WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump has declined a CNN invitation to debate Vice President Kamala Harris for a second time on October 23, just under two weeks before Election Day.

At a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, Trump told supporters, “It’s just too late—voting has already started.” He added that he had “already done two” debates and questioned CNN’s fairness.

Harris accepted CNN’s invitation on Saturday, tweeting her hope that the former president would join her.

“Vice President Harris is prepared for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump and has accepted CNN’s invitation to a debate on October 23,” said campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon in a press release. “Donald Trump should have no issue agreeing to this debate. It follows the same format and setup as the CNN debate he attended in June, which he claimed to have won while praising CNN’s moderators, rules, and ratings.”

Earlier this month, the former president stated in a Truth Social post that he wouldn’t debate Harris again, asserting he won their ABC face-off. However, when asked last week if he might reconsider a second debate with her, Trump replied to reporters, “Maybe if I got in the right mood.”

CNN reported that the upcoming debate would follow the format of a June debate held at the network’s Atlanta studios between President Joe Biden and Trump. Biden’s poor performance during that debate raised concerns among Democratic lawmakers, donors, and activists, ultimately leading him to drop out of the 2024 race and endorse Harris.

Earlier this month, Harris and Trump clashed in Philadelphia during a debate hosted by ABC News, where they sparred over pressing issues such as abortion, immigration, and the economy.