Harris accepts CNN debate invitation for October 23, again challenging Trump to another showdown

Samantha Waldenberg, CNN

(CNN) — Vice President Kamala Harris connected Saturday accepted an invitation from CNN to statement erstwhile President Donald Trump connected October 23, challenging her rival to different engagement connected a nationalist shape successful nan last weeks of nan campaign.

“Vice President Harris is fresh for different opportunity to stock a shape pinch Donald Trump,” run chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said successful a statement. “Donald Trump should person nary problem agreeing to this debate.”

Harris tweeted Saturday that she “will gladly judge a 2nd statesmanlike debate” and that she hopes Trump “will join” her connected October 23.

Trump connected Saturday based on it was “too late” to person different statesmanlike statement because Americans person begun casting their ballots successful nan 2024 election.

“The problem pinch different statement is that it’s conscionable excessively late, voting has already started,” Trump said astatine a rally successful Wilmington, North Carolina.

Presidential nominees person traditionally had nan last connection successful a nationally televised October statement pursuing nan vice statesmanlike nominees’ debate. Trump’s moving mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is group to quadrate disconnected against Harris’ vice statesmanlike pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, connected October 1 successful a statement hosted by CBS.

Trump suggested past week that he mightiness beryllium unfastened to participating successful a 3rd statesmanlike statement pursuing his September 10 face-off pinch Harris hosted by ABC successful Philadelphia. “Maybe if I sewage successful nan correct mood,” he told reporters during a extremity successful California, aft antecedently posting connected Truth Social, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!”

Trump run spokesperson Steven Cheung referred CNN to that Truth Social station erstwhile asked Saturday whether nan erstwhile president would judge nan statement invitation.

Harris’ run past week dismissed Trump’s announcement that location would not beryllium different debate, pinch 1 elder advisor saying nan erstwhile president “changes his position each day.” The vice president, meanwhile, instantly called for different debate, saying, “I judge we beryllium it to nan voters.”

The October statement would reflector nan first 2024 statesmanlike statement successful June betwixt Trump and President Joe Biden, taking spot astatine CNN’s studios successful Atlanta, according to nan network. Trump and Harris would section moderators’ questions for 90 minutes without a unrecorded workplace audience.

“Both Vice President Harris and erstwhile President Trump received an invitation to participate successful a CNN statement this autumn arsenic we judge nan American group would use from a 2nd statement betwixt nan 2 candidates for President of nan United States,” nan web said successful a statement. “We look guardant to receiving a consequence from some campaigns truthful nan American nationalist tin perceive much from these candidates arsenic they make their last decision.”

CNN’s statement betwixt Trump and Biden connected June 27 proved a consequential showdown that upended nan people of nan campaign. After a dismal capacity astatine that Atlanta debate, Biden yet bowed retired of nan title and endorsed Harris arsenic nan Democratic nominee.

CNN’s Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.

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