Fox News Media has renewed its proposal for a presidential debate on their network, according to letters sent to campaign representatives for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
On Wednesday, executives at Fox News proposed holding a debate on Thursday, October 24 or Sunday, October 27, according to copies of the letters obtained by The Desk.
It is at least the third time this year that Fox News has offered to host a debate on their cable news channel. The channel extended an offer to campaign representatives in July, and again in September.
The recent offer came two days after the New York Times published an editorial urging Harris to debate Trump on Fox. Harris has previously expressed a desire to hold another debate, with Trump saying he will not participate in future events.
Fox News scored the highest ratings of any cable network with its simulcast of the CNN presidential debate between Trump and then-incumbent President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the race amid criticism of his debate performance. It also had the highest cable news ratings for its simulcast of the ABC News debate between Trump and Harris in September, and grabbed the most overall viewers for its simulcast of the CBS News debate involving the candidates for vice president earlier this month.
On Wednesday, Fox News Media President & Executive Editor Jay Wallace and Vice President of Politics Jessica Loker proposed terms for their debate that were identical to what CNN and ABC News offered the candidates for their events. Should it come together, the Fox News debate would be at least 90 minutes and include two commercial breaks, and would not involve written statements. Fox says the microphone of the candidate not being addressed will be muted, and Trump and Harris will not be allowed to ask each other questions. No studio audience will be present, either.
Wallace and Loker have offered Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum as debate moderators. The pair have co-hosted the network’s coverage of debate simulcasts throughout the year, as well as the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention.
Fox News Media is owned by Fox Corporation, which also owns the Fox broadcast network and Fox Television Stations.
