Trump agrees to debate with Harris on Sept 4

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said late Friday he had agreed with Fox News to debate Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on September 4.

“I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, but it was not immediately clear if Harris had agreed to the debate.

Trump’s post came hours after Harris secured the Democratic party’s presidential nomination as party standard bearer in November’s election.

Trump’s White House bid was turned upside down on July 21 when President Biden, 81, facing growing concerns about his age and lagging polling numbers, withdrew his candidacy and backed Harris.

Biden bowed out following a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June on CNN.

A second Trump-Biden televised debate had been scheduled for September 10 on ABC television.

That was expected to remain in place, with Harris replacing Biden, but Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung last week said it was “inappropriate” to schedule it before Harris was formally the Democratic nominee.

In his post Trump gave details of the debate venue and the moderators, saying it it would be held before a full audience.

AFP