In a surprising turn of events, Joe Biden dropped out of the race on July 21, leaving Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Harris wasted no time in challenging President Donald Trump to keep his word about the upcoming debate set for September 10, which he had previously agreed to do against Biden. In her first rally as the nominee, Harris boldly called out Trump, accusing him of pulling out of the debate and mocking his actions as “just plain weird.”
Harris, at a rally attended by over 10,000 people in Atlanta, pointed out that the momentum in the race is shifting, with polls showing her tied and even ahead of Trump just a week into her White House bid. She urged Trump to reconsider and face her on the debate stage, stating, “if you got something to say, say it to my face!” This challenge was met with enthusiastic support from the crowd, including notable figures like Stacey Abrams, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
While Harris’ bold move was covered by major news outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and the BBC, Fox News chose to focus on other topics. The Rupert Murdoch-owned outlet aired segments criticizing law enforcement for investigating the attempted shooting of Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump himself appeared on Fox News, hinting that he may face off against Harris in the fall but expressing reluctance due to his distrust of mainstream media outlets like ABC.
As Trump gears up for his own rally at the Georgia State Convocation Center, the question remains whether he will agree to debate Harris in the coming weeks. Facing a very different opponent in Harris compared to Biden, Trump’s decision is unclear. While he may choose to engage with Harris in a debate, Trump’s comments on Fox News suggest a level of hesitation and skepticism towards the media landscape. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether Trump will indeed face Harris on the debate stage.
Overall, Harris’ challenge to Trump marks a significant moment in the 2022 election cycle, with the vice president asserting her position as a formidable opponent. The dynamics of the race have shifted, and the outcome remains uncertain as both candidates navigate the volatile political landscape. Whether Trump will ultimately agree to debate Harris remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – the 2022 election is far from predictable.