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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris shake hands as they arrive at their podiums to attend a presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Trump hints at the possibility of a second debate with VP Kamala Harris despite previously declaring the prospect dead. Trump claims leading in polls.
Former US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump appears to be leaving the door open for a second debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris after declaring another one-on-one with the current US Vice President was off the table.
“I wouldn’t need anything. I could do it tomorrow,” Trump said, as he responded to a question from Fox News about the possibility of another debate following a presser in California. However, Trump insisted that “Everything was crooked in the second one,” and suggested he might reconsider if he were “in the right mood.”
‘There Will Be No Third Debate’
This statement marks a shift from his earlier post on Truth Social, where he had emphatically stated, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” Trump claimed he had decisively won the debate against Harris, which took place on Tuesday and slammed her for not attending a previous debate hosted by Fox. He also dismissed the idea of a rematch, asserting that Harris should focus on her record as vice president instead.
Trump’s comments come after a heated 90-minute debate in Philadelphia, where many viewers believed Harris outperformed him. A CNN poll indicated that 63% of debate watchers felt Harris had the stronger performance, while only 37% favored Trump. Despite this, Trump maintained that he was leading in post-debate polls and had performed well.
‘Chicken’
In response to Trump’s refusal for another debate, Harris’s campaign has taken a jab at him, labeling him “chicken.” David Plouffe, Harris’s campaign chairman, mocked Trump on social media, suggesting that he was avoiding further confrontation. Harris herself has stated that both candidates owe it to the voters to engage in another debate.
Another top US news network has offered to host another debate, with proposed dates in October, but it remains unclear if Trump will reconsider his stance. As the November election nears, Trump’s decision not to debate again may affect his campaign strategy, especially with polls showing a tight race between him and Harris on key issues like the economy and immigration.
Read More: ‘I Could Do It Tomorrow’: Trump Leaves Door Open For Second Debate With Kamala Harris After
