Trump says he’s agreed to Sept. 4 Fox News debate against Harris

Former President Trump announced he has agreed to a Sept. 4 debate against Vice President Harris in lieu of the ABC debate originally scheduled against President Biden before he dropped out of the presidential race.

“I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Trump posted Friday night on Truth Social. “The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant, and I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thereby creating a conflict of interest.”

The Fox News debate will be held in Pennsylvania and moderated by Fox hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, Trump noted.

“The FoxNews Debate will be held in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at a site in an area to be determined. The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and the Rules will be similar to the Rules of my Debate with Sleepy Joe, who has been treated horribly by his Party – BUT WITH A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!….”

Trump and President Biden had both previously agreed to ABC’s Sept. 10 debate.

Trump’s decision to continue forward with a debate against Harris comes after days of back-and-forth between the former president and vice president, with Trump arguing that Democrats need to lock in their nominee before he will agree to a debate, and Harris accusing him of “back-pedaling.”

Earlier this week, Trump questioned why he should debate Harris, citing his lead in the polls.

“I mean right now I say, why should I do a debate?” Trump told Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo. “I’m leading in the polls. And, everybody knows her, everybody knows me.”

Trump also cited the recent shakeup that resulted in Harris leading the Democratic ticket in his hesitancy to agree to a debate before the Democrats secured their nominee.

Harris passed the threshold needed to become the Democratic presidential nominee on Friday prior to Trump’s debate commitment.

Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler said Trump is looking to Fox News “to bail him out.”

“Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” he said. He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept 10. The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime time national audience.

We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to. Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th.”

Updated at 11:08 a.m.