With just weeks to go until the highly anticipated debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, uncertainty looms large. Originally set for September 10 on ABC, reports suggest Trump may be wavering on the commitment, raising several eyebrows and questions about the future of this pivotal event.
The tension began to bubble over following Trump's late-night tirade on his social media platform, Truth Social. He expressed outrage after watching ABC's "This Week," during which Sen. Tom Cotton appeared to defend the former president against claims he made about military recognition. “I watched ABC FAKE NEWS this morning, both lightweight reporter Jonathan Karl’s ridiculous and biased interview of Tom Cotton (who was fantastic!), and their so-called Panel of Trump Haters, and I ask, why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on [that] network?” Trump fumed, underlining his unwillingness to participate if he deems the platform biased.
Notably, this isn't the first time the debate's integrity has come under scrutiny. Initially, Trump had agreed to debate dates back when the presumptive opponent was still President Joe Biden. But with Harris now holding the Democratic ticket, Trump's campaign attempted to renegotiate by arguing she wasn't officially the party's nominee when the dates were agreed upon. Ethical debates about network biases and potential conflicts of interest began to cloud the event's future.
Adding more fuel to the fire, Trump suggested he might withdraw based on the political allegiance he perceives from the network. He speculated on whether panelist Donna Brazile would leak questions to Harris, referencing her involvement during the 2016 election debates. He questioned, “Will Kamala’s best friend, who heads up ABC, do likewise?” This statement hinted at his desire to avoid any appearance of impropriety or perceived favoritism.
Despite his earlier agreements, Trump's latest antics signal potential backtracking as he contemplates his strategy for the upcoming debate. Seemingly unfazed, Harris’s team is pushing for the standard debate norms to be upheld, including keeping candidates’ microphones live throughout the event. Senior adviser Brian Fallon remarked, “Our team has told ABC and other networks seeking to host possible debates, including one scheduled for October, we believe both candidates’ mics should be live.”
Further complicate matters is Trump's insistence on sticking to original debate rules, which could include muting microphones during responses—something his team supposedly prefers to limit Harris's responses and control the narrative during the debate. Fallon speculated, “We suspect Trump’s team has not even told their boss about this dispute because it would be too embarrassing to admit they don’t think he can handle himself against Vice President Harris without the benefit of a mute button.”
Criticism of Trump has intensified as commentators and opponents openly mock what they perceive as his cowardice. Social media was ablaze with critiques tagging him as “a total coward.” They expressed confusion over why Trump, who has often belittled Harris's intelligence publicly, would hesitate to confront her on stage, especially considering the perceived political advantage.
During routine campaign rallies, Harris has often declared her readiness to take Trump head-on. "If you got something to say, say it to my face,” she vowed earlier this year, signaling her eagerness to face Trump directly. Her supporters are hopeful. “He won’t debate her,” was one prominent tweet, reflecting public skepticism about Trump’s commitment amid the chaos of his social media outbursts.
What remains unclear is whether this back-and-forth will culminate in the scheduled debate still occurring. The political dynamics are at play, and Trump’s late-night musings could well be just the beginning of more to come. The Trump and Harris camps still seem to be negotiating details, and anticipation grows around how this debate might differentiate from past performances.
Either way, all eyes are on the candidates and the network as the clock ticks toward what might be one of the most consequential debates of the 2024 election season.
