Former President Donald J. Trump announced on Friday that he has agreed to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on September 4 in an event to be moderated by Fox News. If this debate takes place, it will be the second presidential debate of the election cycle and the first head-to-head encounter between Mr. Trump and the new Democratic candidate.
Mr. Trump shared the news via a post on his social media platform, specifying that the debate is scheduled to occur at an undecided location in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state. The debate is expected to be moderated by Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
As of early Saturday, it was unclear if Vice President Harris had agreed to participate in the debate or if the terms had been finalized. Representatives for Ms. Harris’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, and a spokesperson for Fox News also did not provide any statements.
Mr. Trump mentioned that the debate would feature a live audience, contrasting with the previous debate between him and President Joe Biden, which took place in an empty venue due to COVID-19 precautions. Although both campaigns had agreed to the format of the first debate, Mr. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the absence of a crowd.
In his announcement, Mr. Trump also acknowledged Ms. Harris as the new Democratic candidate, stating that he is “totally prepared to accept” her candidacy. He has repeatedly referred to her sudden rise after Mr. Biden’s withdrawal from the race as a “coup” within the Democratic Party. Mr. Trump used the opportunity to criticize the change in his opposition, lamenting the resources he had expended to compete against Mr. Biden.
The debate is set for September 4, a date that coincides closely with the start of early voting in some states and occurs long after Ms. Harris is expected to secure the Democratic nomination. The virtual roll call vote concluding on Monday is anticipated to formalize her nomination.
The first presidential debate between President Biden and Mr. Trump, hosted by CNN, was regarded by experts as one of the most significant in history. Mr. Biden’s performance, perceived as halting and weak, contrasted sharply with Mr. Trump’s aggressive approach, which included the propagation of numerous falsehoods.
Concerns about Mr. Biden’s age, health, and his ability to effectively challenge Mr. Trump in the general election were amplified by his debate performance. These concerns, coupled with declining poll numbers and mounting pressure from key Democratic allies, led Mr. Biden to announce his withdrawal from the race on July 21.
The potential debate between Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris is poised to be a pivotal moment in the election cycle, providing voters with a critical opportunity to evaluate the candidates directly against each other.
