NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump on Monday Debate with Vice President Kamala HarrisHe questioned the value of the meeting, saying he would “probably” hold a debate but “I could explain why we wouldn't.”
In an interview with Fox News Channel that aired Monday night, Trump gave a more vague answer than he has given in recent days after being asked repeatedly whether he would be willing to debate Harris.
The former Republican president was enthusiastic. Debate with President Joe Biden Trump, when he was the Democratic nominee, made Harris the Democratic presidential nominee after suggesting for months that Biden was mentally unable to run for president, let alone run for president. But since Biden dropped out of the race and Harris became the likely Democratic presidential nominee, Trump has questioned the terms of the original debate agreement with Biden. Trump has suggested the September 10 debate on ABC News should be moved to another network, calling ABC “fake news.”
When asked by reporters during a call last week if he would be willing to debate Harris at least once, Trump replied, “Absolutely. I'd love to,” and said he felt obligated to debate her.
During Monday's interview, moderator Laura Ingraham repeatedly pressed Trump on whether he would take part in the debate.
“I would love to have a debate, but I can also say this: Everybody knows me, and now people know who she is,” Trump said.
Trump ultimately said, “The answer is yes, there will probably be a debate eventually.”
He spent another minute saying any debate needed to take place before early voting begins in states, adding, “The answer is yes, but you could also make the argument not to.”
Trump has skipped debates before. Includes all debates in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. He first suggested it was too early, then questioned where another debate would take place, then said he wouldn't take part, and ultimately made it clear he wouldn't be taking part in any debates.
In an interview on Monday, Republican candidate Trump also sought to clarify comments he made last week to a Christian audience at a conservative event, in which he told them “they wouldn't have to vote anymore” if he was elected.
He urged Christians, who he said do not turn out in large numbers, to vote “just this once,” saying “you don't need to vote again.”
In four years, “the problem will be solved. It'll be OK. My beautiful Christian people, you won't have to vote anymore,” he said.
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He added moments later: “In four years, you won't have to vote anymore. We're going to fix this so badly that you won't have to vote anymore.”
The remarks drew alarm from Democrats and others. Trump's pattern of authoritarian language and his previous comments that he would only become a dictator on “day one” What he did after losing the 2020 presidential election He refused to accept the results And he tried to cover it up.
Trump's campaign and supporters have offered different explanations for his comments, and Ingraham pressed him to explain what he meant.
“They're not going to vote. That's what I explain to them: 'You're not going to vote.' Vote this time. I'm going to fix this country. You don't have to vote anymore. I don't need your vote,” Trump said.
Ingram asked if his short four-year term in office meant Christians didn't need to vote for him.
Trump began his answer by talking about voter turnout among Christians and gun owners, but Ingraham interrupted him to ask again.
“Don't worry about the future. Vote on November 5th, and then you don't have to worry about voting anymore. Don't worry about it. We will bounce back. The country will bounce back. And quite frankly, we don't need your vote anymore because we're full of love. If you don't want to vote anymore, that's fine,” Trump said.
Trump made similar remarks at another Christian event last month, lamenting Christian voter turnout and urging them to participate in the election.
“You don't have to vote in four years, OK? You don't have to vote in four years. I don't care,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
