Trump Hesitates on Harris Showdown: ‘Why Should I Do a Debate?’
By Jake Beardslee ·
August 2, 2024
Former President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the likelihood of a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her campaign's increasing pressure for a face-off. In a recent interview with Fox Business Network's Maria Bartiromo, Trump expressed ambivalence about participating in a debate, citing his lead in the polls as a potential reason to forgo the event. Harrison Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
"Well, I want to. And we're leading in the polls it seems by quite a bit still," Trump stated, acknowledging the recent shake-up in the Democratic race following President Biden's withdrawal. He added, "She's better than he is, but I think ultimately she'll be worse than him." Reid Glenn / USA TODAY NETWORK
The former president's hesitation comes in the wake of a previously agreed-upon debate scheduled for September 10, to be hosted by ABC News. However, with the change in the Democratic nominee, Trump has suggested that alterations to the host or format might be necessary. Reid Glenn / USA TODAY NETWORK
Trump's stance on the debate has been inconsistent in recent days. Last week, he initially told reporters he would "absolutely" debate the vice president. However, his campaign later declined to commit until Harris officially secures the Democratic nomination. In a subsequent Fox News appearance, Trump said he would "probably" debate her but could also make a case against it. Richard Burkhart/ USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
Explaining his current position, Trump said, "I mean right now I say, why should I do a debate? I'm leading in the polls. And, everybody knows her, everybody knows me."
The former president also expressed frustration with ABC News, suggesting that Fox News should host the debate instead. Harrison Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
Vice President Harris, for her part, has been vocal about her desire to debate Trump. During a rally in Atlanta, she directly addressed the former president's apparent reluctance: "Well Donald, I do hope you'll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage, because as the saying goes, if you got something to say, say it to my face." Richard Burkhart/ USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
Trump acknowledged the potential public relations challenge of declining to debate, stating, "If I didn't do the debate, they'd say, 'Oh Trump's not doing the debate.' It's the same thing they'll say now." TIM SHORTT/FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
For now, both camps continue their separate campaign efforts, with Harris rallying supporters and Trump maintaining his lead in the polls. The coming weeks will likely bring more clarity on whether these two political heavyweights will indeed meet on the debate stage, offering voters a chance to see them face off directly before making their choice in November. Hannah Mattix/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
