(NEW YORK) Donald Trump appeared to backtrack on his earlier commitment to hold a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning the importance of the meeting and saying he would “probably” discuss it but “beg not to.”
In an interview with Fox News that aired Monday evening, Mr. Trump, Mr.me Harris gave a less convincing answer than he has given in recent days.
The former Republican president was eager to debate President Joe Biden when he was the Democratic nominee, Mr. After months of suggesting that Biden wasn’t in the right state of mind to face off — or for the presidency. But Mr. After Biden dropped out of the race, Mr.me Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, Mr. Trump, Mr. He questioned the terms of the initial debate he agreed to with Biden.
He suggested moving the Sept. 10 debate scheduled on ABC News to another network, accusing ABC of spreading “fake news.”
In a phone call last week, reporters told Mr. Trump that Mr.me Harris at least once. He replied: “Yes, of course. I like it,” and insisted that there is an obligation to debate.
Photo by Stephanie Scarbrough, Associated Press Archives
Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris
In Monday’s interview, host Laura Ingraham repeatedly asked Donald Trump if he was sure to participate in the debate.
“I want to participate in the debate. But I can say this too. Everyone knows who I am. Now people know who he is,” said Mr. Trump responded.
He finally said, “The answer is yes, and I’ll end the discussion.” »
He went on for a minute, saying any debate should happen before early voting begins in states, then added: “The answer is yes, but I can also make a case for not doing it.” »
Mr. Trump has not participated in all of the debates for the 2024 Republican presidential primary, including the first.
Authoritarian language
The Republican nominee sought to clarify comments he made at a conservative event last week, in which he told an audience of Christians he “didn’t have to vote anymore” after his election.
He urged Christians, whom he told not to vote in large numbers, to vote “just this once”: “You don’t have to do it again.” »
In four years, “it will be all right, everything will be all right. You don’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians,” he said.
The comments worried Democrats and others. Mr. Pointing to Trump’s tendency to use authoritarian language, he sought to overturn his earlier comments that he would only be a dictator “from day one” and his behavior after losing the 2020 presidential election, the results of which he refused to accept.
His campaign and supporters Mr. Various interpretations have been given to Trump’s comments, and Mr.me Ingraham pushed him to explain what he meant.
“They won’t vote, and I’ll explain it to them. ‘You never voted.’ Vote this time. I’ll take the country back. You don’t have to vote anymore. I don’t need your vote,” Mr. Trump explained.
Mme Ingraham asked if he was saying Christians didn’t need to vote for him because he would only serve four years.
“Don’t worry about the future. Vote, you must vote on November 5th. No need to worry about voting after that. I don’t care because we’ll settle down, the country will collapse, we won’t need your vote anymore because frankly, we’ll have such love. If you don’t want to vote anymore, that’s fine,” said Mr. Trump continued.
Donald Trump made similar comments at another Christian-focused event last month, during which he bemoaned Christian voter turnout rates and implored them to participate in the election.
“In four years, you don’t have to vote, right? Do not vote in four years. I don’t care,” he said.
