Harris Presses Trump For Another Debate On CNN—But He Says It’s ‘Too Late’

Topline

Vice President Kamala Harris accepted an invitation to debate former President Donald Trump on CNN later this month, challenging Trump to another showdown despite the former president’s refusal of any future debates this election cycle—but he quickly shot down the idea during a rally.

Key Facts

Harris tweeted she will “gladly accept” a debate on Oct. 23, saying she hopes Trump will also agree to the debate.

The debate would be broadcast from Atlanta and share the same format as Trump’s debate with President Joe Biden in June, according to CNN.

But Trump told supports during a rally in North Carolina on Saturday it’s “too late” for another debate, saying he would “love to in many ways but it’s too late.”

Trump also said in a Truth Social post following his debate with Harris earlier this month “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE,” later saying during a rally stop in Arizona another debate would be unnecessary, claiming he won the debate against Harris—though polls, pundits and even some Republican figures suggested otherwise.

Despite his reluctance to rematch Harris, the former president told reporters a little more than a week ago he would reconsider another debate “if I got in the right mood.”

When reached for comment through email, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote to “see President Trump’s post on Truth Social"—but no clear response from Trump has yet been posted.

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Key Background

Though Trump has insisted he won the first debate, a rematch could serve as an opportunity for Trump to redeem what even conservative Fox News analyst Brit Hume called a “bad night” for the former president in his first matchup with Harris. Trump repeatedly found himself on tangents during the debate, addressing his criminal cases and pushing conspiracy theories such as the unfounded claim Haitian immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close Trump ally, called his debate performance a “disaster,” according to Tim Miller, a Republican Trump critic at The Bulwark. Following the debate, Trump accused ABC of providing Harris with questions in advance without any evidence. The former president also accused ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis of being biased during the debate, characterizing the event as “three on one.”

Further Reading

Trump Repeats Debunked Conspiracy Theory Harris Wore Audio Earrings During Debate (Forbes)

Republicans dismayed by Trump’s ‘bad’ and ‘unprepared’ debate performance (The Guardian)