Harris Agrees to a Second Debate, but Trump Declines

Vice President Kamala Harris said on Saturday that she had accepted an invitation from CNN to participate in a second presidential debate next month, putting pressure on former President Donald J. Trump to join her for a rematch.

Ms. Harris was widely seen to have won her first debate with Mr. Trump, according to polling, and her campaign has been seeking a second debate almost since the first one ended. But Mr. Trump has repeatedly ruled out a second face-off with the vice president, and on Saturday he said that it was “too late” for a second debate because early voting had begun in a few states.

In a social media post on Saturday, Ms. Harris said she had “gladly” accepted CNN’s invitation for an Oct. 23 face-off, adding that she hoped Mr. Trump would join her.

The post was part of a public effort by the Harris campaign that also included statements announcing her decision issued by Brian Fallon, a campaign spokesman, and Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chair.

“The American people deserve another opportunity to see Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debate before they cast their ballots,” Ms. O’Malley Dillon said in her statement. “It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to just be one general election debate.”

At a rally in Wilmington, N.C., on Saturday, Mr. Trump once again rejected the idea of another debate, insisting that he won his debate against Ms. Harris and blaming timing. “The problem with another debate is that it’s just too late,” he said. “Voting has already started.”