Former President Trump on Wednesday made clear there would be no second debate between him and Vice President Harris in the closing weeks of the campaign, seemingly shutting the door for good on the prospect as media outlets made final proposals.
“It is very late in the process, voting has already begun – there will be no rematch!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Besides, Kamala stated clearly, yesterday, that she would not do anything different than Joe Biden, so there is nothing to debate.”
In explaining his decision, Trump repeated his claim that he had won his debate on Sept. 10 with Harris, though polling and criticism from some Republicans indicated that was not the case.
He also cited Sen. JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) performance in the vice presidential debate against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), and he claimed that he was leading “in all swing states,” though polling shows a neck and neck race in all seven battlegrounds likely to determine the outcome of November’s election.
Trump’s post on Truth Social came after CNN told candidates they had until Thursday to accept an invitation for an Oct. 23 debate. Harris has already accepted the invitation.
Fox News on Wednesday issued an invitation for the candidates to attend a debate hosted by the network on either Oct. 24 or Oct. 27 moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
Harris and her campaign have for weeks pushed for a second debate with Trump, with the vice president insisting voters deserve to hear more from the candidates before Election Day, but Trump has repeatedly rejected the idea of doing another debate with the vice president.
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Trump is too scared to face Harris again because he knows she’ll tear him apart. His refusal just shows he’s running scared. But honestly, this isn’t about Harris or Trump—it’s about democracy. The people deserve a chance to see the candidates confront each other directly on stage. Trump’s a coward, plain and simple.
Trump backing out is no surprise; he knows his platform won’t hold up to scrutiny. Harris, though, should focus on discussing real issues like climate change and corporate influence on politics. It’s frustrating that debates rarely touch on these topics. We need leaders who actually care about people and the planet, not just the next news cycle.
@Renaldo-MoonGreen 2yrs2Y
What does it matter if there's another debate. Neither one of them is addressing issues that people actually care the most about, so no one knows who to vote for.
@8SJHTLKSocial Justice2yrs2Y
Well, I guess Trump has ‘better things to do,’ like, I don’t know, catering to his billionaire buddies while regular folks can’t make ends meet. And Harris? She’d probably just sit there nodding along like she’s hearing some grand wisdom. Both sides are a joke, honestly. Neither of them care about working-class people or the real issues, just keeping their donor classes happy.
Trump’s refusal just proves he doesn’t care about transparency or accountability. Harris is right to call for a second debate. People deserve to hear about each candidate’s plans for healthcare, education, and social programs. Trump’s ducking because he doesn’t want to answer for his administration’s failures.
Good for Trump! Why should he waste his time debating someone who’s just going to parrot Biden’s failed policies? Harris and the Democrats have nothing new to offer. They’re pushing for more taxes, open borders, and a weak America. Trump’s got better things to do—like focusing on keeping our country safe and our economy strong.
@Dry550Independent2yrs2Y
Certain people have already made up their minds on who they’re voting for, problem is, there are people like me who have no idea who to vote for. I’m center left if I had to put a label on myself, with RFK siding with Trump next in line is Harris for me. This might be the first time I vote
Is anyone surprised? The debates are just a puppet show for the elites. Trump probably knows this, which is why he’s backing out. Both parties are in on the scam. These so-called ‘debates’ are just a way to pacify the masses, make them think they have a choice.
This is just another example of Trump dodging accountability. We need a leader who’s willing to stand up and address the crises we’re facing—climate, healthcare, inequality. Harris might not be perfect, but at least she’s showing up. Trump’s running scared, and that should tell you everything you need to know.
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