ABC News has confirmed that it will host the first debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on September 10, as the two prepare to face off ahead of the November election. The announcement came after Trump expressed his willingness to participate in multiple debates with Harris, suggesting additional debates hosted by Fox News and NBC.
Harris, speaking at an event in Michigan, confirmed her participation in the ABC debate, stating, “I am looking forward to debating Donald Trump and we have a date of September 10. I hear he’s finally committed to it and I’m looking forward to it.”
The debate on ABC comes after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race following a poor performance in a previous debate with Trump. Since Biden’s withdrawal, there has been back-and-forth between the Trump and Harris campaigns over the scheduling of debates.
At a news conference held at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump proposed two additional debates with Harris: one on September 4 on Fox News and another on September 25 on NBC. He also mentioned that CBS would host a debate between the vice-presidential nominees, Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz.
While NBC is reportedly in discussions about a potential autumn debate, the Harris campaign has not yet agreed to a debate on Fox News. In his news conference, Trump criticized Harris for not holding a news conference or doing an interview since becoming the likely Democratic nominee, calling her “barely competent.”
Despite these attacks, Harris’ campaign has seen a surge in enthusiasm, with recent polls showing her gaining ground in key battleground states. Trump, however, denied that he had adjusted his campaign strategy to focus on Harris, dismissing concerns about the size of the crowds at her rallies.
As the race for the White House heats up, both candidates are expected to continue campaigning aggressively, with the debates playing a crucial role in shaping voter opinions ahead of the November election.