The stage is now set for a high-stakes debate this September as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to face off. This upcoming showdown promises to be a major event, drawing significant attention as the two prominent political figures prepare to present their contrasting visions for the future.
Trump, Harris to debate in September
The strengths and distinctive perspectives offered both by Trump and Harris suggest it may be a dynamic engagement over issues. With the event soon approaching, political supporters as well as analysts are at high alert, waiting for their expression of views and issues concerning the nation, and, finally, the debate seems set to be a determining landmark for the present political structure while ensuring the voter gets a better perspective of where each contender lies concerning such issues.
After Mr. Trump said Thursday he is open to debating his Democratic opponent three times before the November elections, the network confirmed the rendezvous in a post to its X, formerly Twitter page, Thursday night. “We think we should do three debates,” said Mr. Trump, describing an additional two debates that Mr. Trump said would feature Fox News and NBC each.
Ms. Harris confirmed she would attend the ABC debate at an event in Michigan on Thursday and said later she was open to further debates. The network said the debate will be moderated by World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis.
“I am looking forward to debating Donald Trump, and we have a date of September 10. I hear he’s finally committed to it, and I’m looking forward to it,” Ms. Harris said at the event in Detroit.
Mr. Trump, the Republican candidate, debated President Joe Biden once in June. The two were slated to do so again on September 10, but Mr. Biden withdrew from the presidential race after a disastrous performance against Trump in the televised matchup. That paved the way for Ms. Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
The debate confirmation on ABC marks the end of a back-and-forth that followed Mr. Biden’s decision to leave the race between the Trump and Harris campaigns over that planned showdown.
Trump had earlier said he wanted a debate hosted by the conservative network Fox News, saying it would take place in Pennsylvania “at a site in an area to be determined.”.
The Harris campaign maintained that they would still be interested in debating Trump on 10 September.
At a Thursday news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump added that he would like to debate Ms. Harris two more times: on 4 September on Fox News and on 25 September on NBC.
Trump said that CBS will broadcast a debate between the two vice presidential nominees, Republican JD Vance and Democratic Tim Walz.
NBC News is reportedly discussing both campaigns about a potential fall debate, the New York Times reported. Fox News said it sent formal letters to both campaigns last month to propose a September debate in Pennsylvania, though the Harris campaign said on Thursday that “Trump has to show up” to the ABC debate before they confirm any further showdowns.
Trump also condemned Ms. Harris for not accepting reporter questions or an interview since she became the most likely Democratic nominee just more than two weeks ago. He branded her “barely competent” and lambasted her intelligence. Later Thursday, Ms. Harris told reporters that she had asked her staff to “get an interview scheduled” before the end of the month.
There was Donald Trump’s hour-long event amid reports that his campaign is feeling the pressure from Democrats, who have new enthusiasm under Ms. Harris and have been dominating the headlines.
National and battleground state polls suggest her campaign has gained ground in recent days, though the race for the White House remains a close contest.
The former president said he had not “recalibrated” his campaign to challenge Ms. Harris rather than Mr. Biden and seemed to bristle at being asked about the appeal of the crowds Ms. Harris attracts at rallies.
“Oh, give me a break,” he said, suggesting crowds that attend his rallies were greater than those who show up for hers.
His Thursday news conference is the first he has held in several months, as his campaign has previously focused on holding rallies across the country.
Trump also commended his running mate, Mr. Vance, who was under fire lately for comments he made in 2021 in which he said those who do not have children are not supposed to lead the country and that women who have no children are “miserable” and “childless cat ladies.” “I have to tell you, JD Vance has really stepped up,” Trump said. “He’s doing a fantastic job.” He went on to poke holes in Ms. Harris’s record on immigration and the economy.
He said 20 million people had crossed the US’s southern border with Mexico, perhaps many more, during the Biden-Harris administration. Since Mr. Biden took office, the US Customs and Border Protection agency says almost 10.1 million crossings have been recorded. While this is a significant increase in Mr. Trump’s time in power and the highest figure recorded under any US administration, the $20 million figure does not seem probable.
The former president also said his tax cuts were “the biggest in history.” But according to analysis by the independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, they were the eighth-largest since 1918 measured as a percentage of the size of the economy (GDP) and the fourth-largest in dollar terms since 1940 adjusted for inflation.
Although Trump did not introduce the largest tax cut overall, he did pass the largest corporate tax cut in US history. He repeated his belief that US presidents should have a say over interest rates and monetary policy—a departure from the longstanding practice of having the US Federal Reserve, an independent body, oversee these matters.
He emphasized his priorities of lowering inflation, lowering crime rates, and strengthening the military. He also criticized the administration’s transport policy, saying people would be “forced” to buy electric cars. But the Biden administration has been clear that there are no plans for a ban on the sale of gasoline vehicles.
Ms. Harris spoke in Detroit, addressing United Auto Workers on Thursday and thanking them for their endorsement. She said she has now “89 days to get this done” before an election
In Summery
The debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is officially scheduled for September 10, according to ABC. Trump, who had shown interest in multiple debates, proposed two more for September 4 and September 25, with Fox News and NBC as proposed hosts.
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