Donald Trump has unleashed a wild theory about his upcoming debate with Kamala Harris, claiming that ABC News will help the vice president cheat.
The former president was speaking during a Fox News debate on Wednesday, when he predicted the Disney-owned television network would provide Harris with debate questions ahead of their face-off.
“They’re going to get the questions, I’ve heard they’re going to get the questions ahead of time,” Trump told Fox host Sean Hannity in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I’m not sure that’s going to help her very much.”
Trump and Harris are scheduled to debate for the first time in Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 10, with ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Trump said he only agreed to the debate on the “unfair” network because the vice president did not agree to any other.
Donald Trump has lashed out at ABC News, claiming the network will help Kamala Harris “cheat” in her debate next week by providing questions and prompts in advance.
Fox News proposed a debate on Wednesday night in Harrisburg. Although Trump’s team accepted, Harris declined the invitation.
“They’re very nasty and I think a lot of people are going to be watching them to see how nasty they are, how unfair they are,” Trump said of ABC News. “I agreed to do it because they wouldn’t do it with any other network.”
“The other thing is that her best friend is the head of the network,” Trump said, referring to Harris’ close friendship with Disney executive Dana Walden. “Her husband’s best friend is married to the head of the network.”
Trump also said ABC News intentionally provides poll results that show him severely behind because they believe that will influence voters not to cast ballots if they think their preferred candidate is too far behind to win.
“ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness,” Trump lamented of the first network to host the debate. “They did a poll where I was 17 points down a couple days before the election; I was 17 points down in Wisconsin. And they do this to keep people from voting because people say, you know, ‘Hey, I love Trump, but he’s 17 points down. I’m not going to go out and vote.'”
“They’re the most dishonest, the meanest, the most disgusting network, but that’s what they introduced me to,” he continued. “They introduced me to ABC.”
Trump said there is a “clause in the contract” that says ABC News cannot provide debate questions or topics to either candidate before next week’s event.
While the former president still believes Harris will cheat to get the questions, he is not convinced that will give her an advantage.
Vice President Kamala Harris has a close relationship with Disney executive Dana Walden, but ABC News says she will not be involved in planning or conducting the debate in Philadelphia next week
Dana Walden (right) has been close to Harris since 1994 and her husband Matt Walden (left) has known second gentleman Doug Emhoff since the 1980s. The couple are credited with getting married after they introduced Harris and Emhoff through a blind date.
“I think it’s possible that we’ll ask her the questions and give her the answers along with the questions,” Trump said. “I’m not sure that’s going to help her.”
This week, ABC concluded the campaigns’ back-and-forth over the rules and logistics of the debate.
Trump says that in addition to unmuting Harris, she also wanted to sit at her desks and be allowed to bring pre-written notes with her before their confrontation.
But Harris failed to get any of his demands met.
Microphones will be muted when candidates are not speaking, they will remain standing behind podiums, and no prepared notes or props will be permitted on stage. Candidates will be provided with a piece of paper, a pen, and a bottle of water.