The first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump left uncertainty about whether the two candidates will face off again.
On Tuesday night, Harris and Trump met in Philadelphia for the first of the scheduled debates, but only Harris’s campaign quickly committed to a second round. CNN reported that Trump may not debate again because of biased moderators who clearly favor Harris.
Trump, on the other hand, was hesitant, expressing his doubts on Wednesday about participating in another debate, especially after debating both Harris and ABC's moderators who "fact-checked" him all night while letting Harris run wild.
Trump was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the moderators from the first debate, specifically criticizing Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
Trump, who suggested that future debates could feature more favorable hosts, mentioned Fox’s Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, and Laura Ingraham as preferred moderators. He suggested that his lack of desire to debate again stemmed from what he viewed as an unfavorable format.
The former president didn’t shy away from addressing what he perceived as bias during the first debate, targeting both Fox News and ABC. While networks like NBC and Fox are eager to host a second debate in October, Trump raised concerns about the performance of certain debate moderators.
"I wouldn’t want to have Bret and Martha," Trump stated, referring to Fox News moderators Baier and MacCallum. He further criticized ABC’s handling of the debate, claiming that moderators from the network fact-checked him unfairly.
Trump suggested that Disney-owned ABC should even have its Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses revoked due to their performance, stating, "They ought to take away their license for the way they did that." Despite his harsh criticism of ABC, Trump praised CNN, which hosted a debate in June, calling the network "much more honorable."
While Trump has shown reluctance, the Harris campaign is eager for another debate. Harris’s spokesman, Brian Fallon, stated that they are open to an October debate, remarking, "That was fun. Let’s do it again in October." Fallon emphasized that the Harris team is prepared and looking forward to the next potential confrontation.
According to Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller, the former president has already agreed to three debates. Miller also blamed Harris for avoiding a possible September 25 debate. The Harris campaign, however, is focused on scheduling the vice-presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance for October 1 on CBS, preferring to proceed with that debate before considering any further presidential debates.
Trump’s hesitation to commit to a second debate has cast doubt over whether the candidates will meet again before the election. "Are we going to do a rematch? I just don’t know. We’ll think about it," Trump said, leaving the door open for future debates but not confirming any concrete plans.
"When you win the debate, I don’t, I don’t know that I want to do another debate," Trump said, suggesting that his successful performance in the first debate might make him less inclined to return for a second round.
While the former president remains noncommittal, some of his supporters believe he may eventually agree to another debate. JD Vance, a Republican senator who has shown support for Trump, noted, "Obviously, he likes these debates and he’s good at them, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants to step back in the ring."
Despite Trump’s uncertainty, several television networks remain hopeful that a second debate can be arranged. NBC and Fox are among those vying to host the next face-off, with tentative plans being made for October.
The pressure is on for both campaigns to come to an agreement, as debates have historically been pivotal moments in shaping public opinion. As of now, though, the possibility of a second presidential debate remains in limbo.
For now, Harris’s team seems confident that another debate will take place, while Trump’s camp continues to weigh its options. Trump’s criticism of the moderators and media coverage seems to be a key factor in his indecision.
Harris, on the other hand, appears eager for a rematch. Her team has signaled a readiness to face Trump again, with Brian Fallon’s comments underscoring the campaign’s enthusiasm for a second debate.
The Harris campaign’s focus on the upcoming vice-presidential debate also indicates that they are keeping their options open for a second presidential debate, even as Trump’s indecision continues to dominate the headlines.
As the October debate approaches, it remains to be seen whether Trump will agree to another round with Harris or choose to avoid further confrontations in the final stretch of the 2024 campaign.
