Former President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal for a third debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming victory after Tuesday's heated showdown. Trump criticized Harris and President Biden for "destroying our country" and accused the ABC News moderators of being biased against him.
Former President Donald Trump has announced that he will not participate in a third debate this election cycle, claiming victory after Tuesday's showdown against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, stating that polls show he won the debate and rejecting the proposal for another one.
Trump Declares Victory, Rejects Third Debate
"When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I WANT A REMATCH,’" Trump wrote. "Polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ Radical Left Candidate, on Tuesday night, and she immediately called for a Second Debate."
Trump accused Harris and President "Crooked Joe" Biden of "destroying our country, with millions of criminals and mentally deranged people pouring into the USA, totally unchecked and unvetted, and with Inflation bankrupting our Middle Class."
Trump Declares Victory, Rejects Third Debate
He added: "THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!"
The Harris campaign had previously expressed interest in a third debate, but Trump's rejection effectively ends the possibility.
Trump Declares Victory, Rejects Third Debate
During Tuesday's debate, Trump repeatedly clashed with the ABC News moderators, accusing them of being biased against him.
He said he thought it was his "best debate ever, especially because it was three on one." A CNN flash poll afterward found a majority of watchers thought Harris won the debate.
Trump Declares Victory, Rejects Third Debate
Trump claimed the moderators "fact checked" him unfairly while leaving Harris's distortions untouched.
Following Tuesday's debate, FOX News Media executives sent a letter to the Harris and Trump campaigns offering to host another debate, with Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum as moderators.
Trump has not yet responded to the offer, but Harris has said she believes "we owe it to the voters to have another debate."
Trump's announcement comes as Vice President Harris faces increased pressure from fellow Democrats over her debate performance.
Biden's disastrous debate performance against Trump in June instantly fueled questions about his physical and mental abilities to serve another four years in the White House - and spurred a rising chorus of calls from within his own party for the 81-year-old president to end his bid for a second term.
Facing increased pressure, Biden ended his re-election campaign in July and endorsed Harris.
Trump and Harris faced off in a heated debate Tuesday night, sparring about abortion, immigration, Israel, the economy, and a range of other issues.
Harris was praised for her calm demeanor and clear articulation, while Trump was criticized for his interruptions and personal attacks.
The majority of a Fox News Digital focus group also gave Harris the victory, although the Democrat took criticism for continuing to sound evasive on major issues.
