Former President Donald Trump appears to be backtracking on agreeing to debate Vice President Kamala Harris.
Late last month, Trump told reporters that he would "absolutely" debate Harris, but in an interview this week, he asked, "I mean, right now, I say, why should I do a debate?"
Trump told Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo, “Well, I want to. And we’re still leading in the polls, it seems, by quite a bit.”
“She’s better than he is, but I think ultimately she’ll be worse than him,” Trump continued.
Trump continued, “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.” Donald Trump: “Right now, I say why should I do a debate? I'm leading in the polls." pic.twitter.com/o8lywAqvfz
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) August 2, 2024
The interview was recorded on Thursday and aired on Friday.
Trump was previously scheduled to a debate with President Joe Biden, hosted by ABC News, on September 10. He has since implied that the change in candidate has reopened negotiations to try to get it hosted by a different network.
Harris for President co-Chair Cedric Richmond responded to Trump's latest comments by urging him to "man up,"
“He’s got no problem spreading lies and hateful garbage at his rallies or in interviews with right-wing commentators. But he’s apparently too scared to do it standing across the stage from the Vice President of the United States,” Richmond said. “Since he talks the talk, he should walk the walk and – as Vice President Harris said earlier this week – say it to her face on September 10. She’ll be there waiting to see if he’ll show up.”
Harris herself also challenged Trump during a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday. Kamala Harris, in Atlanta, Georgia, challenges Trump to debate: “If you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.” pic.twitter.com/uVyiq8f0Ve
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 30, 2024
“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,” Harris said.
