Deflection is neither a science nor an art, though Democrats have mastered its intricacies. Deflection is a response when no other narrative works. It’s usually a knee jerk reaction, but Democrats have turned it into their Standard Operating Procedure.
On Saturday, Trump made arrangements to replace the September 10 ABC debate he had scheduled with Joe Biden with a September 4 Fox News debate. He cited current litigation with ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos and the change in candidates for the shift.
As he noted on Truth Social:
“I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th. The Debate was previously scheduled against Sleepy Joe Biden on ABC, but has been terminated in that Biden will no longer be a participant, and I am in litigation against ABC Network and George Slopadopoulos, thereby creating a conflict of interest. The FoxNews Debate will be held in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at a site in an area to be determined. The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and the Rules will be similar to the Rules of my Debate with Sleepy Joe, who has been treated horribly by his Party – BUT WITH A FULL ARENA AUDIENCE!….”
Harris’ team responded on Saturday by claiming Trump is “running scared”:
“Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to and running straight to Fox News to bail him out,” Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement Saturday. He needs to stop playing games and show up to the debate he already committed to on Sept 10. The Vice President will be there one way or the other to take the opportunity to speak to a prime time national audience.”
“We’re happy to discuss further debates after the one both campaigns have already agreed to. Mr. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace should have no problem with that unless he’s too scared to show up on the 10th.”
Reactions from social media have been a collective eyeroll regarding the ludicrous excuse.
Journalist Carmine Sabia reminded Harris that she already agreed to debate J.D. Vance on Fox News. Why won’t she debate Trump there?
As he posted on 𝕏:
Kamala Harris declines Fox News debate against Donald Trump. But she accepted a Fox News debate against JD Vance when Biden was the nominee. It is weird that she is so scared.
Conservative commentator Sean Davis said, “Trump agreed to debate Biden. Biden then dropped out of the race after everyone saw his brain was made of pudding. At no point did Trump ever agree to debate someone who wasn’t even nominated and hadn’t received a single vote.”
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly reminded Barack Obama’s former campaign manager David Plouffe that Trump has shown nothing but courage in his media appearances.
He went on CNN for a debate w/a network that loathes him (not to mention to the NABJ). @BretBaier & @marthamaccallum would be totally professional & fair & have a history of asking Trump hard Qs – I know, I was there. Why is she too scared to do this on Fox?
Donald Trump Jr. called Harris a coward, noting, ” My father already did a debate with Fake News CNN, so is Kamala going to accept the debate with Fox News? Or is she going to be a coward and back out?”
With Trump unable to debate on ABC due to litigation and Harris unwilling to debate on Fox News, will there even be a debate between the two?
