US Presidential Elections: Why Does Trump Refuse a Second Debate with Harris?

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate former President Donald Trump are leading the way as the woman seeking to be the first female president of the United States.

Trump's Rejection Effect

“When a candidate refuses to participate in a debate, the voter loses,” Strauss says. “Democrats believe voters will see that Trump is avoiding real debate on critical issues.”

Some Republicans suggest that Trump’s decision may have little impact on his popularity, especially in swing states. Kesto believes that the rejection will have little impact on Trump’s solid base.

He says that in swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, voter trends have begun to favor Trump, and opinion polls are changing over time to favor the former president after having been in favor of Harris in the past.

What's new with Harris?

“Harris has laid out her vision for America’s future, and this will allow the former president to do the same and lay out his vision in the debate, but the difference is that Trump does not have a clear vision for America’s future,” Strauss said.

"Trump always goes back to his failed, disturbing policies. I think voters benefit from comparing the candidates' policies," he added.

Strauss points out that Trump refused to debate Harris again today because he faces a strong opponent.

In contrast, Kesto points out that “the American people already know and have seen Trump’s policies when he was in the White House, such as lower gas prices and other economic issues, and this is the opposite of what the Biden-Harris administration is.”

Controversy over media neutrality

The issue of trust in the media plays a big role in this debate. While Harris accepted CNN’s invitation, Trump has expressed reservations about the network, accusing it of being biased in favor of Democrats. Democrats, on the other hand, argue that Fox News, which Trump tends to cooperate with, is not neutral.

Strauss says networks like Fox News "are not a reliable source of balanced information, while CNN gives candidates a fair chance to explain their vision and policies."

"It's a shame that Trump doesn't want to engage in another debate except with Fox News, because then it wouldn't be a real debate, as many people question the credibility and impartiality of that network," he added.

For his part, Kesto believes that the last debate organized by ABC News was very biased in favor of Harris, and says that "they did not check a lot of what she said then that was not accurate. Why, because that particular network is biased."

Presidential Debate Committee Instead of Media

So far, Trump appears to be refusing to participate in a second debate with Harris, but he has indicated in later comments that he may change his mind depending on his "mood."

In his interview with Alhurra, Strauss believes that the presidential debates were better managed when they were supervised by an independent committee, rather than relying on specific media networks.

He points out that this committee used to ensure the neutrality of the rules and the quality of the dialogue between the candidates, and worked to educate the voters properly. However, he believes that things changed with Trump’s entry into the political arena.

Strauss adds that previous debates have provided an opportunity for voters to assess key issues directly, as what the candidates say can be easily scrutinized.

But he noted that Trump's statements sometimes contain inaccurate information, such as his claim that some people in Springfield, Ohio, eat cats and dogs, statements that sparked widespread controversy and increased violence in the area.

Authorities in the city of Springfield, Ohio, evacuated several locations, including a government building and a school, on Thursday, after receiving bomb threats, according to NBC News.

Kesto, on the other hand, believes that the biggest problem lies in establishing agreed-upon rules for debate. He believes that details about who moderates the debate, the questions asked, and the extent to which the audience can engage are major points of contention.

"The main challenge is not in holding the debate itself, but in agreeing on the rules that govern it. Who moderates the debate, what questions are allowed, and whether the audience is allowed to intervene, these are all controversial points," he said.

Kesto suggests that using an independent commission to organize the debates may be the solution to ensure greater impartiality, but he stresses that agreeing on the rules will remain a major obstacle to holding a new debate between Trump and Harris.

(Alhurra Channel)