Donald Trump Agrees to ABC News Debate with Kamala Harris in September After Previously Saying He Wouldn't

Mar. 15, 2025

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.Photo:Getty(2)Donald Trumpsaid he will debate Vice PresidentKamala Harrison ABC.On Thursday, Aug. 8, the former president, 78, held apress conferenceand announced he intends to debate thenew Democratic presidential nomineein September.“I think it’s very important to have debates, and we’ve agreed with Fox on a date of Sept. 4. We’ve agreed with NBC. Fairly full agreement subject to them on Sept. 10. And we’ve agreed with ABC on Sept. 25," said the Republican candidate.Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hilton Anatole on August 06, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.Brandon Bell/GettyThe Trump campaign later clarified on X, formerly Twitter, that the correct dates for the debates would be “Fox News on Sept. 4, ABC on Sept. 10, and NBC on Sept. 25.“In addition to ABC announcingthat Trump had accepted their offer to debate Harris on Sept. 10, Harris, 59, confirmed that she would be at the debate while speaking to reporters on Thursday.“Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on Sept. 10. I’m looking forward to it. Hope he shows up,” she told reporters on the tarmac in Michigan on Thursday, perNBC News.Kamala Harris speaks to reporters after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Vice President’s ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 25, 2024.Kenny Holston-Pool/GettyHarris alsoaddressed the announcement on Xwriting, “I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.“In his press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said that while his campaign has spoken to the heads of the networks, some “fairly minor details,” including the audiences and locations, were still being worked on.The Sept. 10 ABC debate date was originallyagreed upon between Trump and  President Joe Biden in May,before Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. Trump claimed on hisTruth Socialplatform on Friday, Aug. 2, thathis ABC News debate was “terminatedin that Biden will no longer be a participant.“Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/GettyIn his post, Trump cited his decision not to participate as a “conflict of interest,” writing thathe’s “in litigation against ABC Network” and George Stephanopoulos.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Trump filed a lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and ABC in March, claiming that the television personality defamed him during an interview when he used the word “rape” when mentioning him beingfound liable for sexually abusing and defamingformerElleadvice columnistE. Jean Carrollin a civil trial last year.Before Biden, 81, withdrew from the race, he and Trump agreed to two debates. The first was on June 27 and aired on CNN, and the second was the scheduled Sept. 10 debate on ABC. The president’shalting performance during the June debateled to questions about his chances in November. On July 21,Biden announced his withdrawalfrom the race and endorsed Harris.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.Photo:Getty(2)

Getty(2)

Donald Trumpsaid he will debate Vice PresidentKamala Harrison ABC.On Thursday, Aug. 8, the former president, 78, held apress conferenceand announced he intends to debate thenew Democratic presidential nomineein September.“I think it’s very important to have debates, and we’ve agreed with Fox on a date of Sept. 4. We’ve agreed with NBC. Fairly full agreement subject to them on Sept. 10. And we’ve agreed with ABC on Sept. 25,” said the Republican candidate.Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hilton Anatole on August 06, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.Brandon Bell/GettyThe Trump campaign later clarified on X, formerly Twitter, that the correct dates for the debates would be “Fox News on Sept. 4, ABC on Sept. 10, and NBC on Sept. 25.“In addition to ABC announcingthat Trump had accepted their offer to debate Harris on Sept. 10, Harris, 59, confirmed that she would be at the debate while speaking to reporters on Thursday.“Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on Sept. 10. I’m looking forward to it. Hope he shows up,” she told reporters on the tarmac in Michigan on Thursday, perNBC News.Kamala Harris speaks to reporters after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Vice President’s ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 25, 2024.Kenny Holston-Pool/GettyHarris alsoaddressed the announcement on Xwriting, “I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.“In his press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said that while his campaign has spoken to the heads of the networks, some “fairly minor details,” including the audiences and locations, were still being worked on.The Sept. 10 ABC debate date was originallyagreed upon between Trump and  President Joe Biden in May,before Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. Trump claimed on hisTruth Socialplatform on Friday, Aug. 2, thathis ABC News debate was “terminatedin that Biden will no longer be a participant.“Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/GettyIn his post, Trump cited his decision not to participate as a “conflict of interest,” writing thathe’s “in litigation against ABC Network” and George Stephanopoulos.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Trump filed a lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and ABC in March, claiming that the television personality defamed him during an interview when he used the word “rape” when mentioning him beingfound liable for sexually abusing and defamingformerElleadvice columnistE. Jean Carrollin a civil trial last year.Before Biden, 81, withdrew from the race, he and Trump agreed to two debates. The first was on June 27 and aired on CNN, and the second was the scheduled Sept. 10 debate on ABC. The president’shalting performance during the June debateled to questions about his chances in November. On July 21,Biden announced his withdrawalfrom the race and endorsed Harris.

Donald Trumpsaid he will debate Vice PresidentKamala Harrison ABC.

On Thursday, Aug. 8, the former president, 78, held apress conferenceand announced he intends to debate thenew Democratic presidential nomineein September.

“I think it’s very important to have debates, and we’ve agreed with Fox on a date of Sept. 4. We’ve agreed with NBC. Fairly full agreement subject to them on Sept. 10. And we’ve agreed with ABC on Sept. 25,” said the Republican candidate.

Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hilton Anatole on August 06, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty

Brandon Bell/Getty

The Trump campaign later clarified on X, formerly Twitter, that the correct dates for the debates would be “Fox News on Sept. 4, ABC on Sept. 10, and NBC on Sept. 25.”

In addition to ABC announcingthat Trump had accepted their offer to debate Harris on Sept. 10, Harris, 59, confirmed that she would be at the debate while speaking to reporters on Thursday.

“Well, I’m glad that he’s finally agreed to a debate on Sept. 10. I’m looking forward to it. Hope he shows up,” she told reporters on the tarmac in Michigan on Thursday, perNBC News.

Kamala Harris speaks to reporters after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Vice President’s ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 25, 2024.Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty

Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty

Harris alsoaddressed the announcement on Xwriting, “I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.”

In his press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said that while his campaign has spoken to the heads of the networks, some “fairly minor details,” including the audiences and locations, were still being worked on.

The Sept. 10 ABC debate date was originallyagreed upon between Trump and  President Joe Biden in May,before Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. Trump claimed on hisTruth Socialplatform on Friday, Aug. 2, thathis ABC News debate was “terminatedin that Biden will no longer be a participant.”

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty

In his post, Trump cited his decision not to participate as a “conflict of interest,” writing thathe’s “in litigation against ABC Network” and George Stephanopoulos.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Trump filed a lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and ABC in March, claiming that the television personality defamed him during an interview when he used the word “rape” when mentioning him beingfound liable for sexually abusing and defamingformerElleadvice columnistE. Jean Carrollin a civil trial last year.

Before Biden, 81, withdrew from the race, he and Trump agreed to two debates. The first was on June 27 and aired on CNN, and the second was the scheduled Sept. 10 debate on ABC. The president’shalting performance during the June debateled to questions about his chances in November. On July 21,Biden announced his withdrawalfrom the race and endorsed Harris.

source: people.com