Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump mentioned Monday that whereas he “in all probability” will debate Vice President Kamala Harris, he “may additionally make a case” for avoiding a face-to-face confrontation together with his possible Democratic opponent.
Trump, in a Fox Information interview that aired Monday night, didn’t initially say whether or not he would decide to a debate with Harris. And whereas he appeared to verify that he was recreation for a debate, his solutions left room for ambiguity.
The remarks underscored how far the dynamics of the race have shifted within the week since President Joe Biden withdrew his reelection bid — a call that got here after his disastrous debate in opposition to Trump in late June.
Earlier than that debate, Trump had repeatedly challenged Biden to face him “anytime, anyplace, anyplace.” However when requested about debating Harris, he struck a distinct tone.
“So, I like debating. I like debating, I’ve carried out plenty of debates,” the previous president informed Fox host Laura Ingraham.
“I wish to do a debate, however I can also say this: Everyone is aware of who I’m, and now folks know who she is,” he mentioned, accusing Harris of being a “radical left lunatic.”
Ingraham interjected: “Then why not debate her?”
Trump responded, “Effectively, wait. However, as a result of they already know all the things.”
When Ingraham mentioned, “They will say you are afraid of debating her,” Trump replied, “They mentioned that with Biden, too.”
“I am main within the polls,” Trump added, though a variety of current survey present Harris in a digital tie or slight lead, each nationally and in key swing states.
“The answer is sure, I will in all probability find yourself debating,” Trump mentioned, including, “I feel truly the talk ought to happen earlier than the votes begin getting forged.”
He famous that his second debate with Biden within the 2020 race was “excellent,” however a big chunk of the votes had already been forged by the point that mid-October occasion befell.
“So the answer is sure,” Trump mentioned. “However I may make a case for not doing it.”
Harris, in the meantime, has publicly pushed Trump to debate her since she turn into the de facto Democratic nominee following Biden’s withdrawal on July 21.
Her marketing campaign mentioned earlier Monday that she can be on the Sept. 10 presidential debate — which Trump and then-candidate Biden had beforehand agreed to attend — whether or not her GOP rival is there or not.
“We’ll see if Trump reveals,” Harris marketing campaign spokesman Michael Tyler mentioned in an announcement.
“As Vice President Harris mentioned final week, the American folks deserve to listen to from the 2 candidates working for the best workplace within the land and she’s going to try this at September’s ABC debate,” Tyler mentioned. “If Donald Trump and his staff are saying something apart from ‘we’ll see you there,’ — and it seems that they’re — it is a handy however anticipated backtrack from Crew Trump.”
Harris has already accused Trump of “backpedaling” from that debate.
“I feel that voters should see the break up display that exists on this race on a debate stage, and so I am prepared,” Harris informed reporters on Thursday. “Let’s go.”
Whereas Trump informed reporters final week he can be keen to debate Harris “a number of occasions,” he additionally mentioned that he was “not thrilled about ABC.”
“They’re truly making an attempt to make a hero out of Joe Biden when he was the worst president in historical past, they usually have been doing issues like with Kamala, like what a beautiful factor that she is working,” he mentioned. “I do not like the thought of ABC.”
Trump’s marketing campaign then mentioned on Thursday that it “can be inappropriate” to schedule a debate in opposition to Harris, since she isn’t but the official Democratic nominee.
“Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Occasion, basic election debate particulars can’t be finalized till Democrats formally resolve on their nominee,” Trump marketing campaign spokesman Steven Cheung mentioned. “It will be inappropriate to schedule issues with Harris as a result of Democrats very nicely may nonetheless change their minds.”
Neither Trump nor Biden have been their events’ official nominees once they debated in June.
ABC Information on Friday launched its qualification necessities for the talk, suggesting the community is transferring ahead with its plans regardless of Trump’s refusal to commit.
