Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to debate Vice President Kamala Harris after initially withdrawing, during a lengthy news conference held Thursday at his Palm Beach, Florida estate. He mocked Harris, emphasized the size of his crowd on January 6, 2021, and responded aggressively to inquiries about the enthusiasm surrounding her campaign.
While addressing reporters, Trump revealed that he and Harris had agreed to a debate on September 10, as confirmed by ABC. This sets the stage for a highly anticipated confrontation in a unique election cycle. Trump mentioned his proposal for three debates across various television networks in September.
Once again, Trump falsely claimed a “peaceful transfer” of power took place in 2021 and criticized Republican rivals, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, for not supporting his unfounded claims of election fraud.
In a question-and-answer session lasting over an hour, Trump contrasted himself with Harris, who has not conducted a news conference since President Joe Biden’s exit from the race.
The announcement of the ABC debate creates a tense situation in an election where Biden’s poor performance in a previous debate led to his withdrawal. Just days prior, Trump had declared his intention not to participate in an ABC debate, saying his agreement with the network had been terminated. However, he reversed his position and pushed for two additional debates on Fox and NBC.
When asked what would happen if Harris only agreed to the ABC debate, Trump responded, “I don’t know how that’s gonna work out. We’d like to do three debates. We think we should do three debates.”
Later in the day, Harris stated she was “glad he has finally committed” to the debate on ABC and expressed anticipation for the event.
The conference marked Trump’s first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Trump criticized Walz as a “radical left man” and implied that both he and Harris were overly liberal.
He suggested that Harris may lack the intelligence needed for their debate, while she has been attempting to provoke Trump into confronting her directly.
Trump showed irritation when questioned about Harris’ expanding audience and the renewed enthusiasm within the Democratic Party, labeling a question about his campaign schedule as “stupid.” He stated he has not “recalibrated” his campaign despite the new rivalry, a sentiment some Republican strategists have expressed concern about.
When asked about Harris’ strengths, Trump replied, “She’s a woman. She represents certain groups of people.”
Regarding changing dynamics in the race, Trump asserted that he might not have as much support among Black women, a pivotal demographic for Democrats, although he expressed confidence in his appeal among Black men. He claimed a reassuring platform focusing on security, safety, and jobs would eventually resonate with Black female voters.
Trump’s campaign team conveyed that they see Harris enjoying a “honeymoon period,” yet they believe the overall mood remains unfavorable towards the current administration, with voters dissatisfied with the economy and direction of the country. They argue that while Harris may energize the Democratic base, she will struggle to win over Republicans or independents.
In the coming months, Trump’s campaign plans to portray Harris as “failed, weak, and dangerously liberal,” blaming her for the Biden administration’s unpopular policies and ridiculing her speaking style.
On the subject of abortion, Trump downplayed its importance in the campaign, suggesting it has become less contentious since the Supreme Court decision to return authority to the states. He claimed states like Ohio and Kansas now protect abortion rights and predicted Florida would lean more liberal regarding an upcoming abortion ban referendum.
Trump argued that both parties were satisfied with the Supreme Court’s ruling, despite evidence suggesting that opposition to abortion rights has previously benefited Democrats in elections.
Continuing to spread misinformation, Trump claimed during the conference that “nobody was killed on Jan. 6,” despite Ashli Babbitt being shot and killed by police while trying to breach the Capitol during the riot linked to his supporters’ attempt to overturn the election results.
When asked about Biden’s expressed lack of confidence in a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses, Trump suggested Biden should have raised the issue during a debate, insisting that “of course there’ll be a peaceful transfer,” just as there was in the past.