Republican presidential candidate
Donald Trump on Saturday declined to participate in another debate with Democratic presidential candidate
Kamala Harris, saying, "It's too late," after Harris accepted a proposal from CNN for a debate on October 23.
Trump, speaking at a rally in Wilmington, said, "Voting has already started… Now she wants to do a debate right before the election with CNN because she’s losing badly."
The former president noted that he has already participated in two debates while Harris has done one.
"The problem with another debate is that it’s just too late," he added.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, vice president Harris’ campaign chair, stressed the need for another debate between the two prominent candidates. “The American people deserve another opportunity to see Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debate before they cast their ballots. It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to be just one general election debate,” she said, as quoted by CNN.
Dillon further said that Trump should not have any problem agreeing to this debate. “Debates offer a unique chance for voters to see the candidates side by side and take stock of their competing visions for America," she added.
Dillon announced on Saturday that Harris has accepted CNN's invitation to debate Trump. “Vice President Harris is ready for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump, and she has accepted CNN’s invitation to a debate on October 23,” she said.
The proposed debate’s format and setup are similar to the June debate between Trump and President
Joe Biden, taking place at CNN's Atlanta studios and without a live audience, according to CNN.
Harris and Trump participated in their first presidential debate, hosted by ABC News, on September 10 in Philadelphia. The debate lasted for nearly 1 hour and 45 minutes.