Donald Trump, the former president, seemed to waver on his earlier commitment to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, raising doubts about the value of such a debate. In an interview aired on Fox News Channel on Monday night, Trump suggested he “probably” would debate but also mentioned he could “make a case for not doing it.”
Key Points
Trump’s Shift on Debating Harris
Initially eager to debate Joe Biden when he was the Democratic nominee, Trump has now shown reluctance to commit to debating Harris. He questioned the terms of the original debate agreed upon with Biden, suggesting that the scheduled debate on ABC News should be moved to another network, labeling ABC as “fake news.”
Last week, during a phone call with reporters, Trump confidently stated his willingness to debate Harris. “Oh yes, absolutely. I’d want to,” he said, emphasizing the obligation to debate. However, in the interview with Laura Ingraham, he gave a less definitive answer. “I want to do a debate. But I also can say this. Everybody knows who I am. And now people know who she is,” Trump remarked. He eventually said, “The answer is yes, I’ll probably end up debating,” but added, “The answer is yes, but I can also make a case for not doing it.”
Historical Context of Trump and Debates
Trump has a history of skipping debates. He abstained from all the 2024 Republican presidential primary debates, citing various reasons, including questioning the timing and venue. His current wavering on the debate with Harris follows this pattern.
Controversial Comments on Voting
In the same interview, Trump sought to clarify recent comments made at a conservative event. He told an audience of Christians that they “won’t have to vote anymore” after he’s elected, which raised alarms among Democrats and others. These comments were interpreted as part of Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric, especially in light of his behavior after losing the 2020 presidential election, where he refused to accept the results and attempted to overturn them.
Explaining His Statements
Trump’s campaign and supporters offered various explanations for his comments. In the interview, Ingraham pressed Trump to explain what he meant. He responded, “They don’t vote and I’m explaining that to ’em. ‘You never vote.’ This time, vote. I’ll straighten out the country. You won’t have to vote anymore. I won’t need your vote.” When asked if he meant Christians won’t need to vote for him because he will only have four years in office, Trump deflected by discussing the voting rates of Christians and gun owners. He eventually said, “Don’t worry about the future. Vote, on, you have to vote on November 5th. After that, you don’t have to worry about voting anymore. I don’t care because we’re going to fix up, the country will be fixed and we won’t even need your vote anymore because frankly, we will have such love. If you don’t want to vote anymore, that’s okay.”
Authoritarian Language Concerns
Trump’s comments have drawn criticism and concern, with many pointing to his history of using authoritarian language. His statement that he would only be a dictator on “day one” and his refusal to accept the 2020 election results have added to the alarm. The pattern of rhetoric continues to be a point of contention among his critics and political analysts.
The Road Ahead
As the political landscape gears up for the next election, Trump’s stance on debates and his controversial comments on voting remain in the spotlight. Whether he will ultimately commit to debating Kamala Harris and how his remarks will influence his campaign are questions that will unfold in the coming months. For now, the former president’s wavering commitment and provocative statements continue to generate headlines and shape the discourse around the 2024 election.
