Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will not participate in a second debate before the November presidential election. While Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, accepted an invitation to the CNN debate scheduled for October 23, Trump told supporters at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, that it was “too late” since voting had already begun.
Harris’s campaign team called on Trump to reconsider, noting his claim of victory in their first debate earlier this month in Philadelphia. Despite snap polls suggesting that Harris outperformed Trump in that encounter, Trump reiterated that there would be no further debates.
Speaking at the rally on Saturday, Trump asserted that the first debate was enough and accused Harris of seeking another debate “because she’s losing badly.” He claimed victory in the previous head-to-head and said the voting process was already underway.
Harris’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, responded by stating that Americans “deserve another opportunity” to see the candidates debate before casting their votes. She pointed out that having only one general election debate would be unprecedented in modern history.
On social media, Harris confirmed her acceptance of the debate invitation and expressed hope that Trump would reconsider.
The proposed second debate would follow a similar format to the June event between Trump and President Joe Biden. Biden’s performance in that debate raised concerns among Democrats about his viability as the party’s candidate, leading to his eventual decision not to seek re-election. Harris was later confirmed as the Democratic nominee.
At the Trump rally, supporters expressed mixed reactions about a possible second debate. Steve Castellano, a Trump supporter, suggested that a new debate should be moderated by a more neutral party, proposing podcast host Joe Rogan as an ideal choice.
Trump currently trails Harris by a small margin in national polling averages, making states like North Carolina pivotal for his campaign. His rally in the state comes on the heels of a controversy surrounding Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor whom Trump endorsed. Robinson had reportedly made inflammatory comments on an adult forum, which he dismissed as “salacious tabloid lies.” Robinson did not attend the rally, and Trump did not address the issue during his speech.
The previous debate between Trump and Harris was heated, with Trump labeling Harris as a “radical left liberal” and accusing her of destroying the country. Harris, in turn, ridiculed Trump’s rally crowds and referenced his criticisms from within the Republican Party.
CBS has also extended an invitation to both candidates for an October debate in Arizona, though Trump’s participation remains uncertain.