Former President Donald Trump announced on Friday night that he has accepted Fox News’ invitation to debate Vice President Kamala Harris.
The debate is scheduled for September 4 in Pennsylvania, though the exact location is yet to be confirmed.
Trump mentioned that a previously planned debate with President Joe Biden on ABC News had been canceled due to his legal dispute with the network and its anchor, George Stephanopoulos.
“I have agreed with Fox News to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The debate initially scheduled with Joe Biden on ABC was terminated because Biden is no longer participating, and I am in litigation with ABC Network and George Stephanopoulos.”
Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the event. The debate rules will mirror those from the June 27 CNN debate against Biden, but unlike that debate, this one will have an audience.
Fox News initially invited Trump and Harris to debate in Pennsylvania on September 17. Harris, having become the Democratic Party’s nominee after Biden dropped his re-election campaign, stated last month that she was “ready” to debate Trump. She accused him of withdrawing from the prior agreement to debate on ABC News on September 10.
Trump had previously refused to debate Harris, stating she was not the official candidate after Biden’s withdrawal. However, on Friday, Harris secured enough delegates to become the official nominee.
“The Democrats have unconstitutionally replaced their candidate with a new one,” Trump wrote. “This has never been done before, and it is a threat to democracy, but I am prepared to accept the results and debate Kamala Harris.”
“I spent significant resources fighting Joe, and when I won the debate, they introduced a new candidate. It’s not fair, but it is what it is,” he continued. “Their policies remain the same, and this will be revealed at the September 4th debate. I look forward to debating Kamala Harris on September 4th, just before the start of early voting in the 2024 Presidential Election. See you in Pennsylvania!”
In related news, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.