I regret to inform you that Kamala Harris is once again crying about the September 10th presidential debate on ABC News. This comes after more than a month of her campaign flip-flopping on the issue.
As RedState previously reported, Harris had declared the “debate about debates” over, claiming that if Trump didn’t stick to the original terms negotiated by Joe Biden, he’d be a coward. After some complaining, Trump agreed to participate. But now, less than two weeks from the debate, Harris has done a complete 180, demanding rule changes and accusing Trump of being scared if he doesn’t comply.
Donald Trump is surrendering to his advisors who won't allow him to debate with a live microphone. If his own team doesn't have confidence in him, the American people definitely can’t.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2024
We are running for President of the United States. Let’s debate in a transparent way—with the… https://t.co/mjyaiUTwAA
It’s childish and pathetic, but she’s not backing down. On Saturday, Harris posted on social media, whining about the muted mic setup that ABC News has already finalized, and that the Trump campaign has agreed to in writing.
“We are running for President of the United States. Let’s debate in a transparent way—with the microphones on the whole time.”
What she’s saying here is simply false. Donald Trump has never endorsed a rule change to keep the mics open. While he did mention that he didn’t care either way, he also clearly stated that the Harris campaign shouldn’t be allowed to change the rules. There has been no division between Trump and his campaign on this issue.
To use that falsehood to suggest Trump isn’t capable of being president is just absurd. It’s the logic of a petulant child, and it’s pathetic to see from a major party nominee.
Harris then claims she wants to “debate in a transparent way” by having the mics unmuted the whole night. Well, I’ve got some great news for her. If the vice president truly wants a no-holds-barred affair, there’s a solution. Donald Trump has already offered to debate her on Fox News with an audience and open mics. If she’s the warrior she’s trying to portray herself as, she should show up.
But she won’t, because this is all empty posturing. Harris is terrified of any unscripted situation, as evidenced by her recent joint interview with Tim Walz. Speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash, the vice president sounded like a third-grader who hadn’t done their homework—rambling, talking in circles, and making awkward attempts to sound intellectual. Harris doesn’t want a transparent debate; she just wants to be able to use her “I’m speaking” line the moment Trump breathes into his mic. That’s all this is about.
Trump is right to stick to his guns. The rules were negotiated by Joe Biden, and ABC News asked both campaigns to agree to them, with no indication they could be changed. The Trump campaign signed on the dotted line, while the Harris campaign is still flailing. If she doesn’t want to show up, that’s on her. The more she makes an issue of this, the weaker she looks.