Kamala Harris Campaign Confronts Trump With New Ad on Truth Social

Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign released a new ad urging former President Donald Trump to join her on the debate stage again and posted it on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday.

Trump, the GOP's nominee, created Truth Social in early 2022 after he was banned from other social media platforms, notably Twitter, for violating its rules moments ahead of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot and "due to the risk of further incitement of violence."

He has since been allowed back on X, formerly Twitter, but he most often posts on Truth Social. The platform prides itself on protecting free speech and having less moderation and restrictions than other mainstream platforms.

While Harris, the Democratic nominee, and her campaign mainly communicate on other mainstream social media platforms, they have started posting on Trump's site more frequently. In a 30-second posted on Saturday, the vice president's campaign takes a crack at Trump for not agreeing to a second debate with Harris.

The ad opens with footage of football players training and playing, with a voiceover saying, "Winners never back down from a challenge. Champions know it's anytime, anyplace," referencing Trump's remarks when he tried to get President Joe Biden to debate him earlier this year.

It continues, "But losers, they whine and waffle and take their ball home," as a video of Trump missing a close putt on the golf course plays.

The ad then cuts to a clip from a late-July Harris rally in Georgia where Harris says, "Well Donald, I do hope you'll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage. If you got something to say, say it to my face."

Newsweek reached out to Harris' and Trump's campaign for comment via email on Sunday.

Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate in Philadelphia on September 10. Harris' campaign released a new ad urging Trump to join her on the debate stage... Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate in Philadelphia on September 10. Harris' campaign released a new ad urging Trump to join her on the debate stage again and posted it on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday. More SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Trump and Harris faced off on September 10 for their first and likely only debate ahead of this year's election. Most post-debate polls showed Harris either slightly increasing or maintaining a narrow lead over Trump.

Last Saturday, Harris accepted CNN's invitation for a second debate with Trump scheduled for October 23, just under two weeks before the presidential election on November 5.

The proposed debate would share similar rules and procedures as the first presidential debate of this election cycle between Trump and Biden in late June, which was also hosted by CNN. Less than a month after that debate, on July 21, Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris. Trump was widely seen as having outperformed Biden in that debate.

At a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, last weekend, Trump said, "I've already done two [debates]," adding that it would be "good entertainment value," but "it's just too late. Voting has already started. She's had her chance to do it with Fox [News]."

Early in-person voting has opened in several states, including Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia, with more states to start their early voting processes in mid-October. During the 2020 election, Trump participated in the final presidential debate with Biden on October 22, after early voting had started in several states. In 2016, he debated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on October 19.