scheduled against … 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,” Trump stated.
The format would mirror the first debate with President Joe Biden, who has since withdrawn from the race, but Trump indicated it would feature a “full arena audience”.
Michael Tyler, the Harris campaign communications director, said “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.”
Trump and Biden had previously agreed to a second debate on September 10 on ABC News, but Trump had suggested moving it to Fox.
“The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime time national audience,” Tyler was quoted as saying by Reuters, apparently suggesting she would show up if Trump does not. “We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to.”
Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Reuters.
Trump’s proposal came shortly after the Democratic National Committee launched an advertising campaign that taunted him with the phrase “the convicted felon is afraid to debate” and questioned if this was related to his stance on abortion. Following Biden’s exit from the race on July 21 and his endorsement of Harris, Trump said he would not debate her because she was not the official candidate.
On Friday, Harris secured the delegate votes needed to clinch the Democratic nomination. Harris had previously stated she was “ready” after Fox News proposed a presidential debate between the two candidates on September 17. Trump’s post was briefly removed before being reposted, with Trump deleting his proposal for a “major” town hall gathering on the same date if Harris was “unwilling or unable to debate.”
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