Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted CNN’s invitation to debate Donald Trump for a second time ahead of the November election — despite the latter’s insistence that he does not want to face off again.
“The American people deserve another opportunity to see Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debate before they cast their ballots,” Harris-Walz campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said Saturday.
“It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to just be one general election debate. Debates offer a unique chance for voters to see the candidates side by side and take stock of their competing visions for America.
“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.”
Trump has repeatedly accused the moderators of the Sept. 10 ABC News debate of sabotaging his attempts to refute Harris — and even said he would refuse to debate Harris a second time under the same circumstances.
“We just don’t think that there’s any need for it,” he told The Post.
“We’ve done two. You know, one against Biden [on June 27], one against Comrade Kamala. I did well. I did really well.”
The Harris camp argued that the CNN format should appease the Republican candidate.
“Donald Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate. It is the same format and setup as the CNN debate he attended and said he won in June, when he praised CNN’s moderators, rules, and ratings,” Dillon said, referring to the June debate in which Trump squared off against incumbent Joe Biden — which led to the 81-year-old’s eventual withdrawal from the 2024 race.
“We look forward to Vice President Harris again having the opportunity in the CNN debate to show her command of the issues and why it’s time to turn the page on Donald Trump and chart a new way forward for America.”
The Trump campaign has yet to respond to the Oct. 23 debate development.
