US Vice President Kamala Harris, also the Democratic Presidential Nominee, turned down a debate invitation by the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, scheduled for September 4 on Fox News.
Harris's campaign accused Trump of seeking to dodge a debate with President Joe Biden already scheduled to air on ABC. After being confirmed as the Democratic nominee for the Nov. 5 election, Harris said she plans to debate as scheduled.
Harris wrote in a social media post on X, "Isn't it interesting how 'any time, any place' somehow morphs into 'one exact time, one specific safe space.' To this, she added, "I will be there on the 10th, as previously agreed. I hope he shows up."
Trump had offered to switch the debate to Fox News, an outlet popular among his base. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said he had assumed that the rules for the debate would be the same as in his first debate with President Biden, who has since dropped out of the race.
Trump attacked Harris, contending that she is "afraid" to debate him and added that he will see her on September 4, "or not at all."
Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci came out to warn that Trump could suffer a serious blow to his election chances if he avoids debating Harris at all costs before November, The Hill reported.
But Trump, riding high on the release of polls showing his strengthened lead, insisted there was no need to debate Harris.
Again, Trump recently sparked another controversy over a question about Harris's racial identity at a National Association of Black Journalists event in Chicago. In response, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote, "It's offensive and unacceptable for anyone to dictate someone else's identity."
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