U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has accepted CNN’s invitation to participate in a second debate against Republican opponent Donald Trump. The event was set for October 23. However, Trump has refused the invitation, arguing that it’s “too late now,” as early voting for the November 5 election is already underway.
After the first debate on September 10, both campaigns claimed victory, and Harris’s team expressed interest in a follow-up. Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’s campaign manager, highlighted that Trump had previously praised the debate format used by CNN in June, leaving no reason for him to reject another match-up.
Trump Says No to Debate
Trump dismissed the idea of a second debate, attributing Harris’s eagerness to her lagging performance in the polls. During a rally in Wilmington, he commented, “She wants another debate now because she’s losing badly.” Trump reiterated his stance on his social media platform Truth Social, declaring, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!”
Initially, Harris’s team considered the September 10 debate to be the only one, given the tight campaign schedule. Afterward, they expressed readiness for a rematch, as the first debate saw heated exchanges over key issues like immigration, violence, abortion rights, and international conflicts, including those in Ukraine and Gaza. Harris challenged Trump on his qualifications and his legal issues, while Trump described the debate as his “best debate ever.”
Trump’s refusal for another debate is seen as part of his strategy to maintain momentum following his earlier debate with President Joe Biden, which was a significant moment in his campaign before his exit paved the way for Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
