Kamala Harris accepts CNN town hall invitation while Trump declines debate

Kamala Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN to hold a town hall on Oct. 23, following a noon ET deadline Thursday for both candidates to host a presidential debate on the network.

Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would not hold another debate because it was too late. “There will be no rematch!” said Trump.

Harris had already accepted the CNN debate for October 23rd. The network had given Trump’s campaign a deadline of today to respond, although he said he would not provide further response. Fox News also suggested debates at two dates later this month, but the former president did not accept those either.

Instead of a debate, the network suggested individual town halls with the candidates today.

“Donald Trump fears another debate in which Vice President Harris would hold him accountable in front of tens of millions of Americans,” Harris campaign chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement.

She claimed Trump “would rather hide in safe spaces and avoid real questions about his harmful plans and failed divisive leadership.”

The CNN town hall will be live in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state where both campaigns have invested heavily in ads and voter turnout resources.

A Trump campaign spokesman did not immediately respond to a question about whether he would accept a CNN town hall.