'The Debate About The Debates Is Over': Harris-Walz Campaign Sets Debate Schedule, Refuses Additional Dates From Team Trump

On Thursday, the Harris-Walz campaign announced that they would no longer accept any other debate requests from the Trump-Vance campaign outside of two presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. The campaign's announcement comes after President Trump demanded that the Democratic presidential candidate participate in three debates and Gov. Walz participate in two debates with Vance.

"The debate about debates is over. Donald Trump's campaign accepted our proposal for three debates - two presidential and a vice presidential debate," Harris campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler said in a statement. "Assuming Donald Trump actually shows up on September 10 to debate Vice President Harris, then Governor Walz will see JD Vance on October 1, and the American people will have another opportunity to see the vice president and Donald Trump on the debate stage in October. Voters deserve to see the candidates for the highest office in the land share their competing visions for our future. The more they play games, the more insecure and unserious Trump and Vance reveal themselves to be to the American people. These games end now."

Earlier this month, Trump proposed that the two candidates participate in a Fox News debate on September 4, an ABC News debate on September 10, and an NBC News debate on September 25. The Harris campaign is seemingly rejecting Fox's offer, sticking to the debate on September 10 and rejecting a debate on September 25 to instead opt for a presidential debate in October. The Harris campaign rejected JD Vance's offer to hold a second vice presidential debate after the two men agreed to the CBS debate on October 1. 

"The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already," Vance wrote to Gov. Walz. "Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I also accept the CNN debate on September 18th. I look forward to seeing you at both!" The Democratic vice presidential candidate's refusal to participate in a second debate led Vance to mock the Minnesota Democrat, referencing his failure to deploy to Iraq in 2005.

"Tim Walz refuses to deploy!" Vance said in response to the Harris campaign's debate announcement. "In all seriousness, if you want to be the VP of the United States, you should make your pitch directly to the American people. A debate is an opportunity to take your case to voters without a teleprompter or a script. Can't imagine why anyone would say no."

The Democrat ticket's refusal to participate in more debates shows their unwillingness to be transparent with the American people, a pattern of behavior seen in recent weeks. Both Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz have refused to take questions from the media or hold a press conference to argue their policy views in front of the American people, instead opting to be cordoned off in a campaign shielded from the media and reliant on a teleprompter. In stark contrast, President Trump has held press conferences, and Sen. Vance has taken multiple interviews with the mainstream media. The difference in levels of transparency is telling, and the American people should remember that when considering who to vote for in November.

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