Former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, said he is looking forward to many debates with Vice President Kamala Harris, who has become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
However, Mr. Trump appeared to count out ABC News, which is slated to host the next debate on Sept. 10. He is pushing instead for Fox News to host it.
“ABC Fake News is such a joke, among the absolute WORST in the business. They try to make Crooked Joe into a brave warrior because he didn’t have the ‘guts’ to fight it out — He quit! They then tried to make ‘Sleepy’ look like a great President - he was the WORST, and Lyin’ Kamala into a competent person, which she is not,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“ABC, the home of George Slopadopolus, is not worthy of holding a Debate, of which I hope there will be many! MAGA2024,” Mr. Trump said.
In May, Mr. Trump agreed to debate Mr. Biden on ABC News for their second face-off.
The Trump campaign found itself retooling its strategy since President Biden announced Sunday he would not seek reelection and endorsed Ms. Harris to succeed him.
Both Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris have been on the primary presidential debate stage several times in the past, but this would be the first time Ms. Harris debates an opponent as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Mr. Trump eviscerated Mr. Biden and showed his mental decline to the world in their June 27 debate, which caused Democratic lawmakers, donors and media personalities to call on the president to step aside from the 2024 contest.
Ms. Harris had a big debate moment of her own against Mr. Biden when she ran against him during the Democratic presidential primary five years ago and took him to task over his opposition to busing as a means of desegregating American schools.
The House Republican campaign arm’s chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, said when he thinks of a potential debate between Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris, it “makes him smile” and that he will “bring the popcorn.”
“I think it’d be fantastic. I think Donald Trump, if you compare the Donald Trump presidency and the impact on the economy, our safety, of our neighborhoods, on the border, on the world and compare that to the Biden-Harris presidency,” he said, “There’s no comparison.”
The Washington Times reached out to the Harris campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for comment.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.