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Former President Donald Trump has raised questions about his commitment to the upcoming debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, scheduled for September 10 on ABC News. In a social media post on Sunday night, Trump criticized the network, suggesting he might reconsider participating in the debate.
Trump’s doubts come after he initially agreed to debate then-candidate Joe Biden on ABC News. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the race and Harris’s emergence as the Democratic nominee, Trump wavered, attempting to shift the debate to Fox News. Despite this, he ultimately confirmed his participation in the ABC debate.
In his post, Trump condemned ABC News for what he described as a “ridiculous and biased interview” of Senator Tom Cotton by ABC reporter Jonathan Karl. He also criticized the network’s “so-called Panel of Trump Haters,” questioning why he should engage in a debate on such a platform.Trump’s post included misspelled names and derogatory comments, referring to Democratic strategist Donna Brazile with an incorrect spelling and disparaging news anchor George Stephanopoulos. Trump also questioned why Harris declined invitations from Fox, NBC, CBS, and CNN, suggesting there might be a bias against him.
The upcoming debate has been fraught with controversy. The Commission on Presidential Debates, traditionally responsible for organizing debates, was bypassed this year as Biden and Trump negotiated directly with TV networks. The ABC debate is scheduled on September 10 and a CNN event on June 27 +.
Trump had previously dropped out of the ABC debate and sought a debate on Fox News. However, he later reversed his decision and agreed to participate in the ABC debate after Harris did not accept the alternate offer.
The debate’s format has also become a point of contention. Biden’s team had requested that microphones be muted for each candidate when it was not their turn to speak, a rule Trump initially accepted. However, Harris’s campaign now argues for live microphones throughout the debate, contending that Trump’s preference for muted mics indicates a lack of confidence in his ability to handle the debate on his own.
Trump’s campaign countered by pointing out that Biden’s team originally requested the muted mics. Trump spokesman Jason Miller accused the Harris campaign of seeking rule changes due to concerns about Harris’s debate performance.
Despite Trump’s criticisms, the moderators for the debate, ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, have been confirmed. As the debate approaches, both campaigns continue to negotiate and prepare for what promises to be a highly anticipated event.