Harris claims Trump is ‘running scared’ to Fox News after backing out of ABC debate

Kamala Harris has accused Donald Trump of “running scared” from a scheduled debate with her on ABC News, and choosing a new option with Fox News “to bail him out”.

ABC News announced in May that the network would host a debate between Trump and President Joe Biden on September 10 after both accepted the invitation. Since Biden has withdrawn his re-election campaign and backed his vice president for the top of the ticket, Harris has stepped in to fulfill the commitment.

After Biden stepped aside, Fox News said that it sent a letter to both the Harris and Trump campaigns in late July offering to host a debate on September 17.

Late on Friday, Trump then announced on Truth Social that he plans to debate Harris earlier than that — on September 4 — on Fox News, and criticized ABC, including their anchor George Stephanopoulos.

“I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Trump wrote. “The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant, and I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thereby creating a conflict of interest.”

Trump said the Fox debate will be moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum and boast “A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!”

On Saturday, the Harris campaign issued a statement, accusing Trump of backpedaling.

«Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out. He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept 10,” it read.

“The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime time national audience.