A total of twelve news organizations are urging presumptive presidential nominees Joe Biden and Donald Trump to agree to debates, as they believe they are a vital part of the electoral process and have been a tradition since 1976. While Trump has expressed a willingness to debate Biden, the Democratic nominee has not committed to debating him again. The news organizations, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, PBS, NBC, NPR, and The Associated Press, are calling for the campaigns to publicly commit to participating in the three presidential and one vice-presidential forums set by the Commission on Presidential Debates. They stress the importance of the candidates debating their visions for the future of the nation before the American people.
Biden and Trump have debated twice in 2020, but a third debate was canceled after Trump tested positive for COVID-19. When asked if he would commit to a debate with Trump, Biden replied that it depends on his behavior. The Trump campaign has stated that the President is willing to debate anytime, any place, and anywhere, and believes that the time to start these debates is now. They referenced the 1858 Illinois Senate debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas and suggested that modern-day America deserves as much from its candidates.
In 2022, the Republican National Committee voted to no longer participate in forums sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. However, the Trump campaign has not explicitly indicated that they will follow suit but have voiced concerns about moderator selection and the fairness of the debates. They also want the debate timetable moved up, as many Americans will have already voted by the scheduled debate dates in September and October. The Biden campaign has not commented on the news organizations’ letter, but Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania where he called on Biden to debate anytime, anywhere, and any place.
During his rally speech, Trump pointed to a second lectern on stage, symbolizing Biden’s alleged refusal to debate. He emphasized the need for debates to explain to the American people what is going on in the country and criticized the direction in which he believes it is heading. Several other news organizations, including C-SPAN, NewsNation, Univision, and USA Today, have also joined the call for debates. The letter was issued in part to boost television news ratings, which have declined compared to the 2020 campaign. The absence of Democratic debates in this cycle and Trump’s refusal to participate in GOP forums have contributed to the decreased interest in debates.
In conclusion, the push for debates between Biden and Trump is gaining momentum, with news organizations and some campaigns urging both candidates to publicly commit to participating in the scheduled presidential and vice-presidential forums. While Trump has expressed a willingness to debate, Biden has not made a formal commitment yet. Concerns have been raised about the fairness of the debates, moderator selection, and the timing of the events, given that many Americans will have already cast their votes by the scheduled debate dates. The pressure for debates is seen as essential to inform the American people about the candidates’ visions for the country’s future and address the high stakes of the upcoming election.
