Fox News has officially invited Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to participate in a debate on September 17. This debate is tentatively scheduled to occur just a week after a proposed debate on September 10 by ABC News, which both President Joe Biden and Trump had committed to before Biden withdrew from the race.
Details of the Fox News Invitation
The network sent invitations to both campaigns on Wednesday. Fox News is proposing to hold the debate in Pennsylvania, though the exact date, format, location, and presence of an audience are open to discussions with each campaign.
The invitation followed Trump’s push for a conservative network-hosted debate during a Tuesday conference call with reporters. Despite his preference, Trump has committed to debating Harris regardless of the host network. Neither the Harris nor the Trump campaigns have responded to requests for comment on the invitation.
Moderators and Invitation Letters
The letters sent to the Harris and Trump campaigns were authored by Fox News Media President Jay Wallace and Vice President of Politics Jessica Loker. They described the invitation as an amendment to their proposal for a debate during the 2024 campaign, suggesting that hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum would be the “best choices” to moderate.
The Significance of a Harris-Trump Debate
A face-off between Harris and Trump would be highly anticipated, especially after Biden’s disastrous performance in his June debate against Trump, which led to a significant Democratic revolt and Biden’s subsequent withdrawal from the campaign on Sunday.
Previous Debate Proposals and the Current Status
Trump had previously sought a vice presidential debate on Fox News between Harris and his then-unidentified running mate, now known to be Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. Harris had agreed to a vice presidential debate on CBS News, tentatively scheduled for either July 23 or August 13. With Harris now the all-but-certain Democratic nominee for president, the status of the vice presidential debate remains unclear.
Conclusion
Fox News’ invitation sets the stage for a critical showdown between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. As the campaigns consider the invitation, the political landscape continues to evolve, promising a highly charged and closely watched debate season.
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