By Amos Ssemuwemba
Former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will not participate in any further presidential debates against Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to a heated exchange between the two campaigns. The announcement came shortly after their second debate, which was followed by a series of polls showing Harris as the clear winner.
“There will be no third debate!” Trump proclaimed on his social media platform, Truth Social. He criticized Harris, suggesting that she should have focused on her duties over the past four years instead of seeking another face-off.
The Harris campaign, however, is not convinced by Trump’s declaration. “He changes his position every day,” said a senior Harris adviser, indicating that they believe another debate is still on the horizon. “I predict there will be another,” the adviser confidently added.
Harris herself, addressing supporters at a rally in Charlotte, reinforced the call for a third debate. “I believe we owe it to the voters to have another debate because this election and what is at stake could not be more important,” she stated.
The controversy comes on the heels of a CNN/SSRS flash poll conducted among registered voters who watched the most recent debate. The poll, along with other major scientific surveys, showed that Harris outperformed Trump, a sentiment echoed by many political analysts.
Even former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who endorsed Trump after suspending his own campaign, admitted on Fox News that while Trump might have won on “substance,” Harris “clearly won the debate in terms of her delivery, her polish, her organization, and her preparation.”
As the debate saga continues, the next notable event in the campaign calendar is a debate between the vice-presidential running mates, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, scheduled for October 1, hosted by CBS.
With the stakes higher than ever, the possibility of a third Trump-Harris debate remains a point of contention, leaving voters in suspense.
