Donald Trump definitively ruled out on Wednesday participating in a second presidential debate against Kamala Harris, his Democratic competitor in the race for the White House.
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“There will be no rematch!” wrote the Republican billionaire on his network, Truth Social, despite proposals from CNN and Fox News to broadcast a face-to-face between the two candidates. “Kamala clearly stated yesterday that she would not do anything different than Joe Biden, so there is no room for debate.”
Four weeks before an election that is more indecisive than ever, Americans will not have the right to see the candidates in the running face each other a second time, as tradition usually dictates.
Mr. Trump listed other reasons to explain his refusal. The tribune explained in particular that “it is already very late in the process, the vote has already started”.
He also believes that he does not have to debate again, because according to him he dominated Ms. Harris on September 10.
“I won the last two debates, one with Joe the crook, the other with Kamala the liar,” he assured.
According to many observers, however, it was the Democratic vice-president who won their televised duel.
The former prosecutor had managed to attract her rival on the subjects most likely to hurt her ego – participation in her rallies, the disaffection of her former political allies, her international reputation -, preventing her from developing her vision for the country.
CNN had set an ultimatum for Thursday for the candidates to agree to debate on October 23 on its airwaves in Atlanta, Georgia. Its conservative counterpart Fox News had proposed a debate in Pennsylvania on October 24 or 27.
Mr. Trump refused both offers.
The debate on October 1 between the two running mates, JD Vance and Tim Walz, considered rather close and slightly to the advantage of the Republican, will therefore remain as the last great oral discussion between Republicans and Democrats to unfold their visions for the country.
Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris remain neck-and-neck in polls in key states that will decide the November 5 vote.
And this despite a series of unprecedented twists and turns in the campaign: the criminal conviction of Donald Trump, two assassination attempts targeting him, and the withdrawal of candidacy of current President Joe Biden this summer, a few weeks after a catastrophic debate having fueled concerns about his health.
