Trump says he'll debate Harris with Fox News instead of ABC News, sparking criticism from Democrats

Former President Donald Trump said late Friday he would debate Vice President Kamala Harris in early September under the condition the forum is in front of a live-audience in Pennsylvania—and that its hosts work exclusively for Fox News.

The former president’s announcement was a rebuke of his last debate with President Biden, who at the time was the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, and immediately raised objections from the Harris campaign, according to a report published by The New York Times.

It also drew criticism from some election analysts and media pundits who suggested Trump was narrowing conditions as a means of avoiding a face-off against Harris.

“As everyone knows, the Democrats have Unconstitutionally taken a Candidate, who was acknowledged to be defeated, and unceremoniously replaced him with a new Candidate,” Trump said in announcing the switch in a post on his Truth Social platform. “This has never been done before, and is a Threat to Democracy, but I am totally prepared to accept the results of this ‘coup,’ and replace Joe on the Debate stage with Crazy Kamala Harris.”

Trump said he would take part in a Sept. 4 Fox News debate, sparking criticism from the Harris campaign, which wants to remain on scheduled with the current debate hosted by ABC News and scheduled for Sept. 10.

“I have agreed with Fox News 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,” Trump added as part of his Truth posts. 

“The Fox News 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!” he added.

The Harris campaign fired back, alleging that the move was a sign Trump was intimidated by the vice president and insisted that Harris was ready to debate the former president on Sept. 10.

“Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out. He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept. 10,” Michael Tyler, the Harris campaign’s communications director said in a statement.

“We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to. Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th,” the statement explained.

The first June 27 presidential debate between Trump and Biden took place on June 27, in which the president often found himself confused. The exchange resulted in a consequential move by the Democratic Party, which subsequently made great efforts to convince the president to pass the torch to Harris for the upcoming election.