Former President Donald Trump has confirmed his participation in an ABC News debate against Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on September 10. Despite an ongoing legal battle with ABC star anchor George Stephanopoulos, Trump emphasized the importance of debates and expressed his eagerness to face Harris.
Former President Donald Trump is set to engage in a high-profile debate against Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on ABC News on September 10. The confirmation comes amidst an ongoing legal battle between Trump and ABC star anchor George Stephanopoulos.
Speaking at a lengthy press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump announced his participation in a trio of debates, including one on Fox News Channel on September 4 and another on NBC next month. Shortly after Trump's announcement, ABC News confirmed the debate with Harris.
Trump to Debate Harris on ABC News; Legal Battle with Stephanopoulos Won't Prevent Clash
"ABC News will host qualifying presidential candidates to debate on September 10 on ABC. Vice President Harris and former President Trump have both confirmed they will attend the ABC debate," an ABC News spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Trump had previously expressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest in the ABC News debate due to his ongoing lawsuit against Stephanopoulos. However, he ultimately decided that the importance of debating Harris outweighed his legal dispute.
Trump to Debate Harris on ABC News; Legal Battle with Stephanopoulos Won't Prevent Clash
"The most important thing is we get to debate, I think debates are very important," Trump said on "FOX & Friends."
Trump's legal battle with Stephanopoulos stems from an interview in which the anchor pressed the former president on his claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump has accused Stephanopoulos of defamation and is seeking damages.
Despite the legal dispute, Trump has stressed that he will not allow it to prevent him from participating in the ABC News debate.
"I'm looking forward to the debate with Kamala Harris," Trump said. "I think it's going to be a great debate."
Harris has surged in the polls since ascending as the party's nominee in place of Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race last month under intense party pressure. Harris's strong performance in the Democratic primary debates has raised expectations for her upcoming clash with Trump.
David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the ABC News debate. The debate is expected to focus on a wide range of issues, including the economy, healthcare, and foreign policy.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Biden's mental fitness and has suggested that Harris is running the Biden campaign behind the scenes. Harris has dismissed Trump's claims and has accused him of trying to distract from his own failures.
The debate between Trump and Harris is likely to be one of the most closely watched and analyzed events of the 2020 presidential campaign. The outcome could have a significant impact on the race and could provide voters with a clearer understanding of the candidates' positions on the issues.
