Donald Trump faced widespread mockery after his campaign team hinted that he might skip the upcoming presidential debate until the Democratic Party’s nomination process stabilized.
Critics of Trump accused him of being “scared” to confront Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumed 2024 Democratic nominee, at the scheduled ABC News debate on September 10.
Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, stated that it was premature to confirm a debate with Harris as Democrats could still change their nominee.
In response, Harris questioned Trump’s commitment to the debate, referencing his earlier willingness to participate under any circumstances.
Harry Sisson, a former part of a Biden campaign initiative, taunted Trump for backing out of the debate with Harris, labeling him as “terrified” and “scared.”
During a previous debate on June 27, Trump debated President Joe Biden, leading to Biden dropping out and endorsing Harris. Harris has garnered sufficient delegate support to secure the Democratic nomination.
Cheung reiterated that debate specifics could not be finalized until the Democrats settled on their official nominee due to ongoing political turmoil within the party.
He hinted at doubts within the Democratic Party about Harris’s competence to defeat Trump, mentioning a potential preference for an alternate candidate.
Reports indicate that former President Obama is planning to endorse Harris for the presidency soon.
Media reactions to Cheung’s statement highlighted Trump’s rationale for avoiding debates until the Democratic nominee was confirmed, drawing comparisons to the last debate where Biden wasn’t officially nominated.
Various commentators and critics ridiculed Trump’s decision to withdraw from the debate with Harris, attributing it to fear of facing off against a powerful woman of color.
Some users supported Trump’s decision not to engage in a debate, citing potential uncertainties regarding Harris’s candidacy and suggesting that debates should wait until the nomination process concludes.
Trump had previously expressed willingness to debate Harris but favored Fox News as the host, citing bias concerns with ABC.
In response, Harris affirmed her readiness to face Trump in the scheduled debate, emphasizing the importance of showcasing the differences between them to voters.