Donald Trump yesterday appeared to backtrack on an earlier commitment to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, saying he "probably" will debate with her, but added that he can present arguments as to why he would not do so, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
In an interview with "Fox News" that aired Monday night, Trump was pressed several times about whether he would commit to a debate with Harris, after which he gave a more evasive answer than he has in recent days.< /p>
The former president was ready to debate President Joe Biden when he was the Democratic nominee after months of suggesting that Biden was not mentally prepared for the fight — or the presidency. But after Biden withdrew from the race and Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, Trump questioned the terms of the debate he had agreed to with Biden. He suggested the Sept. 10 ABC debate be moved to another channel, calling the ABC a source of “fake news”.
In a phone call with reporters last week, Trump was asked if he would commit to debating Harris at least once. He replied: “Oh yes, absolutely. I'd like to do that.“
In Monday's interview, host Laura Ingraham repeatedly pressed Trump on whether he would engage in a debate.
„I want to participate in a debate. But I can also say this. Everyone knows who I am. And now people know who she (Harris) is," Trump said.
In the end, Trump said: “The answer is "yes”, there will probably be a debate.”. But he added that any debates should take place before early voting begins in states, then said: "The answer is yes, but I can make arguments why I might not.“
Trump has missed debates before, including all of the 2024 GOP presidential primary debates. holding the debates before it was eventually made clear that he would not be participating in any of these debates.
In Monday's interview, the Republican nominee also sought to clarify comments he made last week at a conservative event in which he told an audience of Christians that they "wouldn't have to vote anymore” once he was elected .