NEW YORK — Former President Donald J. Trump has announced he will not participate in a planned debate until the Democratic Party confirms its nominee for the upcoming presidential election.
Trump’s decision comes amid uncertainty within the Democratic Party about whether President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris will be the nominee. Biden remains the official candidate after securing the nomination in the June primary, but speculation persists about a potential shift to Harris, particularly with the Democratic National Convention approaching.
Trump’s camp argued that debating now would be premature, given the ambiguity surrounding the Democratic ticket. “It’s unclear who the Democratic candidate will be,” a spokesperson for Trump stated. “President Trump debated Joe Biden in the previous election, and it wouldn’t make sense to prepare for a debate with a candidate who might change.”
Kamala Harris criticized Trump’s decision, accusing him of backpedaling on his commitment to the September 10 debate. However, Trump’s team emphasized that the former president is awaiting a definitive candidate from the Democrats before engaging in any debates.
The Democratic National Convention is expected to provide clarity on the party’s nominee, and both parties will likely finalize their debate schedules thereafter.