Donald Trump’s campaign published an open letter expressing the former president’s willingness to debate President Biden at any time, any place, and anywhere. The letter, written by Trump advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, urged for debates to be held earlier than scheduled to allow voters to get a sense of the candidates before early voting begins. Three presidential debates are currently set for September and October in various locations, but Trump’s team argued that these dates are too late given the increasing prevalence of early and mail-in voting.
The letter criticized the Commission on Presidential Debates for failing to cater to Trump’s needs during the 2020 election, accusing them of favoring Biden’s campaign. It called for fairness and impartiality in the 2024 Commission-sponsored debates and requested the schedule to be adjusted to allow more Americans to see the candidates before voting begins. Trump’s team emphasized his readiness to debate and called for immediate discussions to begin. The letter was prompted by a New York Times report that major broadcasters were preparing to demand commitments from Biden and Trump to participate in debates.
President Biden has been dismissive of the idea of debating Trump, suggesting that the former president is merely bored and has nothing else to do. Despite both candidates avoiding primary debates against their challengers, Trump has been vocal about his desire to debate Biden as soon as possible for the benefit of the country. He even brought an empty mic stand to a rally in Wisconsin to symbolize Biden’s refusal to engage, calling on him to debate anytime, anyplace. Trump argued that debating Biden is crucial given the poor state of the country.
Following the release of the letter, Trump reiterated his commitment to debating Biden, emphasizing the importance of such debates given the current state of the country. He expressed indifference to whether Biden chooses to engage in debates, stating that he is fully committed to debating him regardless. The Commission on Presidential Debates has been organizing debates in every general election cycle since 1988, highlighting the importance of these events in allowing voters to see the candidates face off on key issues. Trump’s campaign continues to push for early debates to provide voters with a clearer understanding of the candidates before they cast their ballots.
