Donald Trump rejects Fox News invitation to debate Kamala Harris

Donald Trump has refused a Fox News invitation to debate Kamala Harris a second time. Photo / Matthew Hatcher, AFP

• Donald Trump has rejected an invitation from Fox News for a second debate with Kamala Harris.
• Trump said there would be no rematch, citing it was too late in the process.
• Trump and Harris previously debated on September 10, with polls indicating a tight race.

There will be no second US presidential debate after Donald Trump rejected an invitation from Fox News to face Kamala Harris again.

Republican former US President Trump says he will not debate Democratic Vice-President Harris, hours after Fox News invited the two presidential contenders to participate in a possible second debate in October.

Trump and Harris debated each other for the first time on September 10. Trump has said there would not be another debate before the November 5 election. He rejected a past invitation from CNN for an October 23 debate, accepted by Harris.

Trump and Harris face each other in what polls show to be a tight race for the election.

In its statement, Fox said a second debate – proposed for either October 24 or 27 – “would present an opportunity for each candidate to make their closing arguments”.

Last week, Harris’ running mate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz debated Trump’s running mate and US Senator JD Vance.

“THERE WILL BE NO REMATCH,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

“SO THERE IS NOTHING TO DEBATE.”

Trump said it was very late in the process now to have a debate.

Trump faced then-Democratic presidential candidate and US President Joe Biden in a debate in late June.

Biden stepped aside as presidential candidate less than a month after the disastrous performance. Trump had built a lead against Biden following the debate but Harris took over as candidate after Biden bowed out and her entry has tightened the race, with some polls showing she has a narrow lead.

In their September 10 debate, Harris put Trump on the defensive with a stream of attacks on his fitness for office, his support of abortion restrictions and his myriad legal woes.