Donald Trump says he won’t debate US Vice President Kamala Harris again

Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he won’t debate Vice President Kamala Harris a second time, drawing criticism from Democrats after he was put on the defensive during Tuesday’s showdown.

Making his announcement in a Truth Social post, Trump blamed both Harris and President Joe Biden; Trump and Biden faced off June 27 before the incumbent dropped out of the race and Harris ascended to the top of the ticket.

“KAMALA SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE DURING THE LAST ALMOST FOUR YEAR PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” Trump said.

Harris had a low-key response, telling supporters at a campaign stop in North Carolina “we owe it to the voters to have another debate.” Harris’ campaign called for another Trump-Harris debate just minutes after the Tuesday debate ended.

Other Democrats accused Trump of reeling from polls showing that Harris won Tuesday’s contest handily. A CNN/SSRS poll found debate watchers 63% to 37% said that Harris performed better on stage during in Philadelphia.

Citing three national polls and one swing-state poll, ABC News/538 reported that “57 percent of debate watchers nationally said Harris turned in the better performance; only 34 percent said Trump did.”

In his Truth Social post, Trump referenced other polls claiming he won the faceoff with Harris, but he appeared to be referring to online surveys with self-selected respondents.

During a rally Thursday in Tucson, Ariz. – his first campaign event since the debate – Trump spent much time defending his performance, criticizing the ABC News moderators, and attacking Harris (and Biden) over economic and immigration issues.

Trump had demurred about whether he’d participate in another debate before making his announcement Thursday.

“When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, “I WANT A REMATCH,” Trump claimed.

Trump’s opponents quickly denounced his decision.

Charlotte Clymer, a writer and Democratic strategist, said that “let’s be clear: Donald Trump got his tail soundly whooped by Vice President Harris in that debate. She immediately agreed to a second debate. He has now declined a second debate. Trump is a coward.”