Fox News Offers Last-Minute Presidential Debate to Kamala and Trump
Fox News has proposed hosting a final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris before the upcoming election. The network suggested potential dates of October 24 or 27, with moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. In the proposal, Fox News executives emphasized that this debate would provide each candidate the chance to present their closing arguments.
A recent opinion piece in The New York Times highlighted that Harris should take this opportunity to reach a large audience, as it was noted she had not yet made her closing argument and that engaging with Trump on Fox News would be strategic, especially since Trump previously did not participate in a Fox debate due to Harris’s absence.
Despite the proposal, Trump has expressed that he does not plan to participate in another debate, stating there would be “no third debate.” He emphasized this decision after Harris’s campaign had actively sought another face-off following past debates. Recent polling indicates that Trump appears to have momentum against Harris, which could further discourage his participation in additional debates.
Fox News made a last-minute pitch Wednesday to both the Donald Trump and the Kamala Harris campaigns for one more presidential debate before next month’s election.
Fox reported that it sent a letter from the network’s executives proposing to host a debate in Pennsylvania either Oct. 24 or 27, with Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum as moderators.
“This would present an opportunity for each candidate to make his or her closing arguments,” Fox News Media president and executive editor Jay Wallace and vice president of politics Jessica Loker wrote.
In their letter to the campaigns, the two referenced a recent column in The New York Times arguing Harris should appear on the conservative news outlet before the election.
“She hasn’t made her closing argument yet. And the best way for her to do that is in another debate. To persuade Donald Trump to join her, she should offer to hold that debate on Fox News,” opinion editor David Swerdlick wrote.
“Yes, time is running out, but the final 2020 debate was on Oct. 22 of that year,” he continued. “Yes, Trump would have to agree to do it — and based on his recent approach he probably wouldn’t — but Harris already knows that there’s no way he’ll accept her challenge to debate on CNN on Oct. 23.”
“There’s only one network where Harris would have another opportunity to speak to 67 million people at once, so why not?” Swerdlick asked.
He further argued that “Harris doesn’t need to throw Trump to the proverbial mat,” but just turn in a solid debate performance.
Swerdlick concluded, “[I]f it makes sense to debate on another network, it also makes sense to go on Fox News.”
Immediately after the ABC News debate last month, Harris’ campaign called for another face-off.
Trump responded on , writing, “When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I want a rematch.’”
He noted that she was a “no-show” for the Fox News debate in early September, so he ended up doing a town hall on the network instead. Harris did not accept the debate invitation from Fox.
Trump concluded, “There will be no third debate.”
He later reiterated the point on the campaign trail.
President Trump confirms: “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE” pic.twitter.com/1OyBHgLGOx
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) September 12, 2024
Trump participated in a CNN debate in late June against President Joe Biden, which helped precipitate the Democrat’s withdrawal from the race.
Recent polling suggests that Trump has the momentum in his match-up against Harris, meaning he might be even less inclined for another debate.
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