Former President Donald Trump has expressed concerns regarding his upcoming debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, scheduled for September 10 on ABC News. Trump has raised issues over various aspects of the debate, highlighting what he believes is bias within ABC News.
In a social media post on Sunday night, Trump expressed frustration over what he described as a „ridiculous and biased interview“ of Senator Tom Cotton by ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl. He criticized the network’s panel, which he believes is against him. Trump initially agreed to face off against President Joe Biden on ABC News. However, following Biden’s decision to end his campaign and Harris assuming the role of the Democratic nominee, Trump attempted to move the debate to Fox News but was eventually compelled to stick with the original arrangement.
Despite some back-and-forth, Trump conceded to maintain the previously agreed-upon plan. In a social media post on Sunday, Trump questioned whether he should participate in the debate on ABC. He also took aim at Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, misspelling her name and accusing her of potentially favoring Harris, as well as using a disparaging nickname for ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.
Trump’s criticism extended to the network choice, wondering why Harris declined debates on other major networks such as Fox News, NBC, CBS, and CNN. The debate negotiations have been contentious, with both campaigns clashing over dates, venues, and rules. Traditionally, the Commission on Presidential Debates has organized these forums in a standardized, nonpartisan manner. This year’s debates were arranged directly with the networks.
Earlier, Trump briefly pulled out from the ABC debate but returned after Harris refused to move the event to Fox News. Currently, the Harris campaign is pushing for modifications to the debate rules. Initially, Biden had requested muted microphones when it wasn’t a candidate’s turn to speak. Yet, the Harris campaign is now advocating for microphones to remain live throughout the entire debate.
Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, articulated that Trump’s team preferred muted microphones because they were worried about his ability to sustain a presidential demeanor for the full duration of 90 minutes. „ABC offered the exact same debate rules as CNN, and we accepted — as did the Harris camp,“ said Trump spokesperson Jason Miller. „Now, after the Harris campaign has begun debate prep, they’re clearly concerned about what they’re seeing from Harris‘ performance and want a whole host of rules changes.“
Despite Trump’s objections, the debate moderators have been confirmed as ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. The upcoming debate between Trump and Harris promises to be a highly anticipated event, with both candidates preparing to present their platforms and engage in a spirited exchange of ideas.