Donald Trump has been criticized by his opponents for backing out of a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in September, as his campaign decided to postpone the planned matchup on Thursday evening.
Former President Trump had earlier invited President Joe Biden to engage in a debate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace,” resulting in a consensus to hold two debates, the first scheduled for June and the second for September.
Trump seems to be reconsidering his stance now that Biden has dropped out of the race and Harris is expected to take his place.
Harris ridiculed the former president by sharply recalling his own statements.
What happened to “any time, any place”? https://t.co/HlR6UmlZxx
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 26, 2024
“I’m ready,” Harris said earlier in the day. “I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage and so I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Nevertheless, it seems that Trump is not yet prepared.
On Thursday, his campaign announced that Harris might not be the candidate and that arrangements for any debate cannot be confirmed until the Democrats officially choose their nominee.
Last month, Trump and Biden engaged in a debate even though Biden had not yet been officially nominated at that time.
The former president’s critics clucked at him on X with hashtags such as “TrumpIsChicken” and chicken memes:
Looks like this SNL skit came to life in the form of Donald Trump refusing to commit to debating Kamala Harris.
What a total coward and a chicken!
🐥🐣🐤
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) July 26, 2024
calling a woman "dumb as a rock" and then being afraid to debate her is pretty funny https://t.co/N8U0i0xNXQ
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) July 26, 2024
#SpongeDonScaredyPants 😄 pic.twitter.com/WgAVV8t2t1
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) July 26, 2024
The picture definition of chicken shit. Plus the standard dog whistle of playing up Obama’s middle name. Old, played out, and weak. Just like Trump. https://t.co/B05mnzTQtF
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) July 26, 2024
NEWS: Trump backs out of presidential debates (for now): pic.twitter.com/N2DzIAl7FU
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) July 26, 2024
#TrumpIsACoward#TrumpisChicken 🐔 pic.twitter.com/9azFUWFHBu
— SㄥΞ ΞקI∩G SΔI∩TS (@HonestApeNYC) July 26, 2024
According to Capitoneshirt