By W. G. S. D. Wijesinghe, Jadetimes News
Donald Trump has announced his agreement to a proposal from US broadcaster Fox News to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on September 4th. Originally, a debate between Trump and incumbent Joe Biden was scheduled on rival network ABC News for September 10th, with Harris set to stand in for Biden. However, Trump stated that the ABC debate was cancelled following Biden's withdrawal from the race. Harris has not yet commented on the new Fox News proposal.
The two candidates are set to compete for the presidency on November 5th, after Harris was formally chosen as the Democratic nominee. If the Fox News debate proceeds, it will be the second presidential debate of the election cycle and the first between Harris and Trump. The debate is tentatively scheduled to take place in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state, with the exact location yet to be determined. Trump mentioned that Fox News moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum would oversee the debate, with rules similar to those of his debate with Biden.
Trump also stated on his social network, Truth Social, that if Harris is unable or unwilling to debate on that date, he has agreed with Fox News to conduct a major Town Hall on the same evening.
Biden withdrew from the presidential race on July 21st, citing the decision as being in the best interest of his party and the country. His withdrawal followed weeks of speculation about his health, sparked by a faltering debate performance against Trump and subsequent public gaffes. Biden endorsed Harris, who then received support from the Democratic establishment and was formally nominated as the Democratic candidate.
During a campaign rally in Atlanta, Harris challenged Trump to debate her, saying, "If you got something to say, say it to my face."
This debate news coincides with a Homeland Security Department report revealing mistakes made by the US Secret Service in their response to the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. The report highlighted that Harris, then vice president elect, was within 20 feet of a viable pipe bomb planted outside the Democratic National Committee's headquarters in Washington. Another bomb was found at the Republican National Committee headquarters, both placed the night before Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. The identities of those who planted the pipe bombs remain unknown.
