The first debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is set for September 10, with ABC News confirming it will host the event according to The BBC.
The debate, which will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, marks the beginning of what could be a series of face-offs between the two candidates ahead of the November election.
Both Trump and Harris have expressed their willingness to participate in additional debates, with Trump suggesting Fox News and NBC as potential hosts.
The announcement of the September 10 debate was first made in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and was later confirmed by both campaigns.
While the Harris campaign confirmed the Vice President’s participation during an event in Michigan, Trump, in a Thursday news conference, expressed his openness to engaging in multiple debates.
In addition to the ABC-hosted debate, Trump proposed a total of three debates, suggesting that Fox News and NBC could host the other two. Specifically, he recommended a debate on September 4 on Fox News in Pennsylvania and another on September 25 on NBC.
Kamala Harris' campaign, however, has insisted that Trump must attend the September 10 debate before committing to any additional debates. The ongoing negotiations between the campaigns followed President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race, which left Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Trump and Harris had previously debated Biden in June, but Biden’s exit from the race has led to new dynamics in the upcoming debates.
Biden’s withdrawal not only paved the way for Harris to secure the Democratic nomination but also intensified the competition between her and Trump. The debate on September 10 will be their first since Biden stepped down, and both candidates seem ready to engage.
Despite this, Trump has been critical of Harris, accusing her of avoiding media interactions since becoming the likely Democratic nominee. He pointed out that she has not taken questions from reporters or conducted interviews recently, while Harris has instructed her team to schedule an interview before the end of the month.
Trump’s Thursday news conference was his first in several months, highlighting his campaign’s focus on rallies rather than media engagements. During this conference, Trump dismissed concerns about the size of his rally audiences compared to Harris’s, stating, "Oh, give me a break."
As both campaigns prepare for the debate, the rhetoric has intensified. Trump has not held back his criticism, particularly targeting Harris’s track record on issues like immigration and the economy.
He made claims that 20 million people have crossed the southern border under the Biden-Harris administration, a figure starkly different from the almost 10.1 million crossings recorded by US Customs and Border Protection since Biden took office.
Meanwhile, Harris has been actively engaging with key voter groups. On Thursday, she addressed the United Auto Workers in Detroit, thanking them for their endorsement and expressing urgency by saying there are "89 days to get this done" before the election.
The upcoming debate on September 10 could set the tone for the rest of the election season, especially as both campaigns are reportedly feeling the pressure. Harris’s campaign appears to be gaining momentum, with national and battleground state polls indicating a tightening race.
Despite the shifting dynamics, Trump has denied any recalibration of his campaign strategy in light of Biden’s withdrawal. He continues to emphasize his rally sizes and his running mate, JD Vance, whom he praised during the news conference, stating, "I have to tell you, JD Vance has really stepped up. He’s doing a fantastic job."
As the campaigns move forward, both candidates are expected to continue their efforts to connect with voters and solidify their positions ahead of the November election.
As the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris approaches, the stage is set for what could be a pivotal moment in the 2024 presidential election.
With Trump proposing multiple debates and Harris focusing on key voter groups, both campaigns are gearing up for an intense election season. The September 10 debate will likely provide insights into the strategies each candidate will employ as they seek to secure the presidency.
