Kamala Harris, Donald Trump debate: FOX News Media proposes September matchup
Trump says he wants to debate Harris
Former President Donald Trump shared on Tuesday that he would 'absolutely' be willing to debate Vice President Kamala Harris. LiveNOW's Andrew Craft discusses the potential debate and who Harris might pick for VP with Tom Lobianco, a national politics reporter for 24sight News.
FOX News Media has formally invited Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to participate in a presidential debate scheduled for September 17 in Pennsylvania.
This proposal comes as Harris emerges as the presumptive Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden's recent decision to withdraw from the 2024 race. The debate is poised to be a significant event, coinciding with the start of early voting in critical battleground states.
Why is FOX News proposing a debate between Harris and Trump?
With Vice President Kamala Harris now the presumptive Democratic nominee, FOX News Media has amended its proposal for a debate this election cycle. Letters sent to both campaigns, signed by FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace and FOX News Vice President of Politics Jessica Loker, requested the opportunity to host a presidential debate between Harris and Trump.
When and where is the proposed debate?
The proposal suggests hosting the debate on September 17 in Pennsylvania, aligning with the start of early voting in key battleground states. Wallace and Loker indicated openness to discussing the exact date, format, and location of the debate, with or without an audience.
Who would moderate the debate?
Wallace and Loker expressed confidence in FOX News' political anchors to moderate the event. "We believe Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the faces of our political coverage, are the best choices to moderate," they stated.
What are the responses from the Harris and Trump campaigns?
As of now, the Harris and Trump campaigns have not responded to requests for comment on the debate proposal.
What has been the recent debate history involving Trump and Biden?
Trump debated President Joe Biden last month on CNN, which led to calls for Biden to step aside after a perceived weak performance. Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, endorsing Harris shortly afterward.
What are Trump’s views on debating Harris?
Trump has expressed openness to debating Harris multiple times as they face off in the 2024 presidential election. "Absolutely. I'd want to. I think it's important," Trump said when asked by FOX News' Bill Melugin if he would commit to debating Harris at least once. He added, "I would be willing to do more than one debate, actually."
What other debates are scheduled?
CNN moderated the first presidential debate in June, and ABC News was set to host the next Biden-Trump showdown in September.
With Harris expected to lead the Democratic ticket, Trump has called for the next debate to be on FOX News Channel. Harris recently secured the nomination by gaining commitments from a majority of the nearly 4,000 delegates to next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago, starting August 19.
Trump and his campaign have previously accepted two FOX News debates this election cycle, including a presidential debate for October 2, and a vice-presidential debate for a date yet to be determined.
FOX News contributed to this story. It was reported from Los Angeles.