Donald Trump Pulls Out of Planned Debate with Kamala Harris Citing Democratic Party Turmoil in Washington

Donald Trump has backed out of his planned debate with Kamala Harris, citing what he describes as the chaos within the Democratic Party.

This move comes after Trump had previously promised he was ready to debate “anytime, anyplace.”

Initially, Trump had stated on Tuesday that he was eager to debate Harris following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race. With Biden stepping down, Harris, as his vice president, seemed the likely candidate to replace him.

Despite this, Trump decided to withdraw from the debate scheduled for September 10, originally set to include Biden. He’s now reluctant to commit to any new debate dates until Harris is officially confirmed as the Democratic nominee.

Harris took to Twitter to question Trump’s change of heart, asking, “What happened to ‘any time, any place?’” This comment reflected her frustration over the shifting debate plans.

Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, argued that the Democrats are in too much disarray following Biden’s exit.

He stated, “Due to the ongoing political turmoil surrounding Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, we cannot finalize general election debate details until the Democrats officially decide on their nominee.”

He also mentioned a belief among some Democrats, including Barack Obama, that Harris may not be the strongest candidate and that there might still be hopes for a different nominee.

The Democratic National Convention, which will take place from August 19 to 22, is expected to formally name the party’s presidential candidate.

However, Harris has already secured enough delegates to be considered the frontrunner.

In the initial agreement, Biden and Trump were set to have two debates: one on June 27 on CNN and the second on September 10 on ABC.

The first debate was a significant setback for Biden, leading to a chaotic period that ended with his campaign’s collapse.

Harris expressed her readiness to adhere to the debate schedule but noted earlier on Thursday that Trump’s commitment seemed to be wavering. She emphasized the importance of showcasing their differences on the debate stage, stating, “I’m ready. So let’s go.”

Harris also took a jab at Trump’s change in plans, sarcastically asking, “What happened to ‘any time, any place?’”

During a press call on Tuesday, Trump had asserted his willingness to debate Harris and even suggested the possibility of additional debates.

He described her as “similar to Biden” but “much more radical,” arguing that she represents a dangerous shift to the left.

Trump also indicated a preference for Fox News over ABC as the debate host, expressing dissatisfaction with ABC’s bias. He mentioned that Fox had shown interest in hosting the debate and hinted that it would be a more favorable venue for him.

In summary, Trump’s latest stance on the debate has introduced uncertainty into the election debate schedule, leaving the public and Harris awaiting further developments.