Vice President Kamala Harris called for a second debate immediately following her first match against former President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening that has been widely criticized by the Right for how the moderators sought to fact-check Trump while they laid off Harris.
“The American people got to see the choice they will face this fall at the ballot box: between moving forward with Kamala Harris, or going backwards with Trump,” Jen O’Malley, the chairwoman of Harris’ campaign, said in a statement.
“That’s what they saw tonight and what they should see at a second debate in October,” she added. “Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?”
On Fox News, which was reporting live from the debate venue in Philadelphia after the event concluded, Trump said Harris wanted a second debate “because she lost.” Pressed by host Sean Hannity whether he would agree to another match, Trump said he might be inclined to do it “if it was on a fair network.”
Hannity: “She wants a second debate.”
President Trump: “She wants it because she lost.” pic.twitter.com/aEfKBsNQpK
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 11, 2024
Up until now, Harris’ campaign had indicated it would only consider a second presidential debate against Trump in October if the Republican nominee attended the ABC News debate on Tuesday first.
Trump previously floated three debates against Harris, including the one held by ABC on Tuesday, as well as one held by Fox News on September 4 and another held by NBC News on September 25. The proposed Fox News date was later used for a town hall featuring Trump and Hannity.
During a press conference in August, Trump said Harris “may or may not agree” to all the debates he was offering to do against the vice president. He also declared that Harris was “barely competent” and knocked his opponent for not doing interviews as a presidential candidate.
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On Tuesday, Harris and Trump clashed on such issues as abortion, the economy, national security, and border security. The moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, have faced intense criticism for challenging Trump on his claims while neglecting to do the same kind of fact-checking against Harris.
Trump also faced President Joe Biden in a debate held by CNN in June. After Biden’s fumbling performance sparked a crisis of confidence among his allies, he stepped aside under pressure and Harris took the top spot on the Democratic Party’s ticket.
Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), Harris’ and Trump’s running mates, respectively, are set to participate in a debate held by CBS News on October 1. Harris’ campaign refused to accept Vance’s offer of a second vice presidential debate held by CNN.
