Harris campaign casts Trump as ‘scared’ to have debate

Vice President Harris’s campaign on Friday depicted former President Trump as frightened to have a debate against the expected Democratic presidential nominee.

In an email with the subject line “Many People Are Saying: Donald Trump Is Scared to Debate Kamala Harris,” the campaign outlined that Trump and President Biden had agreed to two debates, one on June 27 and the other on Sept. 10, before Biden dropped out of the race.

“But now, Trump is backing out. Canceling. Withdrawing. Refusing to participate. Hiding in Mar-a-Lago,” the campaign said.

The Trump campaign said Thursday it would not agree to a general election debate with Harris “until Democrats formally decide on their nominee.” Earlier this week, Trump said he will be willing to debate Harris more than once but signaled he may not be willing to participate in the ABC event scheduled for September.

Harris on Thursday told reporters she’s ready to debate the former president.

“I’ll tell you, I’m ready to debate Donald Trump. I have agreed to the previously agreed upon Sept. 10 debate. He agreed to that previously,” she said. “Now, here he is backpedaling, and I’m ready, and I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage, and so I’m ready to go.”

The campaign in the email cited Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), who is considered a contender for Harris’s running mate, arguing Trump is “now afraid of debating” Harris.

It also cited Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is also considered a running mate possibility and said it’s a “remarkable show of weakness” for Trump to back out.

Biden’s disastrous performance in the June debate sparked calls for him to drop out of the 2024 race, which led to mounting pressure from fellow Democrats and an ultimate decision on Sunday to pass the torch to Harris.