In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will not participate in a third debate against Vice President Kamala Harris. This decision comes after polls indicated Harris had an edge over Trump following their September 10 debate. Many observers felt Harris put Trump on the defensive, raising questions about his preparedness and focus.
Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, declared, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” and accused Harris and President Joe Biden of “destroying the country.” He criticized the Democratic leadership for issues like inflation and immigration while defending his performance in earlier debates.
Despite Trump’s claims of victory, a Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 53% of respondents who watched the September 10 debate felt Harris outperformed him. Harris is now leading in the polls with 47% of voter support compared to Trump’s 42%. Many Republicans expressed concern over Trump’s performance, with some, like Senator Lindsey Graham, calling it a “missed opportunity.”
This decision adds to the intense political atmosphere ahead of the November 2024 presidential election, with Harris continuing to gain momentum in the race to the White House.
