Donald Trump shares wild theory about upcoming debate with Kamala Harris and how ABC News is plotting to help her
Donald Trump launched a wild theory about his upcoming debate with Kamala Harris by claiming that ABC News will help the vice president cheat.
The former president spoke during a Fox News event on Wednesday, where he predicted that the Disney-owned television network would present Harris with questions before the debate, ahead of their face-off.
“They’re going to get the questions, I’ve heard they’re going to get the questions ahead of time,” Trump told Fox host Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I’m not sure it’s going to help her that much.”
Trump and Harris are scheduled to hold their first debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10, moderated by ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Trump said he only agreed to the debate on the “dishonest” network because the vice president would not agree to any other debate.
Donald Trump lashed out at ABC News after he claimed the network will help Kamala Harris “cheat” in their debate next week by providing the questions and cues in advance
Fox News suggested holding a debate in Harrisburg on Wednesday night. Although Trump’s team accepted the invitation, Harris declined.
“They’re very mean and I think a lot of people are going to watch to see how mean they are, how dishonest they are,” Trump said of ABC News. “I agreed to it because they didn’t want to do any other networks.”
“The other thing is her best friend is the head of the network,” Trump said, referring to Harris’ close friendship with Disney CEO Dana Walden. “Her husband’s best friend is married to the head of the network.”
Trump also said that ABC News is deliberately publishing polls that put him at a disadvantage, thinking that this will discourage voters from voting if they think their favorite candidate is too far behind to win.
“ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness,” Trump complained of the first network to host the debate. “They had a poll where I was down 17 points a couple days before the election — I was down 17 points in Wisconsin. And they do that so people don’t vote because people say, you know, ‘Hey, I like Trump, but he’s down 17 points. I’m not going to vote.’
“They’re the most dishonest network — the meanest, the dirtiest, but that’s what I got,” he continued. “I got ABC.”
Trump said there is a “clause in the contract” that says ABC News cannot provide the questions or debate topics to either candidate before the event next week.
While the former president still believes Harris will cheat to get her to answer the questions, he is not convinced it will give her an advantage.
Vice President Kamala Harris has a close relationship with Disney CEO Dana Walden, but ABC News assures her that she will not be involved in the planning or execution of next week’s debate in Philadelphia.
Dana Walden (right) has been close to Harris since 1994, and her husband Matt Walden (left) has known Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff since the 1980s. The couple is credited with their marriage after they introduced Harris and Emhoff on a blind date
“So I think you can give her the questions and give her the answers with the questions,” Trump said. “I’m not sure it’s going to help her.”
ABC this week concluded the campaign’s discussion over the rules and logistics of the debate.
Trump says that in addition to unmuting the microphone, Harris also wanted to sit behind a desk and bring pre-written notes to the confrontation.
But Harris failed to meet any of her demands.
Microphones are muted when candidates are not speaking, they stand behind podiums, and no prepared notes or props are allowed on stage. They are given a piece of paper, a pen, and a bottle of water.