Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has urged former President Trump to accept any changes proposed by Vice President Harris’s campaign regarding the upcoming ABC News debate, stressing the importance of participating in the event. In a recent discussion with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Cruz dismissed Hannity’s concerns about potentially unfavorable terms set by Harris’s campaign.
Cruz and Hannity are wary that ABC News might exhibit bias against the Republican candidate. Despite these concerns, Cruz argues that Trump should agree to any revised debate terms, insisting that the debate’s integrity is paramount. “Sean, Trump must engage in the debate,” Cruz emphasized. “He should accept whatever rules are established, even if they seem unjust. The debate will be difficult and potentially prejudiced regardless.”
Cruz suggests that Harris’s campaign might be trying to avoid the debate altogether. “Kamala seems intent on finding excuses to skip the debate,” Cruz remarked. “It’s vital for her to participate because otherwise, her campaign will evade real issues up to Election Day. Their approach is to sidestep scrutiny and focus on vague, positive messaging rather than addressing her problematic track record.”
There has been ongoing debate about the terms of the ABC News debate, particularly regarding issues like muting microphones. The original debate guidelines were established when President Biden was the leading Democratic contender, and some argue that these rules influenced the muted mics during Biden’s first debate. Harris’s campaign now opposes muting, while Trump has shown little concern but criticized the network.
Cruz insists that Trump should overlook any contentious conditions. “If they impose ridiculous requirements, like having Harris wear a silly hat or rely on scripted talking points, it doesn’t matter,” Cruz said. “What’s crucial is highlighting the contrast between her record and Trump’s achievements.”