Two days after their first shodown in Philadeplphia, Donald Trump has refused to participate in another presidential debate against his rival Kamala Harris ahead of the US Presidential elections in November. The Republican candidate claimed that Harris only wanted a rematch because he "clearly" won their first debate.
However, several instant polls taken after the contest on Tuesday indicated that Harris' performance was better than her Republican opponent. Polls also suggested that both the candidates are in for an extremely tight race, with just two months remaining for the general elections. Trump stated that Harris should instead "focus on carrying out her responsibilities as the Vice-President, BBC reported.
Following this, Harris, the Democratic Party's nominee, said during a campaign rally in North Carolina that they "owe" voters a second debate emphasising "what is at stake could not be more important".
During the Tuesday's 90-minute debate, Harris bombarded Trump with a slew of personal attacks that put him in a defensive spot. The comments made by her included Trump's comduct during the 2021 riot at the US Capitol on January 6 and the size of his rally crowds. However, after this debate on ABC News, both the leaders claimed victory.
The former president claimed his supporters of accusing the two debagte moderators of being biased towards Harris and for being unfair. "When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are 'I want a rematch'," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. "Polls clearly show that I won the debate against comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats' radical left candidate... and she immediately called for a second debate," he added.
When asked about a second debate with Harris during an interview at a rally in Arizona on Thursday, Trump said: "We just don't think it's necessary...We think we've discussed everything and I don't think they want it either."
The Harris campaign, on the other hand, sought another debate with Trump right after their first in Philadelphia. Continuing to demand this on Thursday as well, the campaign said: "Voters got to see the choice they will face at the ballot box: moving forward with Kamala Harris or going backwards with Trump."
"Vice-President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?" the campaign asked.
While Trump campaign surrogates believed that Trump would welcome another debate with Harris, he alleged on Fox News a day after the debate that it had been "rigged" and that he was "less inclined" to participate in another one after his "great night".
Trump's decision contradicted a message from his own campaign as his senior adviser Jason Miller had told CNN that Trump had already agreed for three debates, BBC reported.
It is being said that the campaigns of both Trump and Harris were in discussions with NBC News for a debate on September 25. But the network has not made any comment yet regarding Trump's recent remarks.
Meanwhile, a Reuters/ Ipsos poll on Thursday indicated that Kamala Harris had a five-point lead over Trump. As per the poll, 53 percent respondents also stated that they felt Harris won the debate on Tuesday.