Campaign co-chair would ‘absolutely’ advise Harris to accept Fox News debate invitation

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign, urged the Democratic nominee to accept Fox News’s invitation for a second debate against former President Trump, citing her successful showing earlier this week.

While Coons touted Harris’s strong performance in the ABC News debate Tuesday evening, at which Trump appeared to be visibly irritated, he added that voters still need to hear from both party nominees about their policy platforms.

“I think she had a great night,” Coons told Neil Cavuto during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News. “I think she managed to draw him out on some of the worst of his rambling conspiracy theories and backward-looking angry focus, and she managed to present a positive and forward-looking agenda.” 

“I think the American people would like to hear more from both of them about what will you do to make us safer and stronger at home and abroad, and I think she should accept an invitation from Fox to come on and debate President Trump,” Coons added. 

The senator’s suggestion comes as Fox News renewed its invitation to both Trump and Harris for a debate on the network in October. Following Tuesday’s event, the Harris campaign promptly called for another debate between the two contenders. 

Trump, who for months has called for a debate on Fox, was noncommittal when asked in an interview about another forum with the vice president.

“She wants to do another one because she was beaten tonight. I don’t know if we’re going to do another one. She wants a second debate because she lost tonight, very badly. … We’ll think about that.”

In an interview Wednesday morning, the GOP nominee again appeared skeptical about whether he would agree to a sequel. He also bashed the ABC News moderators, claiming the debate was “rigged” against him.

The former president also went after Cavuto, after the anchor said he lost the debate to Harris.

“Neil Cavuto, Fox’s Lowest Rated Anchor, is one of the WORST on Television. I actually prefer the losers at CNN and MSDNC,” Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. 

Fox News, the most-watched cable news channel, has a flurry of prime-time opinion hosts who are supportive of the Republican nominee and his policy proposals. Trump said Wednesday he would favor having one of Fox’s opinion hosts moderate the debate over anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, who typically moderate the debates.

GOP allies of the former president have urged him to accept the invitation for a second forum, effectively putting the ball in his court.