Donald Trump says there are no more arguments against Kamala Harris

Donald Trump has ruled that there will not be another presidential debate against his opponent Kamala Harris before the November election.

He said Thursday — two days after the pair’s first match in Philadelphia — that Harris wanted a rematch because he was clearly “successful.”

Most of the snap polls taken after Tuesday’s contest showed voters felt Harris did better than his Republican opponent.

Trump added that Harris should “focus” on his job as vice president. A short time later, at a campaign meeting in North Carolina, Harris responded that they “owe” the voters another debate because “what is at stake could not be more important”.

Polls indicate that the two candidates are in a tight race as there are two months left for the election.

Both candidates claimed victory after Tuesday’s 90-minute debate on ABC News, in which Harris peppered Trump with a series of attacks that drew him to the defensive. These include comments about the size of his rally crowds and his behavior during the January 6, 2021 violence at the US Capitol.

Trump and his supporters have since accused the two ABC reporters who moderated the debate of being unfair and biased in favor of Harris. He said on Thursday that he did not need another debate.

“When a prize winner loses, the first words out of his mouth are ‘I want a repeat’,” Trump wrote in a lengthy Public Truth column on Thursday.

“The polls clearly show that I won the debate against comrade Kamala Harris, who was the candidate of the Democrats on the left… and immediately called a second debate,” he added.

The Harris campaign called for a second debate immediately after Philadelphia, saying voters “must see the choice they face at the ballot box: go forward with Kamala Harris or go back with Trump”.

“Vice President Harris is ready for the second debate. Is it Donald Trump?” campaign said.

Speaking after the debate, several Trump campaign insiders — including Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz — said they believed Trump would welcome another debate.

However, Trump said on Fox News the next morning that the debate was “rigged” and that he was “very reluctant” to attend one after his “big night”.

His decision on Thursday also seemed to contradict the messages from his campaign. On Wednesday morning, Jason Miller, a former senior adviser to the president, told CNN that Trump “has already said he will do three debates”.

Both campaigns were in talks for a debate on NBC on September 25. The network did not comment on Trump’s statement.

Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee – which advised the Harris-Walz campaign on economic messaging – told the BBC that Trump’s decision was a “double boon” for the Harris campaign.

“Voters will have a lasting impression of Kamala Harris as presidential and standing on their side,” he said. “That will probably do him very well.”

“Some controversy would help Harris, but it could also shake the spotlight around him,” added Mr Green.

Jeremy Petersen, an independent voter from Utah, told the BBC that Trump’s decision did not surprise him.

“If [Trump] he doesn’t feel like he can get soundbites on social media, there’s no benefit to him appearing,” said Mr. Petersen, who added that he would likely support Harris after the Philadelphia debate.

“He felt that Harris would never have the type he did and now he is terrified,” added Mr Petersen. “He can’t stop his momentum with the debate so he needs a new angle.”

The televised debates date back to 1960, when John F Kennedy faced Richard Nixon.

There are usually two or three presidential debates that take place in most election cycles, and at least one vice presidential debate.

That tradition, however, was thrown into disarray in July, when Joe Biden withdrew in the election weeks after undermining Trump in the first debate.

The ensuing debate between Harris and Trump followed weeks of back-and-forth over whether to proceed, and under what circumstances.

Trump also suggested more debates on Fox and NBC News, though Harris agreed with ABC on Tuesday.

In his Truth Social letter on Thursday, Trump said he “declined” to make further arguments.

Figures from media analytics firm Nielsen show 67.1m people watched the debate, which is significantly higher than the 51.3m who tuned in for the June debate between Trump and Biden.

Polls show Harris and Trump in a tight race in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Thursday said Harris had a five-point lead over Trump nationally, with 53% of respondents saying he had won Tuesday’s debate.

((With additional reporting from Ana Faguy)