First debate showdown between Trump and Harris set for September

ABC News said it will host the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on 10 September.

The network confirmed the showdown in a post on X, after Trump said at a news conference on Thursday that he would be open to debating Harris multiple times before the November election.

“We think we should do three debates,” Trump said, suggesting two additional showdowns that he said would be hosted by Fox News and NBC.

Ms Harris confirmed that she will attend the ABC debate while at an event in Michigan on Thursday, but she has not yet weighed in on any additional possible showdowns.

“I am looking forward to debating Donald Trump and we have a date of September 10. I hear he’s finally committed to it and I’m looking forward to it," Ms Harris said at the event in Detroit.

Trump debated President Joe Biden once in June. The two were slated to do so again on 10 September but Mr Biden withdrew from the race after a stinging poor performance against Trump in their first televised matchup.

Last week, Trump and Ms Harris appeared at odds over where and when their first head-to-head debate would be.

Trump had previously said that he wanted a debate hosted by the conservative network Fox News, saying it would take place in Pennsylvania, "at a site in an area to be determined".

"The Moderators of the Debate will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum," he said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social last week, adding that the rules will be similar to the debate he had with Mr Biden but with a "full arena audience."

The first debate, which was hosted by CNN, did not include an audience.

Ms Harris' campaign previously said that they would still like to debate Trump on 10 September - when his second debate with Mr Biden was supposed to be held with ABC News as the host.

At his news conference on Thursday, Trump said he would like to debate Ms Harris two additional times - on 4 September in a showdown hosted by Fox News and on 25 September in an NBC debate.

Trump also said that CBS will host a debate between the two vice-presidential nominees, Republican JD Vance and Democratic candidate Tim Walz.

NBC News is reportedly in discussions with both campaigns about a potential debate in the fall, but the Harris campaign has not agreed to a Fox News debate, the New York Times reported.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump called Ms Harris “barely competent,” adding that she “can’t do an interview.”

He also criticised her for not holding a news conference with reporters since she announced her campaign.

“She’s not smart enough to do a news conference,” he said of Ms Harris.

“But I look forward to the debates,” Trump said.

His Thursday news conference is the first he has held in several months, as his campaign has previously focused on holding rallies across the country.

Trump also praised his running mate Mr Vance, who was recently under fire for comments he made in 2021 when he said those without children shouldn't be leading the country and that women who don't have kids are "miserable" and "childless cat ladies".

“I have to tell you, JD Vance has really stepped up,” Trump said on Thursday. “He's doing a fantastic job.”

He also took aim at Ms Harris' track record on immigration and the economy, repeating his belief that US presidents should have a say over interest rates and monetary policy - a departure from the longstanding practice of having the US Federal Reserve, an independent body, oversee these matters.

Trump told reporters that internal polls show him leading in key swing states, and emphasised his priorities of lowering inflation and lower crime rates and strengthening the US military.

Meanwhile, Ms Harris held a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan, with Walz, where she emphasised her support for labour unions and the middle class, as well as protecting Americans' "freedoms".

“We want to recognise the right all people have to freedom and liberty… and not have their government tell them what to do," Ms Harris told supporters.

National and battle ground state polls suggest that she has gained some ground against Trump since her campaign began, but the race remains a close contest.