Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will not participate in a third debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The decision follows a heated second debate, which took place earlier this week, where both candidates claimed victory.
Trump Rejects Harris’ Call for Another Debate
On Truth Social, Trump stated in all caps, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” Harris’ campaign had challenged Trump to another debate immediately after their recent face-off, and Fox News even offered to host it. However, Trump firmly declined, claiming he had already won the debate battle.
“We owe it to the voters to have another debate,” Harris said on Thursday during a rally in North Carolina, pushing for an additional chance to present ideas. Despite this, Trump dismissed the proposal, leaving no room for a rematch.
Trump’s Reasons for Declining
On Thursday morning, Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, where he confirmed his decision not to debate Harris again. According to Trump, his performance in the second debate was so convincing that another debate would be unnecessary. He likened Harris’ desire for a rematch to a prizefighter’s immediate request for one after losing.
Trump said, “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH.’” He claimed Harris was simply acting out of desperation after suffering what he described as a decisive defeat.
Reactions to the Debate
Both campaigns insisted that they emerged victorious from Tuesday’s debate. Harris managed to sidestep questions about the Biden administration’s records and her own political positions, effectively getting under Trump’s skin during the event. Trump, in response, went on extended tangents, including claims about Haitian migrants in Ohio and their alleged bizarre activities.
While Trump declared the debate his best performance, some Republicans disagreed, calling his performance lackluster. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close Trump ally, described it as a “missed opportunity.”
In the wake of the debate, Trump’s pollster Tony Fabrizio released a memo claiming a slight bump in Trump’s support post-debate. The memo suggested that despite media portrayal, voter support for Harris remained stagnant.
Trump’s Future Debate Plans
While Trump has ruled out another debate with Harris, his campaign has already committed to a debate with NBC on September 25. Discussions around possible future debates continue, but Trump’s team remains uncertain about further commitments.
Jason Miller, a senior advisor to Trump, indicated that while another debate is planned, there’s hesitation. Lara Trump, co-chair of the RNC, stated that Trump is “very open” to future debates, though the former president himself has remained ambiguous on the issue.
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