Trump Declines Third Debate with Kamala Harris. Read to know why.

Former President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, September 12, 2024, that he would not participate in another presidential debate with his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, ahead of the November 5 election. His decision follows several polls indicating that Harris outperformed him in their recent debate.

"THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!" Trump declared on the social media platform Truth Social. This announcement came after his debate with President Joe Biden in June and another face-off with Harris earlier this week. Despite claiming victory over Harris, reports from six Republican donors and three of Trump's advisers suggested that Harris had won the debate, noting that Trump struggled to stay on message.

The debate drew 67.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. While Trump insisted he was the victor, multiple polls painted a different picture. A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 53% of voters who followed the debate believed Harris won, compared to 24% for Trump. Additionally, 54% of registered voters said one debate between the two candidates was sufficient, though 46% expressed a desire for a second.

A CNN flash poll released shortly after the debate echoed these findings, with a majority of viewers siding with Harris. Similarly, a YouGov poll showed that 54% believed Harris won, while 31% said Trump emerged victorious.