Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that his debate with his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris will be easier than the one he had with Joe Biden. Trump added that he wants to defeat Harris to halt her extreme liberal agenda, noting that losing votes in Pennsylvania is not an option in the election.
Harris’ campaign announced on Thursday that she will hold two televised debates with her Republican opponent, while the candidates for the vice presidency will face off once, in an effort to end ongoing disputes surrounding the issue.
The two candidates agreed to hold one debate on September 10 and another debate between their vice presidential candidates on October 1. However, Trump's campaign was pushing for two additional debates in September and another confrontation between the vice presidential candidates.
Harris’ campaign stated in a statement, “The debate on the debates is over. Donald Trump’s campaign has accepted our proposal for three debates—two presidential and one for the vice presidency.” It added that “assuming Donald Trump participates in the debate on September 10,” Harris's running mate Tim Walz will debate Trump’s vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance on October 1, followed by another confrontation between Trump and Harris later in October.
Harris, who is the first woman and the first Black woman of South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency, aims to make history by becoming the first woman elected as President of the United States, as she rapidly presents herself to the public ahead of November 5. She and Walz will attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week amidst strong early momentum for both, having successfully turned around Trump's lead in polling and attracted considerable donations and large crowds to their campaign events.
CBS announced on Wednesday via the social media platform X that it proposed four potential debates for the vice presidency in September and October to Walz, the governor of Minnesota, and Vance, a senator from Ohio. The two candidates agreed on the October 1 date, which comes after early voting has already begun in several states. However, Vance suggested holding a debate earlier on September 18, which CNN offered to host. He stated earlier to Fox News that he would not participate in “one of these fake debates (…) that have no actual audience.”
ABC News will host the debate between Harris and Trump on September 10, following the former president's previous refusal on the grounds that he is involved in a legal dispute with its executives.
