FOX vs CNN town halls: Trump and Harris choose to take part in separate network events

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have both agreed to attend town halls – but not the same one.

The Republican presidential candidate will take part in a pre-taped televised town hall hosted by Fox News on Tuesday, and focus on “women’s issues” as he tries to win back female voters from his Democratic rival.

The hour-long event, which will not be broadcast live, will feature an all-women audience and cover various issues, including the economy, abortion, immigration, and health care. Fox’s Harris Faulkner will moderate, and the show will air Wednesday at 11 a.m. Eastern.

The news comes after Trump recently turned down Fox News and CNN invitations to debate Harris in mid-October. Although both networks made repeated offers, Trump posted in no uncertain terms on Wednesday, “THERE WILL BE NO REMATCH” on Truth Social. Harris had accepted the CNN debate but hadn’t responded to FOX’s invite by Thursday’s deadline.

The two presidential candidates debated each other just once when they participated in ABC’s presidential debate on Sept. 10. Trump insisted he “won,” even though Harris was widely declared the winner. When asked for additional debate dates, the former president said it was “too late” as early voting had already started in some states. Until recently, final debates took place in mid to late October.

Fox also extended a standing invitation to Harris for her town hall.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris shake hands as they arrive at their podiums ahead of the presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 10, 2024.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris shake hands as they arrive at their podiums ahead of the presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 10, 2024.

Harris to attend CNN town hall

A week after Trump takes part in the Fox News town hall, Harris will participate in one hosted by CNN.

After Trump ruled out the CNN presidential debate, the network invited both candidates to participate in separate town hall events later this month. CNN extended the invitations on Thursday, and the Harris campaign quickly accepted.

The vice president is set to appear with Anderson Cooper on CNN on Oct. 23, with voters in Pennsylvania. That event will be aired live.

“Trump may want to hide from the voters, but Vice President Harris welcomes the opportunity to share her vision for a New Way Forward for the country. She is happy to accept CNN’s invitation for a live, televised town hall on Oct. 23 in Pennsylvania,” Harris-Walz campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement to CNN.

Trump has not yet responded to CNN’s offer.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Both Harris and Trump to take part in town halls, but not the same one