Trump Declines Second Debate on CNN After Harris Agrees, Says It’s Too Late

A Republican candidate has said that holding a debate now would be “just too late” as voting has already begun. He also mentioned that his Democratic opponent had previously turned down an earlier debate proposal.

On September 21, Vice President Kamala Harris agreed to CNN's invitation to participate in a second debate against former President Donald Trump. However, it seems unlikely to happen, as Trump told supporters in North Carolina the same day that the proposed debate date was too late in the election process.

“I am happy to accept a second presidential debate on October 23 and hope that @realDonaldTrump will join me,” Harris posted on X, responding to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins' message.

The Trump campaign referred The Epoch Times to Trump's September 12 post on Truth Social, where he firmly stated there would not be a second debate.

During a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 21, Trump said he had heard about CNN’s debate offer just as he was getting off his plane. He called it a desperate effort to rescue what he claims is a failing campaign. While he acknowledged that a second debate might be entertaining, he noted that the timing was off.

“The issue with another debate is that it’s too late; voting has already started,” Trump explained. He added that he had already proposed a debate on Fox, but Harris had declined.

“Fox invited us, and I waited, but they turned it down,” Trump said. “Now she wants to debate with CNN right before the election because she’s losing badly.”

CNN stated that the proposed debate would take place at their Atlanta studios and follow a similar format to Trump’s June debate with President Joe Biden. It would feature 90 minutes of questions from moderators, with no live studio audience.

“Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump have been invited to participate in a CNN debate this fall, as we believe it would benefit the American people to hear from both candidates again,” CNN said. They are waiting for responses from both campaigns.

Trump's comments on September 21 reaffirmed his earlier stance after the first debate with Harris, where he declared there would be no follow-up. At the time, he used a metaphor comparing Harris to a boxer or UFC fighter who asks for a rematch after losing a fight, and suggested he had won the debate, citing unnamed polls.