ABC says both former U.S. president Donald Trump and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 presidential debate, setting up a face-off between the Republican and Democratic nominees.
The announcement Thursday came shortly after Trump told a news conference that he had proposed three presidential debates with three television networks, saying he agreed on certain dates in September.
Trump is rejoining the ABC debate days after posting on his social media network that he would not appear on the network, citing a lawsuit he has filed. This sets up a highly anticipated moment in an election where the first debate led to a massive change in the race when Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid and endorsed Harris.
“I think it’s very important to have debates,” Trump said Thursday. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”
The Harris campaign had no immediate comment.
Trump had said he would prefer that Fox News sponsor the debate, but by Wednesday, he was showing willingness to reconsider ABC.
Trump also echoed criticism from his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, that Harris has not held a news conference or sat down for interviews since she entered the race.
Harris has a travelling media pool with her on Air Force Two for all trips. Trump does not have such a pool accompanying him on his plane when he campaigns.
Vance has journalists flying with him, and he campaigned this week in states where Harris and running mate Tim Walz had their own events scheduled. That included on Wednesday, when Vance’s plane and Air Force Two ended up on the same tarmac in Wisconsin.
Vance started walking toward the Democrats’ plane but did not reach it before a motorcade carrying Harris, Walz and the travelling media pool pulled away.