President Biden publicly expressed his willingness to debate former President Donald Trump, his presumed Republican opponent, ahead of the upcoming general election. This statement came during an hour-long interview on Howard Stern’s show on SiriusXM when Mr. Biden indicated that he is happy to debate Trump, although he did not specify when or where. This willingness to engage in a debate with Trump marks a departure from his previous comments in March where he stated that his commitment to a debate would depend on Trump’s behavior. Additionally, during a trip to Nevada in February, Mr. Biden mentioned that he believes Trump would also want to debate him, as he has nothing else to do.
Following Mr. Biden’s indication of his readiness to debate, Chris LaCivita, a Trump campaign senior adviser and COO of the Republican National Committee, responded by expressing eagerness to set up the debate. This suggests that both candidates may be willing to engage in a public debate in the lead-up to the election. News organizations have also called on both Biden and Trump to commit to a debate, with CBS News and 11 other outlets issuing a statement urging the two candidates to publicly state their intentions to participate in a debate in the fall. The relationship between Trump, the GOP, and the Commission on Presidential Debates has been contentious, with the RNC voting to ban future GOP nominees from participating in debates organized by the commission due to perceived bias.
In the past, Trump has not participated in debates organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates, preferring to rely on his lead in polling over GOP challengers. However, in a letter to the CPD, Trump’s campaign advisers indicated his willingness to debate anytime, anywhere, and emphasized the need to start the debates earlier to accommodate early voting periods. The dates for three presidential debates in 2024 have already been announced by the CPD, with one VP debate also scheduled. The Biden campaign has referred further questions about the potential debate to Mr. Biden’s statement on the Howard Stern show, indicating their willingness to engage in a debate with Trump.
Overall, President Biden’s public declaration of his readiness to debate former President Trump signifies a potential upcoming debate between the two candidates ahead of the general election. Both candidates have been urged by news organizations to commit to a debate, and Trump’s campaign has expressed willingness to participate in a debate. The relationship between the GOP and the Commission on Presidential Debates has been strained, with the RNC previously voting to ban future GOP nominees from participating in debates organized by the commission. The upcoming debates are eagerly anticipated as a key moment in the presidential election process.
