In a press conference on Wednesday, Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to debating Vice President Kamala Harris and used the opportunity to criticize her, while also repeating previous falsehoods and reacting defensively to questions about her increasing campaign support.
Speaking from his Palm Beach estate, Trump addressed the media following ABC’s announcement that he and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a presidential debate on September 10. Trump expressed a desire for three debates with different networks throughout September. He continued to insist that there was a “peaceful transfer of power” in 2021 and targeted Republican figures such as Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who dismissed Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud. Trump highlighted his frequent public appearances in contrast to Harris, who has not held a press conference since becoming the likely Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden’s exit from the race.
Trump’s decision to appear on ABC, after initially rejecting the network, creates a pivotal moment in this election cycle. He emphasized the importance of debates, stating, “I think it’s very important to have debates. I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.” The Harris campaign had not yet responded to his remarks.
Thursday’s event marked Trump’s first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, whom Trump criticized as a “radical left man.” Trump expressed doubts about Harris’s intelligence and suggested that she and Walz represent an unprecedented liberal agenda. Harris has urged Trump to address her directly if he has criticisms, challenging him to “say it to my face.”
Trump also dismissed inquiries about Harris’s growing support and his own campaign strategy, calling questions about his lighter schedule “stupid.” Despite facing a new opponent, Trump claimed not to have altered his campaign, a stance that some Republican strategists have quietly criticized.
On the topic of abortion, Trump argued that it has become a less significant issue since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving the matter to state governments. He acknowledged that states like Ohio and Kansas have moved to protect abortion rights but did not reveal his personal stance on such measures. Trump’s approach suggests an awareness that abortion remains a contentious issue, with Democrats capitalizing on Republican opposition for electoral gains.
Trump also reiterated false claims about January 6, asserting that “nobody was killed on Jan. 6,” despite the fact that Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, was shot and killed by a police officer during the Capitol riot. Trump compared the treatment of those involved in the riot to other violent incidents in the U.S. and falsely claimed his “Stop the Steal” rally attracted a larger crowd than the historic March on Washington in 1963, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
