Donald Trump has proposed that the next US presidential debate take place on Fox News on September 4.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed debating Democratic U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News on Sept. 4, and Harris' campaign responded by saying Trump is trying to back out of a debate that had been scheduled for ABC.
The rules would be similar to those of the first debate with President Joe Biden, who has since dropped his reelection bid, Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Friday night. But this time it would have a “packed stadium audience” and be held in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, Trump said.
“Donald Trump is freaking out and trying to back out of the debate he had already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement Saturday.
“He must stop playing games and show up for the debate he promised to do on September 10.”
Trump's proposal for the Fox debate came shortly after the Democratic National Committee launched an ad campaign on Friday mocking him as “convicted felons are afraid to debate” and questioning whether that was because of his stance on abortion.
“The vice president will be there in one form or another to take advantage of the opportunity to speak to a national audience in prime time,” Tyler said, seemingly suggesting she would appear if Trump did not.
“We look forward to discussing further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to.”
After Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris, Trump said he would not debate her because she was not the official nominee.
On Friday, Harris, 59, secured the delegate votes needed to secure the Democratic nomination.
Harris also said last month that she was “ready” after Fox News proposed the presidential debate between the two candidates on Sept. 17.
Recent polls show a tight race between Harris and Trump, who had enjoyed a larger lead over Biden after the first debate.
