President Joe Biden has announced that he will not participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Instead, his campaign has proposed two debates with former President Donald Trump to be held earlier in the year. Biden suggested that the first debate between the Democratic and Republican nominees be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump responded to the proposal positively, stating that the proposed dates were fully acceptable to him.
Biden’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates to convey that Biden would not participate in its announced debates, opting instead to engage in debates hosted by news organizations. The campaign objected to the fall dates selected by the commission, which come after some Americans begin to vote. Biden’s team has held talks with television networks and some Republicans about ways to circumvent the commission’s grip on presidential debates, citing dissatisfaction with how rules were applied during the 2020 Biden-Trump matchups.
President Biden signaled his willingness to debate Trump during an interview with radio host Howard Stern, mentioning that he was prepared to engage in a debate. Trump has repeatedly challenged Biden to debate him, keeping a second podium open at rallies and claiming that his rival would not be up for the task. Both candidates have taken issue with the debate commission, with Trump’s campaign issuing a statement objecting to the scheduled debates by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Trump emphasized the need for debates, stating that the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Biden’s campaign has had a longstanding grudge against the nonpartisan commission for failing to evenly apply its rules during the 2020 Biden-Trump matchups, specifically regarding COVID-19 testing rules for Trump and his entourage. Biden has indicated his readiness to debate, telling reporters as he left a White House event to “set it up.” Trump has maintained his challenge to Biden, emphasizing the importance of debates in informing the American people about the direction of the country. The Trump campaign has expressed their willingness to debate regardless of the host, as long as the debates happen and voters have the opportunity to hear from the candidates before casting their ballots.
Both Biden and Trump have shown a willingness to engage in debates, with the former proposing earlier debate dates and the latter expressing agreement. While dissatisfaction with the Commission on Presidential Debates persists, both candidates have maintained their stance on the importance of debates in the electoral process and the need for voters to hear from the candidates directly. The upcoming debates between Biden and Trump are expected to be key events in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, providing voters with insights into the contrasting visions and policies of the two candidates.
