Trump Tells The New York Post Why He Won’t Debate Harris Again

Trump Tells The New York Post Why He Won’t Debate Harris Again

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a move that has sent ripples across the political landscape, former President Donald Trump has announced that he will not participate in any further debates for the remainder of the 2024 election cycle. The decision, revealed during a phone interview with The New York Post on Thursday, signals the end of what has already been a contentious and highly publicized debate season. “We just don’t think that there’s any need for it,” Trump told The Post confidently, brushing aside the possibility of a final showdown with Vice President Kamala Harris. The former president’s decision has left many wondering whether this marks a shrewd political calculation or a signal of his confidence in the path ahead.

Trump, now 78, has already participated in two high-profile debates this year. The first took place on June 27 against President Joe Biden, and the second, more recently, against Vice President Kamala Harris. “I did well. I did really well,” Trump remarked to The Post, referring to his performance. Citing internal polling and debate metrics, Trump asserted that “every single poll” showed him as the victor in both encounters. Despite his success, as measured by his own campaign, Trump made it clear that he had no intention of stepping back onto the debate stage.

The former president’s refusal to debate Harris on a third occasion has stirred conversation within the political arena, particularly given the behind-the-scenes tension between the two camps, according to the information provided in The Post report. Trump’s campaign had previously proposed a final debate for September 25, to be hosted by NBC News. But in a surprising turn of events, the Harris team rejected the September debate and proposed an alternate date in October. “There’s no debate on the 25th,” Trump stated definitively. “Nothing has been arranged.”

For Trump, the decision to withdraw appears to be rooted in dissatisfaction with the handling of previous debates. He expressed frustration with the treatment he received from ABC News moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis during the most recent face-off with Harris. “I think she had the questions,” Trump claimed when speaking with The Post. He suggested that Harris had been given an unfair advantage. The Post report also said that he further criticized the moderators, labeling their performance “a disgrace to American journalism” and accusing them of leniency toward Harris. “They didn’t challenge her on all of those things that they knew were false,” he told The Post, pointing to what he saw as an unfair line of questioning that was disproportionately harsh on him while allowing his opponent to evade scrutiny.

This brewing frustration, coupled with what Trump sees as his strong debate performances, may explain his decision to step away from further engagements. In his view, there is little to gain from continuing to spar on the national stage, especially when his internal polling shows an upward trend. As explained in The Post report, shortly before announcing his debate exit, Trump’s campaign circulated a confidential memorandum claiming that its internal data revealed a two-point boost in support among likely voters in seven key battleground states. This gain, attributed to his recent debate performances, offers Trump a strong rationale for moving away from further debates, believing that his momentum is already secured.

The memorandum underscores what has long been a central tenet of Trump’s campaign strategy—positioning himself as the victor of each encounter, regardless of external narratives. The former president’s team had previously pushed for a more rigorous debate schedule, initially proposing three debates with Harris across multiple networks, The Post report said. The first, planned for September 4 on Fox News, was derailed when Harris declined the invitation. Trump subsequently participated in a town hall event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, hosted by Sean Hannity, filling the gap left by Harris’s no-show. Trump expressed frustration at Harris’s continued refusal to engage in debates hosted by major networks such as NBC and CBS, calling her absence from these platforms a missed opportunity.

“KAMALA SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE DURING THE LAST ALMOST FOUR YEAR PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, casting his decision as a response to Harris’s perceived failure to show up when it mattered.

However, while Trump may be stepping off the debate stage, his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, is preparing for his own high-stakes confrontation. Vance, a rising star within the Republican Party and the author of the bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, is scheduled to debate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on October 1, as was confirmed in The Post report.  This debate, to be hosted by CBS News, will be a crucial moment for Vance to solidify his credentials as a capable and formidable running mate.

Trump’s advice for Vance? “Just be yourself,” he said, expressing confidence in the Ohio senator’s ability to perform well. “He’ll be fantastic,” Trump predicted, pointing to Vance’s sharp intellect and his ability to connect with working-class voters, themes central to Trump’s own political messaging. The October 1 debate will likely provide Vance with a national platform to demonstrate his political acumen, especially as he prepares for a larger role in Trump’s campaign efforts.

Trump’s decision to forgo further debates is as much about shaping the narrative as it is about sidestepping additional conflict. By walking away now, he retains control over his public image, framing himself as the clear winner in previous encounters and avoiding the potential pitfalls of another televised showdown. His campaign’s internal polling reflects growing support, and with his debate performances already locked in as perceived victories, Trump likely sees little value in continuing to engage with Harris.

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