Trump Declines ABC Debate with Harris, Calls for Showdown on Fox News in September

In a Truth Social post on Saturday afternoon, Donald Trump challenged Vice President Kamala Harris with the statement, “I’ll see her on September 4th or, I won’t see her at all.”

CHAPIN, South Carolina — Former President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing from a planned September debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, originally set for ABC. Instead, he proposed facing off on Fox News, casting doubt on whether they will debate before the November election.

In recent Truth Social posts, Trump declared his previous commitment to a September 10 debate with Harris on ABC “terminated.” He attributed this decision to Democratic President Joe Biden’s exit from the race after a poor debate showing.

Trump plans to appear on Fox News on September 4 in Pennsylvania, endorsing rules similar to his debate with Biden but featuring a full audience. Should Harris decline this new arrangement, Trump mentioned he would hold a “major Town Hall” on Fox News.

Michael Tyler, spokesperson for Harris, accused Trump of evading the agreed-upon debate and criticized his pivot to Fox News.

ABC has yet to confirm if the September 10 event will transform into a Harris town hall in Trump’s absence. Tyler affirmed Harris’s commitment to the time slot, promising her presence to address a prime-time national audience.

Trump’s stance on debating Harris has fluctuated since her presidential candidacy announcement. While he initially felt obligated to debate, he recently suggested to Fox News that American voters were already well-acquainted with both candidates. Harris urged Trump to uphold his prior commitment, even daring him to confront her directly.

Trump cited his ongoing lawsuit against ABC News, stemming from a controversial remark by anchor George Stephanopoulos, as a conflict of interest hampering his participation in the network’s debate. The lawsuit followed a New York jury’s ruling that Trump was liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll but not for rape.

Despite the lawsuit, Trump had agreed three months ago to the September 10 debate on ABC, along with a June 27 debate on CNN, which partially influenced Biden’s campaign withdrawal. ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis were slated to moderate the September debate.

Trump has a history of debate nonparticipation, including abstaining from all 2024 Republican primary debates.