Kamala Harris and Trump clash over network choice for first debate as neither willing to compromise

WASHINGTON, DC: The Democratic and Republican nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are reportedly at odds with the setting of their presidential debate, with the latter preferring Fox News network while Harris siding with ABC.

The second presidential debate of 2024 was originally scheduled between Trump and incumbent Joe Biden on September 10 at ABC. However, since Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris in July, there were doubts on whether the debate would take place at all.

After refusing to commit to a debate for weeks, Trump announced on Truth Social on Friday, August 2, that he was prepared to debate Harris in a packed arena in Pennsylvania on Fox News network.

The event would take place on September 4 and effectively replace the ABC News debate of September 10, as Trump was "in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos (Stephanopoulos), thereby creating a conflict of interest."

The proposal was not accepted by the Harris campaign, and they decided to stick with the previously scheduled ABC debate.

Kamala Harris' campaign calls out Donald Trump for bailing on prescheduled debate

The Harris campaign rebuked the GOP nominee over the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, August 3, with a statement reading, "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. The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime time national audience."

"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," they added.

Donald Trump's response to Kamala Harris refusing to debate on Fox

Former president Donald Trump was quick to respond to Kamala Harris turning down his Fox News debate proposal on Truth Social.

"Kamala Harris doesn't have the mental capacity to do a REAL Debate against me, scheduled for September 4th in Pennsylvania," he wrote. "She's afraid to do it because there is no way she can justify her Corrupt and Open Borders, the Environmental Destruction of our Country, the Afghanistan Embarrassment, Runaway Inflation, Terrible Economy, High Interest Rates and Taxes, and her years long fight to stop the words, 'Merry Christmas.'"

"I’ll see her on September 4th or, I won’t see her at all," noted Trump, adding, "She is acknowledged to be the Worst Vice President in History, which works very nicely against the Worst President, Crooked Joe Biden. The combination of these two Low IQ individuals have destroyed our Country, but we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Internet sides with Donald Trump

Netizens reacting to the development on the social media platform X primarily agreed with Donald Trump, pointing out that the agreement he had for debating on ABC was against Biden and not Harris. The following examples demonstrate the prevalent take.

"Trump went into the Lion’s Den at CNN, and then was literally SHOT, a few weeks later…..if ANYONE is scared - it isn’t him….. 🤣🥳👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 C’mon Kamala, why so scared of FOX?" wrote a user.

"The terms of the debate changed when Joe Biden dropped out. He never agreed to debate Kamala on ABC who he has current litigation with. If she were doing so well you'd expect her to accept the Fox debate which takes place 6 days earlier," stated another.

"Harris is a wimp. She said anytime, anywhere, any place," jibed a third.

"Cowardly Kamala is the one who refuses to debate unless she gets the same rules a dementia patient was offered soooooo," chided a fourth.

"He already did a debate with their terms, but they refuse to do one under his terms. Seems like they’re the scared ones," commented a fifth.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.