Republican presidential contender Donald Trump announced on Friday evening that he has agreed to face off against his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a debate on Fox News scheduled for September 4.
“I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
It remains unclear whether Harris has confirmed her participation in the debate.
Trump’s announcement came shortly after Vice President Harris secured the Democratic Party’s nomination for the upcoming November presidential election.
Trump’s campaign took an unexpected turn last month when 81-year-old President Joe Biden, who has been facing increasing concerns over his age and declining poll numbers, decided to withdraw from the race and endorsed Harris. Biden’s decision followed a poor performance in a debate against Trump on CNN in June.
A second debate between Trump and Biden had been planned for September 10 on ABC. While it was anticipated that Harris would take Biden’s place, a spokesperson for Trump last week indicated it would be “inappropriate” to hold a debate before Harris was officially nominated.
The 78-year-old Republican nominee had previously expressed reluctance to debate Harris, who is nearly twenty years younger than him, diverging from the usual political norms.
Last month, Harris, a former prosecutor and ex-California attorney general, challenged Trump to a direct debate.
“Well Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage, because as the saying goes, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face,” Harris stated at a campaign rally in Atlanta.
In his post, Trump specified that the debate will take place in Pennsylvania, moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and will have a live audience.
Trump wrote, “I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th. The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant, and I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thereby creating a conflict of interest. The FoxNews Debate will be held in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at a site in an area to be determined. The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and the Rules will be similar to the Rules of my Debate with Sleepy Joe, who has been treated horribly by his Party – BUT WITH A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!”
Fox News confirmed that the debate will include “spectators” and adhere to similar rules as the June 27 CNN debate between Trump and Biden.
The network stated it had invited both Trump and Harris to participate in the September debate in Pennsylvania.
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