Donald Trump has officially ruled out another presidential debate against Kamala Harris, following their recent debate and his previous debate against President Joe Biden. Trump stated on Truth Social that there will be no third debate, comparing the situation to a prizefighter losing a bout and always calling for a rematch. Despite some Republicans urging Trump to debate Harris again, it seems unlikely as Trump’s announcement indicates that Tuesday’s meeting will likely be the only debate between the two candidates before the November election, which was watched by over 67 million people.
On the other hand, Harris expressed her belief that she and Trump owe it to voters to debate again during a rally in North Carolina. Her campaign announced a significant fundraising haul of $47 million from nearly 600,000 donors in the 24 hours following their debate. Campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon described the fundraising as historic and reflective of a strong coalition of Americans united behind Vice President Harris’ candidacy in the upcoming election against Donald Trump.
The Tuesday debate marked the first meeting between Trump and Harris, where the vice president largely controlled the discussion and provoked agitated responses from Trump, containing exaggerations and mistruths. This debate came after Trump’s previous debate against Biden, whose performance led to him ending his reelection bid and endorsing Harris as his replacement on the ticket. Trump had previously raised doubts about debating Harris at all, but they eventually agreed on the Tuesday debate on ABC. Trump referred to Harris as a no-show for a proposed earlier debate date and instead participated in a solo town hall on Fox News with host Sean Hannity. Fox News has issued invitations to both campaigns for a potential debate in October.
In summary, the decision by Donald Trump to rule out another debate against Kamala Harris comes after their recent meeting and raises questions about the impact this will have on the election. Harris and her campaign have emphasized the importance of further debates, citing the need to respect the voters. The fundraising success following the debate reflects a growing support base for Harris’ candidacy. The dynamics of the Tuesday debate, with Trump responding agitatedly to Harris’ provocations, highlighted the different approaches of the two candidates. While Trump’s announcement signals the end of formal debates between the two candidates, the upcoming election remains highly anticipated and closely watched by the American public.
