Trump rejects Harris' challenge to debate again on CNN


FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a presidential debate hosted by ABC as Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump is reflected on a panel as he listens, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump on Saturday rejected another debate with Vice President Kamala Harris before the U.S. presidential election, hours after the Democratic candidate's campaign said she had agreed to an Oct. 23 matchup with her Republican rival on CNN.

"Vice President Harris is ready for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump, and she has accepted CNN's invitation to a debate on October 23. Donald Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate," Jen O'Malley Dillon, the chair of the Harris campaign, said in a statement.

Trump stuck to his previous position that there would not be another debate before voters go to the polls in the Nov. 5 election.

"The problem with another debate is that it's just too late. Voting has already started," the former U.S. president told supporters at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Harris and Trump debated each other for the first time on Sept. 10, in a contest that polls showed she won.

Trump debated President Joe Biden in June.

Biden's shaky performance in that debate rattled Democrats and prompted strategists to ask whether their party should take the unprecedented step of replacing the 81-year old president as their candidate.Biden withdrew from the race for the White House in July.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Paul Simao)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Zelenskiy arrives in Istanbul for talks with Erdogan
Five killed by Russian strike on market in frontline Ukrainian city
Artemis II astronauts on moon mission send back photos of Earth
Fire reported at foreign oil companies' storage facilities in Iraq after drone strike
Iran executes two linked to opposition group, media say
Ukrainian drone and missile attack kills at least one in southern Russia, governor says
Stick to Easter travel, Australians told, though hundreds of petrol stations dry
Roundup: White House seeks 1.5 trillion USD in defense spending in 2027 budget proposal
Trump directs Homeland Security to issue shutdown back-pay to all employees, White House says
UK charges three men with arson over attack on Jewish community ambulances

Others Also Read