Trump asserts victory in debate, suggests further debates are ‘probably’ unlikely
Although Kamala Harris’ campaign promptly requested a second debate, with Fox News willing to host it, the former president essentially dismissed the idea.
TroibNews 
On Tuesday night, the team backing Kamala Harris left Philadelphia ready for another face-off with Donald Trump. Initially keen on a second debate, the former president now appeared hesitant.
Following a debate that was criticized as disorderly and full of inaccuracies, Trump declared himself the winner the next morning. He argued that a subsequent debate would merely offer Vice President Harris an additional chance to compete.
"The first thing they did is ask for a debate because when a fighter loses, he says ‘I want a rematch,’” Trump stated on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday morning. When prompted about a second debate, he responded: "I’d be less inclined to because we had a great night, we won the debate, we had a terrible network.”
Trump criticized ABC News, the debate’s host, calling it “the most dishonest news organization” and described the debate as “three to one” and “a rigged deal.” He went on to praise his own performance, stating it was “one of my better debates, maybe my best debate.”
The feasibility of Harris and Trump meeting on stage was uncertain for a while due to disagreements over the timing, location, and format of their first debate. Trump had pushed for multiple debates, including one on Fox News, which Harris declined. He also threatened to withdraw from the debate hosted by ABC News. The main point of contention between the campaigns was the muting of microphones when the opposing candidate was speaking.
Despite her team's unsuccessful push for open microphones, Harris still attempted to interject during the debate, albeit with muted audio. At one moment, Trump admonished her, reminding her, "I’m talking now … does that sound familiar?" referencing their 2020 debate moment with Mike Pence.
"She wanted a moment like she did with Mike Pence,” Trump remarked. “but I actually got that moment too, I won that too because she was talking while I was speaking quite a bit actually.”
After the debate, Harris' campaign issued a call for a second showdown. Fox News proposed hosting it, moderated by Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, with possible dates in October in various states.
“Seems like the American people would love another opportunity to see these candidates. It’s been such a short window and they deserve as many opportunities as possible,” MacCallum stated during the network’s coverage after the debate.
However, Trump seemed disinclined to accept Fox News' proposal on Wednesday, expressing his reluctance to have MacCallum and Baier as moderators. He indicated a preference for right-wing commentators like Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, and Laura Ingraham from Fox News.
“I didn’t think Martha and Brett were good last night,” he said, prompting the "Fox & Friends" hosts to quickly change the topic.
Meanwhile, Harris campaign spokesperson Quentin Fulks confirmed on CNN that Harris would be willing to participate in an October debate.
“But if I were Donald Trump,” he said, “I would not want to debate Kamala Harris.”
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
Following a debate that was criticized as disorderly and full of inaccuracies, Trump declared himself the winner the next morning. He argued that a subsequent debate would merely offer Vice President Harris an additional chance to compete.
"The first thing they did is ask for a debate because when a fighter loses, he says ‘I want a rematch,’” Trump stated on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday morning. When prompted about a second debate, he responded: "I’d be less inclined to because we had a great night, we won the debate, we had a terrible network.”
Trump criticized ABC News, the debate’s host, calling it “the most dishonest news organization” and described the debate as “three to one” and “a rigged deal.” He went on to praise his own performance, stating it was “one of my better debates, maybe my best debate.”
The feasibility of Harris and Trump meeting on stage was uncertain for a while due to disagreements over the timing, location, and format of their first debate. Trump had pushed for multiple debates, including one on Fox News, which Harris declined. He also threatened to withdraw from the debate hosted by ABC News. The main point of contention between the campaigns was the muting of microphones when the opposing candidate was speaking.
Despite her team's unsuccessful push for open microphones, Harris still attempted to interject during the debate, albeit with muted audio. At one moment, Trump admonished her, reminding her, "I’m talking now … does that sound familiar?" referencing their 2020 debate moment with Mike Pence.
"She wanted a moment like she did with Mike Pence,” Trump remarked. “but I actually got that moment too, I won that too because she was talking while I was speaking quite a bit actually.”
After the debate, Harris' campaign issued a call for a second showdown. Fox News proposed hosting it, moderated by Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, with possible dates in October in various states.
“Seems like the American people would love another opportunity to see these candidates. It’s been such a short window and they deserve as many opportunities as possible,” MacCallum stated during the network’s coverage after the debate.
However, Trump seemed disinclined to accept Fox News' proposal on Wednesday, expressing his reluctance to have MacCallum and Baier as moderators. He indicated a preference for right-wing commentators like Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, and Laura Ingraham from Fox News.
“I didn’t think Martha and Brett were good last night,” he said, prompting the "Fox & Friends" hosts to quickly change the topic.
Meanwhile, Harris campaign spokesperson Quentin Fulks confirmed on CNN that Harris would be willing to participate in an October debate.
“But if I were Donald Trump,” he said, “I would not want to debate Kamala Harris.”
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
