Kamala Harris campaign mocks Trump for rejecting challenge of second debate

Kamala Harris’ campaign has mocked Donald Trump after he refused to participate in a second televised presidential debate with the vice president on CNN this fall.

Harris has agreed to take part in a second debate against her Republican opponent ahead of this year’s presidential election on October 23, but her opponent declined, saying it was “too late.”

Harris’ campaign team, which calls itself Kamala HQ online, used X (formerly Twitter) to mock the former president for her refusal to attend. A video was posted The Republican’s speech, captioned with three chicken head emojis, spoke several times about his first debate with President Joe Biden, which was also moderated by CNN. Trump says the debate was “very fair” and that he has gained “a whole new level of respect” for the network.

Then, in a record-breaking cut, Trump’s recent comments in North Carolina in which he declined the invitation follow.

“It’s just too late,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Wilmington this week, adding that “the election has already started,” which is true in several states where early in-person voting is possible.

“She’s had one debate, I’ve had two, it’s too late for another,” he said, referring to his debate with incumbent Biden earlier this summer, after which the president dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.

The first debate of this election cycle between Biden and Trump aired on CNN and the second, which took place on September 10, was moderated by ABC News.

Kamala HQ also pointed out that Trump participated in a final debate of the 2020 election cycle on October 22, 2020 – just one day earlier than the October 23 date suggested by CNN.

Harris herself also called on Trump to participate in the debate via her own X-account.

“I will gladly participate in a second presidential debate on October 23rd. I hope @realDonaldTrump is there,” she wrote.

Jen O’Malley Dillon, campaign manager for Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, said it would be “unprecedented in modern history if there were only a single debate in the general election.”

“Debates offer voters a unique chance to see the candidates side by side and assess their competing visions for America,” she said. “Donald Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate. It has the same format and structure as the CNN debate he attended in June and said he won by praising CNN’s moderators, rules and ratings.”