Trump Hesitates on Debate, While Harris Calls Him Out for ‘Back-Pedaling’
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has backed off from its commitment to a presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, previously scheduled for September 10, 2024. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, announced on July 25 that the campaign would not finalize the debate details until the Democrats officially select their nominee, despite Biden’s exit from the race and Harris’s ascension as the likely contender.
Originally, Trump had agreed to two debates with President Joe Biden, one of which took place in late June. However, following Biden’s withdrawal on July 21, the race quickly shifted to Harris, and Trump’s team is now questioning whether it makes sense to commit to a debate with her.
The Trump campaign argued that the Democratic Party is still in disarray and that they might yet nominate a different candidate, even though former President Barack Obama is expected to formally endorse Harris soon.
Harris, undeterred by the uncertainty, posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling out Trump for what she labeled as “back-pedaling” and questioning what happened to his prior assertion of being willing to debate “any time, any place.”
Harris has recommitted to participating in the scheduled debate, emphasizing the importance of letting voters see the differences between the two candidates. Despite Trump’s hesitation, it remains to be seen whether the September debate will go ahead or if the landscape will change as the election cycle progresses.
