Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated on Monday that whereas he “most likely” will debate Vice President Kamala Harris, he “might additionally make a case” to keep away from a face-to-face confrontation with a doable Democratic opponent.
Trump initially didn’t say whether or not he can be prepared to debate Harris in a Fox Information interview that aired Monday evening. Whereas he appeared to substantiate his willingness to take part in a debate, his reply left room for ambiguity.
The feedback underscore how a lot the dynamics of the race have modified within the week since President Joe Biden withdrew his re-election bid after a disastrous debate with Trump in late June.
Earlier than that debate, Trump had repeatedly challenged Biden to confront him “any time, anyplace.” However when requested concerning the debate with Harris, his tone was completely different.
“So, I really like debates. I really like debates and I’ve had lots of debates,” the previous president informed Fox host Laura Ingraham.
“I wish to have a debate, however I also can say this: Everyone is aware of who I’m, and now folks know who she is,” he stated, accusing Harris of being a “radical left-wing lunatic.”
Ingraham interjected: “Then why not debate her?”
Trump responded: “Nicely, wait. However, as a result of they already know all the things.”
When Ingraham stated, “They will say you are afraid to debate her,” Trump responded, “They’re saying the identical factor about Biden.”
Trump added, “I am main within the polls,” whilst some latest surveys present Harris in a close to tie or slight lead nationally and in key battleground states.
“The reply is sure, I’ll most likely find yourself having a debate,” Trump stated, including, “I believe the talk ought to really occur earlier than the voting begins.”
He famous that his second debate with Biden within the 2020 marketing campaign was “excellent,” however that a big portion of the votes had already been forged by the point the occasion passed off in mid-October.
“So the reply is sure,” Trump stated. “However I also can make a case for not doing it.”
In the meantime, Harris has publicly urged Trump to debate her since she grew to become the de facto Democratic nominee on July 21 after Biden withdrew.
Her marketing campaign stated earlier Monday that she would take part within the Sept. 10 presidential debate — which Trump and then-candidate Joe Biden had beforehand agreed to take part in — no matter whether or not her Republican opponent would attend.
“We’ll see if Trump exhibits up,” Harris marketing campaign spokesman Michael Taylor stated in a press release.
“As Vice President Harris stated final week, the American folks deserve to listen to the voices of two candidates working for the very best workplace within the land, and she is going to just do that on the September debate on ABC,” Taylor stated. If Donald Trump and his workforce say something apart from “We’ll see you there” — and it appears they do — then Trump’s workforce will make a handy however anticipated backtrack.
Harris has accused Trump of “backsliding” on the talk.
“I believe voters need to see the cut up display that exists on this race on the talk stage, so I am prepared for it,” Harris informed reporters Thursday. “Let’s go.”
Whereas Trump informed reporters final week that he can be prepared to debate Harris “many occasions,” he additionally stated he was “not enthusiastic about ABC.”
He stated: “When Joe Biden was the worst president in historical past, they had been really attempting to make him right into a hero, and so they’re doing one thing much like Kamala, like she’s working for, which is What an exquisite factor. “I don’t like the thought of ABC. “
Trump’s marketing campaign stated Thursday that scheduling a debate in opposition to Harris can be “inappropriate” as a result of she shouldn’t be but the official Democratic nominee.
“Given the wily Joe Biden and the continuing political chaos within the Democratic Celebration, the small print of the final election debate can’t be finalized till the Democratic Celebration formally decides on its nominee,” Trump marketing campaign spokesman Steven Chang stated. “With Harry It might be inappropriate to rearrange issues collectively as a result of Democrats should change their minds.”
Neither Trump nor Biden had been official nominees of their respective events on the June debate.
ABC Information launched eligibility necessities for the talk on Friday, suggesting the community is shifting ahead with its plans regardless of Trump’s refusal to commit.
