Former President Donald Trump said at a press conference on Tuesday that he would “absolutely” debate Vice President Kamala Harris, adding that he plans to do multiple more.
Asked during a conference call with reporters about debating Harris since Biden dropped out of the race, Trump said he wasn’t happy with ABC News but that he would like to debate Harris and thought it was important to do so.
“Of course I would. I think it’s important. I’m not that interested in ABC because they’re really fake news. I saw it last night. They’re trying to paint Joe Biden as the worst president ever. They’re using Kamala as an example and saying it would be great if she were to run and all that,” Trump said. “I’m not that interested in ABC. They could commit, but I have at least an equal say. And I don’t like the idea of ABC. In fact, I’d be happy to participate in one or more debates.”
Trump then continued, “I haven’t agreed to anything. I did agree to debate Joe Biden, but I would love to debate her. She has the same policies, so it would be the same. I think debates are important in a presidential election. I really do. I think if you’re the Republican nominee, you have an obligation to debate.”
“This is a two-party system. There is no three-party system in this system. It’s simply a two-party system. That’s the way it’s designed and that’s how it is. And I do think that there is an obligation to have debates, whether you’re the Democratic nominee or the Republican nominee,” Trump added. “So I think debates are very important.”
On June 27, President Trump and President Joe Biden held their first debate in Atlanta, after which calls for Biden to resign flooded in. Biden subsequently withdrew his candidacy and nominated Harris as his successor.
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Steinle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump criticizes ABC News on TRUTH social media post Just after midnight on Tuesday, he specifically called out anchor George Stephanopoulos, saying, “ABC Fake News is a joke and the worst in the business. They’re trying to make Crooked Joe a brave warrior because he didn’t have the ‘guts’ to fight. He quit! And they’re trying to make Sleepy a great President and he’s the worst. And they’re trying to make Liar Kamala a competent person and she’s not. ABC, home of George Slopadopulos, does not deserve to host a debate. I hope there are many! MAGA2024.”
It is not yet clear if or when Trump and Harris will agree to hold a debate before the November election.
