Trump's defamation lawsuit against ABC throws wrench into network's debate plans

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ABC News is scrambling to salvage the presidential debate it had on the books, which may not take place as the Disney-owned network is in a legal battle against the Republican nominee.

Former President Trump announced Saturday that the ABC debate had been "terminated" because the candidate that he had agreed to debate on Sept. 10, President Biden, "will no longer be a participant."

"[A]nd I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos[sic], thereby creating a conflict of interest," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her supporters have accused Trump of "chickening out" of the ABC debate despite the fact that it was negotiated and agreed upon between the Trump and Biden campaigns, not the Trump and Harris campaigns. ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis were set to moderate the September showdown.

TRUMP'S DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST ABC, STEPHANOPOULOS CAN MOVE FORWARD, JUDGE RULES

The Harris campaign has repeatedly said she will show up whether Trump does or not, leaving open the question of what ABC plans to do at the designated time. Reached for comment, it referred Fox News Digital to spokesman Michael Tyler's remarks that Trump was "running scared."

"The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime time national audience," Tyler said. "We’re happy to discuss further debates