CNN sets a deadline for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump to formally respond to the October 23 debate invitation

CNN has given former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris' team a Thursday deadline to provide an official response to their participation in the October 23 debate as Election Day approaches.

After Harris and Trump squared off on ABC News last month, CNN offered to hold another debate on Oct. 23 at its headquarters in Atlanta.

On Tuesday, CNN, claiming voters would benefit from another face-off, called on Harris and Trump to formally indicate whether they plan to attend the debate.

“CNN sent invitations on September 21 to both Vice President Harris and former President Trump's campaign teams to participate in a fall CNN debate. We believe the American people would benefit from a second debate between the two candidates for President of the United States,” the network said.

“With less than 30 days until Election Day, we are setting a formal response deadline of this Thursday, October 10 at 12 p.m. ET from both campaigns to participate,” it continued.

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Find out Harris and Trump's take on another matchup

Harris previously said she was open to another debate with Trump.

On September 21st she wrote in

Harris campaign spokesman Brian Fallon told CNN on Tuesday that the US vice president “remains willing to appear at the CNN debate on October 23 if Trump agrees.”

Harris campaign chairwoman Jen O'Malley Dillon said Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate because the guidelines would be the same as for his debate against Biden.

Last month, Trump declared during a rally in North Carolina that it was “just too late, the voting has already started.” “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” He wrote on Truth Social, claiming he won both debates against Biden and Harris.

Biden decided to withdraw from the race because of his poor performance in the June debate and Harris' ability to win the Democratic nomination.