VANDALIA, OHIO - NOVEMBER 07: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Dayton International Airport on November 7, 2022 in Vandalia, Ohio. Trump is in Ohio campaigning for Republican candidates, including U.S. Senate candidate JD Vance, who faces U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) in tomorrow's general election. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
On Thursday, during a rare press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, former President Donald Trump re-committed to the Sept. 10 ABC debate with Vice President Kamala Harris after initially backing out last week.
“ABC News will host qualifying presidential candidates to debate on September 10 on ABC. Vice President Harris and former President Trump have both confirmed they will attend the ABC debate,” the network said after Trump’s announcement.
During the press conference, Trump expressed that he was “looking forward” to debating Harris. He also mentioned his intent to participate in an additional NBC debate, noting a “fairly full agreement” in place, and reaffirmed his support for a debate on Fox News.
“I think it’s very important to have debates, and we’ve agreed with Fox on a date of September 4. We’ve agreed with NBC. Fairly full agreement subject to them on September 10. And we’ve agreed with ABC on September 25,” Trump announced.
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A senior Trump advisor and an ABC source confirmed the correct dates that Trump has agreed to with the networks: Sept. 4 with Fox News, Sept. 10 with ABC and Sept. 25 with NBC.
He also suggested that his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), would participate in a vice presidential debate on CBS.
The former president stated that his campaign had spoken with the heads of ABC, NBC and Fox News, finalizing the debate details except for the presence of an audience and the locations.
When the initial agreement was reached between the Trump and Biden campaigns earlier this summer, ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis were set to moderate the Sept. 10 debate.
Trump also previously expressed support for a Fox News debate in Pennsylvania moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
“The other side has to agree to the terms. They may or may not agree. I don’t know if they’re going to agree. [Harris] hasn’t done an interview. She can’t do an interview. She’s barely competent and she can’t do an interview. I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight,” Trump said.
While Harris’ campaign previously agreed to ABC’s debate proposal, she has not yet agreed to the Fox News date Trump previously proposed or the NBC News debate he suggested for the first time on Thursday.
“I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on September 10th. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope he shows up,” Harris told reporters before boarding Air Force Two in Detroit after an event with the United Auto Workers.
On Thursday, Harris later said she would be “happy” to discuss an additional debate.
Trump’s reversal comes as the Republican nominee faces Harris’ rising poll numbers and privately expresses frustration with his campaign status following Harris’ ascension to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket.
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