In an interview with NBC News chief White House correspondent, Peter Alexander, Vice President Kamala Harris refrained from confirming whether President Joe Biden would engage in general election debates against former President Donald Trump. Harris also did not commit to participating in a vice presidential debate herself.

Harris disclosed that she had not discussed the possibility of Biden debating Trump with the president. However, she did remark that such a debate would present a vivid "split screen" to the viewers. Speaking about Biden, Harris highlighted his competence, principled nature, and numerous accomplishments, particularly in infrastructure, climate change, and healthcare. Conversely, she criticized Trump, stressing his admiration for dictators, his readiness to wield the Department of Justice against political opponents, and his appointment of Supreme Court justices who curtailed women's reproductive rights.

While acknowledging the clarity of the split screen, Harris mentioned that a determination regarding the choice to debate Trump would be made "soon."

When asked about her commitment to engaging in a debate with the Republican vice presidential nominee in the fall, Harris evaded a direct response by discussing the recent State of the Union address and expressing excitement about the accomplishments of Biden's administration.

Donald Trump had expressed eagerness to debate Biden on multiple occasions. In February, he even stated that he wanted to debate Biden "immediately." However, Biden responded to these remarks with a wry comment, suggesting that Trump had nothing better to do.

It is worth noting that the Republican National Committee (RNC) decided in 2022 to withdraw from presidential debates organized by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. The RNC announced that GOP candidates would only participate in debates sanctioned by the Republican Party. This decision was fueled by Trump's claims in 2016 that his microphone was intentionally muted during a general election debate. The Commission on Presidential Debates had also decided during the 2020 campaign to cut off each candidate's microphone while the other was answering a question.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already scheduled three general election debates for 2024: September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, October 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, and October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

As the decision regarding President Biden's participation in the general election debates hangs in the balance, political pundits and the public eagerly await further developments.