Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will not participate in another debate with Kamala Harris, as the two political rivals return to critical battleground states in the fiercely competitive US presidential race.
The former Republican president’s declaration comes two days after his heated televised encounter with the Democratic vice president. During the debate, Harris managed to unsettle Trump with sharp remarks, leaving him on the defensive.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump, 78, declared: “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” He referenced both the recent debate with Harris and an earlier one with Joe Biden in June, which he claimed pushed the sitting president out of the race.
Trump further asserted that “polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris,” despite several instant polls indicating that Harris had the upper hand in the widely watched event, seen by over 67 million viewers.
Meanwhile, at a rally in the pivotal swing state of North Carolina, Harris called for another debate before the November 5 election, although it was unclear whether she was aware of Trump’s refusal.
“Two nights ago, Donald Trump and I had our first debate, and I believe we owe it to the voters to have another,” Harris said to an enthusiastic crowd in Charlotte. She emphasized the significance of the upcoming election, adding, “This election and what is at stake could not be more important.”
Harris continued her campaign efforts with a second rally later in Greensboro, underscoring the critical importance of swing states in the election.
