Trump and VP Harris Agree to Sept. 10 Debate on ABC – Former Prez Has Proposed 2 More

*Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have agreed to participate in a debate on September 10, 2024, to be broadcast on ABC, as announced by the network on Thursday (08-08-24). This announcement follows closely on the heels of a Trump news conference held in Palm Beach, Florida, where he proposed three debates with the Vice President.

Initially, Donald Trump had committed to a September 10 debate with President Joe Biden. However, after Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the Democratic ticket, Trump redirected his focus to debating Harris. This pivot has generated significant attention as it sets the stage for a historic confrontation between two prominent figures from opposing parties.

During the Palm Beach news conference, Trump was notably aggressive, questioning Harris’s intelligence and dismissing the idea that she could generate more enthusiasm than him. In a controversial comparison, Trump likened the crowd size at his January 6, 2021, speech—shortly before the Capitol attack—to the audience that attended Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, reports The Washington Post.

In response, Vice President Harris indicated her openness to multiple debates with Trump, beyond the one already scheduled. Speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, Harris said, “I am happy to have that conversation,” suggesting a readiness to face Trump in public forums.

At a campaign event on Thursday, addressing autoworkers at the UAW Local 900, Harris positioned herself as a unifier and an advocate for labor rights, contrasting herself with Trump’s divisive rhetoric. She commended the collective bargaining efforts of the autoworkers, a sentiment well-received by those gathered at the union chapter headquarters.

The UAW Local 900, located across from a significant Ford factory, is notable for its history of labor activism and was a focal point during last fall’s walkout.

Shawn Fain, President of the autoworkers union, underscored Harris’s and her running mate, Tim Walz’s, commitment to labor issues by highlighting their presence at previous strikes—something Fain suggested Trump would never do. The enthusiastic response from the crowd as Harris thanked them for their endorsement was indicative of her growing support among labor organizations since Biden’s exit from the race.

As September 10 approaches, the scheduled debate is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing political landscape. The encounter between Trump and Harris not only promises to be a clash of starkly different visions for the future of the United States but also a potential catalyst for both campaigns as they vie for public approval and support.