Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he would “absolutely” debate Vice President Kamala Harris, adding that he would be open to debating her more than once.
“I agreed to debate with Joe Biden. But I want to debate her and she’ll be no different because they have the same policies,” Trump told reporters on a press call organized by the Republican National Committee.
“I would be willing to do more than one debate actually,” the former president added.
Trump and President Joe Biden previously agreed to two debates — one in June on CNN and the other in September on ABC. Biden’s poor performance in the June debate ultimately led to his decision to step aside and endorse Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination.
But Trump left the door open to abandoning plans for the ABC debate, calling the network “fake news” on Tuesday.
“I’m not thrilled with ABC,” Trump added, “I guess they committed but I have at least equal say, and I don’t like the idea of ABC.”
On Sunday, he suggested in a Truth Social post that Fox News host a debate instead. RNC Chair Michael Whatley told ABC News on Sunday that “we’ve made it very clear we welcome” the ABC debate. And Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller told NBC News’ Lester Holt on Sunday that “there’s definitely going to be another debate.”
When asked whether Harris would be a tougher opponent than Biden, Trump told reporters that “I think it’s probably similar.”
“She’s the same as Biden, but much more radical. She’s a radical left person, and this country doesn’t want a radical left person to destroy it,” the former president added.
Trump also stood by his decision to pick Sen. JD Vance, of Ohio, as his running mate, even as who Vance will face at any future vice presidential debates is still undecided.
“I would do the same pick. He’s doing really well,” Trump said of Vance.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
