Former President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he has reached an agreement to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10, though he had recently hinted at the possibility of backing out of the event.
The debate will be hosted by ABC News.
“I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris. It will be broadcast live on ABC FAKE NEWS, by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business, on Tuesday, September 10th, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris. It will be Broadcast Live on ABC FAKE NEWS, by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business, on Tuesday, September 10th, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rules…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) August 27, 2024
On Sunday night, Trump hinted that he might not appear on ABC, posting on his Truth Social network that he had watched the network’s Sunday show featuring a “so-called Panel of Trump Haters” and questioned, “Why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” He urged his followers to “Stay tuned!!”
Donald Trump, left, speaks during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Kamala Harris, right, speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 22, 2024. Trump said he has agreed to debate Harris on September 10 on ABC.
AFP/Getty Images
The Trump campaign has also raised concerns about the rules of the debate, specifically regarding the muting of microphones when a candidate isn’t speaking—a condition both President Joe Biden and Trump agreed to for their June debate hosted by CNN. Both campaigns are accusing each other of trying to manipulate the rules to protect their candidate.
Harris’ campaign is now advocating against muting the microphones. Trump stated on Monday that it didn’t matter to him whether the microphones were muted, but he continued to express doubts about participating and criticized ABC News.
The apparent impasse seems to have been resolved, with Trump accepting the terms.
Prior to he decision fellow Republicans, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, urged Trump to accept any rule changes proposed by Harris’s campaign, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the debate takes place.
After Biden withdrew from the race and Harris launched her campaign, Trump initially stated at the beginning of August that he wouldn’t participate in the ABC debate and suggested debating Harris on Fox News instead. Eventually, Trump proposed facing Harris in three separate debates in September, but so far, only the ABC debate has been confirmed.
As the date approaches, both campaigns are expected to finalize the details of the debate, including the location, rules, and moderators. This is the first election cycle in which the Commission on Presidential Debates has not sponsored the presidential debates since the nonpartisan organization was established in 1987.
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