Buttigieg: Trump exhibits 'weak point' in not desirous to debate Harris

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has joined different Democrats in making an attempt to goad former President Trump into debating Democratic presidential contender Kamala Harris within the coming weeks, suggesting that Trump is “afraid” of his new rival.

Trump’s workforce has stated the 78-year-old former president won’t conform to debate presently due to the quickly evolving marketing campaign panorama. President Biden, 81, dropped his reelection bid lower than per week in the past and shortly endorsed Vice President Harris, 59, to take his spot on the prime of the Democratic ticket. Harris grew to become the presumptive nominee days two days later.

Buttigieg, during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday, urged that there could also be extra to Trump’s resolution to dodge after beforehand agreeing to debate then-presumptive nominee Biden on Sept. 10.

“Powerful speak is that this man’s calling card and now there’s this extraordinary present of weak point,” said Buttigieg, who’s suspected to be a prime contender to change into Harris’s working mate. “[Trump] stated anytime, anyplace, however greater than that, he agreed to this particular debate, on this particular community, on this particular date, and now he’s pulling out.”

“It exhibits that he’s afraid,” he added.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who can be reportedly on Harris’s VP shortlist, posted on X that Trump “is now afraid of debating” Harris.

“He is scared as a result of he can’t run away from his document any longer — however right here in Pennsylvania, we haven’t forgotten who he’s and we aren’t going again,” he wrote.

Harris, herself, additionally joined the taunting of the previous president.

“What occurred to ‘any time, anyplace’?” Harris posted on the social media platform X in response to a put up about Trump not committing to debates.

Trump marketing campaign spokesman Steven Chung stated in an announcement Thursday night that the previous president would maintain off on committing to any common election debates due to ongoing developments within the Democratic Occasion.

“Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Occasion, common election debate particulars can’t be finalized till Democrats formally determine on their nominee,” Chung stated, suggesting with out proof that Harris nonetheless might not find yourself on the November poll. “It might be inappropriate to schedule issues with Harris as a result of Democrats very nicely may nonetheless change their minds.”

Inside days of declaring her candidacy, Harris locked up the presumptive nomination via pledged delegate votes. Democratic Occasion leaders plan to formalize the nomination via a digital roll name in early August. Harris has until Aug. 7 to select a running mate. Sources have confirmed to The Hill that her workforce has begun vetting potential picks.

The Trump workforce’s assertion got here earlier than former President Obama and former first girl Michelle Obama endorsed Harris on Friday.

Within the Thursday assertion, Chung cited the then-absence of Obama’s endorsement as an indication of weak help inside the occasion for Harris’s nomination.

Trump notably dodged all of the GOP primary debates held final fall when he was the clear frontrunner for the nomination.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was in search of the Republican nomination a second time with out success, referred to as Trump out throughout a televised debate on Fox Enterprise with different GOP candidates in September.

“Should you hold dodging, we gained’t name you Donald Trump, we’ll name you Donald Duck,” Christie stated.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has since endorsed Trump, additionally blasted the previous president for being “lacking in motion.”

“He ought to be right here on this stage tonight,” he stated. “He owes it to you to defend his document.”

Their needling did not work, and Christie, DeSantis and the opposite Republicans regularly dropped their campaigns with out ever dealing with Trump within the 2024 main debate. Trump often cited his huge lead within the main polls for the choice.

“While you’re 40 factors up …. Why would I let these individuals take pictures at me?” he stated in an interview with Fox Information’ Bret Baier final summer season.

The Hill and Choice Desk HQ’s polling analysis means that Trump currently holds a slight lead over Harris within the infancy of her marketing campaign.