Trump says 'I do want to debate' Harris after canceling September showdown

Donald Trump said Wednesday that it’s “important for the country” that he and Vice President Kamala Harris face off at a presidential debate — even though he dropped out of one scheduled for next month.

“The most important thing is we get [to] debate,” Trump said on “Fox and Friends,” adding that Harris “wants to say I don't want to debate, but I do want to debate.”

Trump on Friday announced that he had “terminated” a previously-scheduled Sept. 10 ABC News debate with Harris because President Joe Biden — who he was originally set to debate — had dropped out of the race. Trump is also suing the network and anchor George Stephanopoulos for defamation and called the active litigation a “conflict of interest.”

Harris’ campaign and her allies pounced on the cancellation, framing the former president as “afraid to debate” in a series of attack ads . And it doubled down after Trump's phone interview Friday.

"We aren’t surprised Trump wouldn’t show his face, he’s ashamed of his dangerous Project 2025 agenda, is afraid to debate, and has no positive vision to present to the American people," campaign spokesperson James Singer said in a statement to POLITICO.

Trump instead proposed a Sept. 4 debate against Harris in Pennsylvania on Fox News with anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. Harris balked at the suggestion, writing on X that she still planned to appear for the ABC debate on Sept. 10.

That stalemate could be changing “fairly soon,” Trump suggested Wednesday. He declined to announce a new date or hosting news organization, but said “every network loves me very much right now.”

“I want to debate her,” Trump said. “I think it's important for the country that we debate.”