Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential elections in the United States, announced that he will not participate in another presidential debate against Kamala Harris, following several polls that indicated his Democratic rival won this week's "duel."
"There will be no third debate," the former president posted on the social media platform Truth Social, after previously facing off with President Joe Biden in June and against Harris last Tuesday.
“When a boxer loses a fight, the first thing they say is ‘I want a rematch.’” Trump explained that, since he believes he did not lose in Philadelphia but instead had a “great night” and won, he does not need another debate.
Additionally, Trump took aim at the Democratic party. “Kamala should focus on what she was supposed to do over the last four years,” he wrote, criticizing Harris's priorities instead of her call for another debate.
Kamala Harris, speaking at a rally shortly after Trump's post, remarked, "I think we owe it to the voters to have another debate."
While Trump emphasized his performance in the debate and declared himself the winner, it emerged that six Republican donors and three of his campaign advisers, who spoke with Reuters, indicated that Harris had come out on top, largely because Trump failed to stay focused on his message.
Moreover, although Trump claimed the polls showed him as the victor, several surveys reflected the opposite. A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 53 percent of voters believed Harris won, compared to only 24 percent who thought Trump was the winner.
The poll also indicated that 54% of registered voters felt a single debate between the candidates was sufficient, while 46% preferred to see a second encounter. Another quick survey from CNN showed that the majority of viewers thought Harris performed better, with 54 percent favoring her according to YouGov, while only 31% supported Trump, as reported by the cited agency.
Trump and Harris will represent their respective parties in the presidential elections on November 5th.
Trump and Harris Debate: Public Reaction and Polls
In light of the recent debate and Trump's decision not to engage in another, here are some common questions and answers about the reactions and polling results.
Why did Donald Trump refuse a third debate with Kamala Harris?
Trump believes he won the recent debate and that another debate is unnecessary. He also cited that when a boxer loses, they seek a rematch, implying he did not lose the debate.
What were the poll results after the Trump-Harris debate?
Various polls, including Reuters/Ipsos and CNN/YouGov, indicated that a majority of voters believed Kamala Harris won the debate, with percentages ranging from 53% to 54% in favor of Harris.
How did Republican donors and advisers react to the debate results?
Six Republican donors and three campaign advisers indicated to Reuters that they believed Harris won the debate, primarily because Trump struggled to stay on message.