The network confirmed the highly anticipated debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). This announcement followed Trump’s statement on Thursday, in which he expressed his willingness to debate his Democratic opponent several times before the November election.
Harris Confirms Debate Participation
During an event in Michigan on Thursday, Kamala Harris confirmed her participation in the scheduled debate and expressed her openness to additional debates. “I am looking ahead to debating Donald Trump, and we have a date of September 10. I hear he’s finally committed to it, and I’m looking forward to it,” Harris stated at the event in Detroit.
Moderators Announced
The network announced that David Muir, anchor and managing editor of World News Tonight, and Linsey Davis, Prime anchor, would moderate the debate.
Biden’s Withdrawal and Harris’s Nomination
Trump, the Republican candidate, previously debated President Joe Biden in June. They were set to discuss it again on September 10. However, Biden withdrew from the presidential race following a poor performance in the televised debate. This withdrawal cleared the way for Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
Debate Confirmation and Campaign Tensions
The confirmation of the debate ends the uncertainty that followed Biden’s exit from the race. Both the Trump and Harris campaigns had engaged in a back-and-forth over the planned showdown.
Trump had previously expressed his desire for a debate hosted by the conservative network Fox News, proposing Pennsylvania as the location, though the specific site was yet to be determined.
Additional Debates Proposed
At a Thursday news conference held at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump proposed two additional debates with Harris—on September 4 on Fox News and September 25 on NBC. He also mentioned that CBS would host a debate between the vice-presidential nominees, Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz.
Campaign Dynamics and Polls
Reports indicate that NBC News is discussing a potential debate this fall with both campaigns. Last month, Fox News reportedly sent formal letters to both campaigns proposing a September debate in Pennsylvania. The Harris campaign responded, “Trump has to show up” to the first debate before confirming further events.
Recent polls suggest Harris’s campaign has gained momentum, with increased support in national and battleground states. However, the race for the White House remains close.
