Donald Trump’s decision to skip a second presidential debate with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is a significant moment in the 2024 campaign, raising questions about his strategy and potential vulnerabilities. The former president, known for his love of the spotlight and television dominance, has chosen—for now—to avoid a rematch that many believe could have further damaged his standing after a less-than-stellar performance in the first debate.
Trump, however, has insisted he won the debate and doesn’t need a repeat. During a campaign rally in Arizona, he declared, “We’ve done two debates, and they were successful, so there will be no third debate. It’s too late anyway; the voting’s already begun.” He referred to both his recent debate with Harris and an earlier debate with Joe Biden, which led to Biden being ousted from the race after pressure from his own party.
Yet, Trump’s avoidance of a second debate suggests a deeper concern. Despite his natural affinity for the stage, the first debate against Harris exposed weaknesses. Trump appeared unprepared and unfocused, missing what could have been his best opportunity to land significant blows against his opponent in a race that polls show is neck-and-neck. In an election where critical issues like the economy and immigration are top priorities for voters, Trump’s decision to step away from the debate stage may be a calculated move to avoid further mistakes.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks as former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump listens during a presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 2024
Kamala Harris, by contrast, has seized the opportunity to paint Trump’s retreat as a sign of fear. Following their initial face-off, Harris publicly stated that both she and Trump owed voters another debate. Her campaign team has taken the moment to taunt the former president, with senior adviser David Plouffe referring to Trump as “chicken man” on social media, suggesting he was afraid to face Harris again.
Trump’s decision not to debate again was delivered with more firmness than some of his other campaign declarations, leading many to believe he may stick to it. At his Arizona rally, where the focus was supposed to be on economic issues like housing affordability and taxes, Trump spent a significant portion of his speech rehashing the debate and railing against Harris. He accused her of being untruthful and claimed ABC News set him up for failure. However, this long list of grievances undermined his own claim that he had won the debate.
As Trump ranted about Harris, he simultaneously insisted that he was angry because of Joe Biden’s handling of immigration, falsely claiming that 21 million undocumented immigrants had entered the U.S. since Biden took office. His defensiveness and continued complaints about the debate painted a picture of a candidate still smarting from a performance that did not go as planned.
While Trump has been embroiled in controversy throughout his campaign, from his associations with far-right figures to repeated false claims about immigration, Harris has maintained a forward-moving, optimistic campaign. She continues to position herself as an underdog, even though many see her debate performance as a victory. On the campaign trail in North Carolina, she reminded supporters that victory was far from assured, urging them not to become complacent.
For Trump, the debate avoidance may be a strategic move, but it also risks sending a message of weakness. As one of his former White House communications directors, Alyssa Farah Griffin, pointed out, Trump could change his tune if the polls tighten in the final weeks of the campaign. Griffin suggested that if Harris’s polling numbers rise after the debate, Trump could very well challenge her to another showdown.
While Trump’s refusal to debate might be a tactical decision aimed at minimizing further risk, it also limits his opportunities to directly confront Harris in front of a large television audience. His campaign’s senior advisor, Bryan Lanza, defended the decision, stating it wasn’t about fear but rather a prioritization of campaign resources. According to Lanza, Trump’s rallies, interviews, and one-on-one meetings with voters were better uses of his time than a debate, which he believes would be stacked against him.
However, Democrats have capitalized on the move, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stating that Harris’s strength intimidated Trump. “Donald Trump was weak,” Pritzker told CNN. “Kamala Harris came across as strong and presidential. If they debated again, it could end his campaign.”
Whether Trump’s decision will pay off in the long run remains to be seen. In 2016, Hillary Clinton was widely regarded as having won all her debates with Trump, yet he still went on to win the presidency. This history suggests that debate performances, while important, don’t always dictate the final outcome of an election.
As both candidates gear up for the final weeks of the campaign, it’s clear that Trump is relying on a combination of fiery rhetoric, strategic campaigning, and his established voter base. Meanwhile, Harris is working to expand her appeal to moderate and independent voters, hoping to carve out a clear path to the White House. With polls still close and battleground states up for grabs, both candidates know that the race could come down to a few key moments in the coming weeks. Whether Trump’s refusal to debate will be one of those defining moments remains an open question.