Trump, Harris clash over debate date

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris laid bare their differences on Saturday over the organization of their televised debate, at a time when the former president seeks to cut the momentum gained by his Democratic rival's campaign to win the keys to the White House.

“I have agreed with Fox News to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4,” Donald Trump, the Republican Party's candidate for the November presidential election, said on his Truth Social platform on Friday night.

A gamble that was quickly challenged by Kamala Harris, who is now assured of becoming the Democratic candidate after winning the support of more than half of her party's delegates in an online vote.

Accusing the billionaire of “being afraid,” the vice president's campaign said Trump should stick to the debate originally scheduled with Joe Biden on ABC, scheduled for September 10.

“I'll be there on September 10, as he agreed,” Kamala Harris said on X. “I hope to see him there.”

Joe Biden, 81, dropped out of a second term less than two weeks ago after a disastrous performance in a first debate against Mr. Trump on CNN in June.

After the Democratic president withdrew, Donald Trump's spokesman, Steven Cheung, said it was “inappropriate” to go ahead with the second debate scheduled for ABC — a network the former Republican president accuses of spreading “fake news.”

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On Saturday, Mr. Cheung said Kamala Harris was “too cowardly to agree to a debate earlier.” The message was accompanied by a chicken emoji, a reference to the expression “sissy.”

According to Donald Trump, the debate on Fox News, a network labeled as conservative, would take place in Pennsylvania and in front of an audience. He claimed that the September 4 date was “convenient and appropriate” because it comes just before the start of early voting for the presidential election.

– Tour of key states –

The former president is looking to regain the upper hand, while since the announcement of Joe Biden's withdrawal, Kamala Harris has benefited from positive momentum, amassing better poll numbers than the Democratic president, a surge in mobilization and a fundraising boom.

Late Saturday afternoon, Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia, accompanied by his running mate, J.D. Vance.

The event is set to take place at the same venue that Kamala Harris chose for a rally on Tuesday, where she drew a large crowd. The two rallies are sure to be compared.

Kamala Harris is set to formally accept the Democratic Party's nomination for the November election after the Democratic delegate vote closes on Monday.

The former prosecutor and former senator from California must also announce in the next few days the choice of her running mate, who will become vice president if she is elected.

The duo will then begin, starting Tuesday, a tour of no less than seven key states, which they will crisscross in five days, her campaign team announced.

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