Fox News Invites Harris, Trump to September Debate in Pennsylvania

ABC News was previously set to host a Sept. 10 debate between Trump and Biden


Fox News Invites Harris, Trump to September Debate in Pennsylvania

Fox News Media has offered to host a debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.


A September debate would have been the second televised face-off between Trump and President Joe Biden, who terminated his 2024 reelection campaign on July 21. Biden endorsed Harris as the next Democratic presidential nominee. 

“Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee, FOX News Media is amending our proposal for a debate this cycle,” wrote Fox News Media President Jay Wallace and Vice President of Politics Jessica Loker in a letter obtained by Breaking911

The executives suggested the debate be held in Pennsylvania on Sept. 17 “just as early voting gets underway.” They proposed Fox’s Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum act as moderators.

The Democratic Party intends to hold a virtual roll call to determine its nominee before the Democratic National Convention, which takes place from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22 in Chicago. 

“We are open to discussion on the exact date, format and location – with or without an audience,” Wallace and Loker added. “In recognition of FOX News Media’s capabilities and reputation, we cordially extend an invitation to all concerned parties to discuss our proposal. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to the opportunity to foster informed political dialogue at this pivotal moment for our nation.”

Trump has said he would be willing to take part in multiple debates with Harris.

I think it's important,” said Trump at a press conference on July 23. 

“I haven’t agreed to anything. I agreed to a debate with Joe Biden,” he added. “But I want to debate her, and she’ll be no different, because they have the same policies. I think debating’s important for a presidential race, I really do, you sort of have an obligation to debate.”

Prior to Biden’s departure from the race, ABC News had secured the right to air the second debate between the incumbent Democrat and Trump. The event would have been held on Sept. 10. Trump had also indicated he would take part in an additional debate hosted by Fox on Oct. 2 but the Biden campaign stated it was not open to a third debate.

According to Variety:

Between 1988 and 2020, the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates organized the presidential debate process, lining up moderators on its own. Modern politics have churned so much with outrage, however, that both Republicans and Democrats have been eager to circumvent the organization their own parties set in motion in 1987, after several elections in which the debates were put together by the League of Women Voters.

Harris spent her second full day on the campaign trail speaking in Wisconsin where she argued her experience as California’s attorney general would help her defeat Trump.

"I took on perpetrators of all kinds,” said Harris, per the BBC. “Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.”

"So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump's type," she added. "In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week."

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