Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin criticized President Biden for declining to participate in a debate scheduled by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) at Virginia State University (VSU) on October 1, which would have been the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to host a presidential debate. Youngkin accused Biden of turning his back on students, Virginians, and the nation by refusing to defend his policies in a debate setting. This comes after Biden and former President Donald Trump agreed to two debates on June 27 and September 10 hosted by CNN and ABC, respectively.
While Biden agreed to participate in the debates, his campaign placed restrictions on the format that included not having an audience and conducting the debate in a TV studio with just the candidates and the moderator. These restrictions came in a letter to the CPD from the Biden-Harris campaign, breaking from the tradition of three fall meetings organized by the commission. Trump, responding to the limitations, urged Biden to follow through with the promise of a debate, stating that he is ready to participate anywhere and pointing out the Democratic control within the CPD.
In November, the CPD had set the sites and dates for three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate during the 2024 general election. The presidential debates were initially planned for September 16 at Texas State University, October 1 at Virginia State University, and October 9 at the University of Utah. The vice-presidential debate was scheduled for September 25 at Lafayette College. However, the debates at VSU were subsequently moved to CNN and ABC instead of taking place at the historically significant HBCU.
Virginia State University expressed disappointment at the news that the presidential debate would not be taking place on its campus as planned, highlighting the significance of hosting such an event for the community and the democratic process. As the first HBCU to be selected to host a general election U.S. presidential debate, VSU recognized the importance of the event and welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the democratic process. The school stated that they would continue to work with the CPD and other stakeholders as they assess the situation.
Both the Biden and Trump campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter. The situation surrounding the presidential debates and the decision to move them from VSU to CNN and ABC remains controversial, with Youngkin calling out Biden for missing an opportunity to engage in a historic debate at an HBCU. The implications of Biden’s refusal to participate in the VSU debate and the CPD restrictions placed on the debate format have sparked debate and criticism from various quarters.
