Trump proposes interview with Harris on Fox, his campaign calls him 'terrified' Reuters
(Reuters) – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump proposed a debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on Fox News on September 4, and Harris' campaign responded that Trump was trying to back out of the debate scheduled to begin on ABC.
The rules will be similar to the first debate with President Joe Biden, who has since withdrawn his bid for re-election, Trump said in a Truth Social post late Friday. But this time there will be a “full stadium audience” and it's taking place on a Pennsylvania battlefield, Trump said.
Michael Tyler, Harris' campaign communications director, said “Donald Trump is scared and trying to back out of an interview he's already agreed to and running to Fox News to bail him out.”
Trump and Biden had agreed to a second debate on September 10 on ABC news that the former president had suggested should be moved to Fox.
“The Vice President will be there in some capacity to take advantage of the opportunity to speak to a national audience,” Tyler said, apparently suggesting that he would appear if Trump did not show up. “We are happy to discuss other issues after both campaigns have agreed on them.”
Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump's offer to debate on Fox came after the Democratic National Committee launched an ad campaign Friday mocking him as a “convict who is afraid to speak” and asking if that was because of his pro-abortion stance.
The latest polls show a tight race between Harris and Trump, who enjoyed a big lead over Biden after the first debate.
David Plouffe, an adviser to former President Barack Obama who recently joined the Harris campaign, said on X “Now, he seems to be free only in a cocoon, asking his happy place Fox to hold a Trump meeting and call it a debate. Maybe he can just manage to contradict a man and his age.” Trump is 78 and Harris is 59.
After Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris, Trump said he would not run against him because he is not a legitimate candidate.
On Friday, Harris received the delegate votes needed to win the Democratic nomination.
Harris responded last month that he was “ready” after Fox News aired a presidential debate between the two candidates on September 17.
