Former President Donald Trump has announced that he will not be participating in any more debates this election season, following a poll that suggested most voters believed Vice President Kamala Harris won their first debate. Trump stated that all of the issues that needed to be addressed were discussed in the previous debates with President Biden and Harris, so there was no need for another faceoff. He also claimed that Harris had been a “no-show” at certain debates, although her campaign had indicated willingness to participate in further discussions after the ABC debate on Tuesday.
Even though Trump seemed adamant about not participating in any more debates, his adviser Jason Miller hinted that he may be open to the idea, putting the responsibility on Harris to show up for another debate. The Harris campaign, on the other hand, pointed to the Vice President’s previous comments calling for more debates. It remains to be seen whether Trump will stick to his decision or change course like he did previously when he initially canceled the ABC debate before ultimately participating in it.
The ABC debate on Tuesday was the first time Trump and Harris had met on the debate stage, covering a range of topics including abortion rights, international conflicts, and the economy. Pundits praised Harris for her performance, noting that she was able to steer Trump off topic and force him into a defensive position. Trump’s performance in this debate was perceived differently from his previous debate with Biden, where he was seen as the clear winner. Despite Trump’s claims of victory on Tuesday, the debate attracted a significant viewership of over 67 million people.
With the election season heating up and tensions rising between the candidates, the decision by Trump to forego any further debates could have significant implications for the outcome of the election. The back-and-forth between the two campaigns over the possibility of more debates highlights the importance of these events in shaping public opinion and swaying undecided voters. As the election draws nearer, all eyes will be on how the candidates continue to engage with each other and the American public in the lead up to Election Day.
