Trump says ‘too late to do another’ debate after Harris accepts CNN invitation

Former President Trump said Saturday afternoon that it’s “too late to do another” debate, after Vice President Harris accepted an invitation from CNN for a second debate. 

“She’s done one debate. I’ve done two. It’s too late to do another. I’d love to, in many ways, but it’s too late. The voting is cast,” Trump said during a campaign event in Wilmington, N.C.  

“She’s had her chance to do it with Fox,” Trump said. “You know, Fox invited us on, and I waited and waited, and they turned it down. They turned it down, but now she wants to do a debate right before the election with CNN because she’s losing badly.” 

The Harris campaign announced earlier on Saturday that it would participate in another debate, hosted by CNN, which the network scheduled for Oct. 23. The pair first debated Sept. 10 in Philadelphia, which was moderated by ABC News. It was widely seen as a good night for Harris. 

“The American people deserve another opportunity to see Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debate before they cast their ballots,” said Harris-Walz campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon in a statement. “It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to just be one general election debate. Debates offer a unique chance for voters to see the candidates side by side and take stock of their competing visions for America.” 

Yet, Trump’s comment signals he’s still not swayed toward doing another with Harris. Fox News renewed an invitation to host a debate between the two for next month; though Trump had previously supported a Fox News debate, he appeared noncommittal after the first debate.  

Harris’s campaign has also not accepted the invitation by Fox News.  

Looming over Trump’s campaigning in the Tar Heel State was a bombshell report by CNN about GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, which reported Robinson made eyebrow-raising comments on a pornography website messaging forum, including referring to himself as a “black NAZI!” 

The news has thrown the latest curveball into a competitive gubernatorial election, which is also threatening to impact Trump’s candidacy in North Carolina. A source told The Hill that Robinson would not be at the former president’s Wilmington rally.