A group of major news organizations, including The Associated Press and major broadcast networks, have issued a joint statement urging President Biden and former President Donald Trump to commit to participating in televised debates before Election Day. The statement emphasizes the importance of debates in American democracy, highlighting that there is no substitute for candidates debating their visions for the future of the nation before the American people. This call for commitment comes amid uncertainty surrounding whether this year’s debates will actually occur, as Biden has declined to commit to the three scheduled debates in September and October.
Biden’s allies have expressed concerns about the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has organized the events since 1988, and its ability to enforce rules when Trump participates. Trump, on the other hand, has promised to debate and has taunted Biden for not following suit. However, Trump’s withdrawal from the second scheduled debate in 2020 at the last minute has raised doubts about his commitment to participating in debates. The former president also refused to debate his Republican primary opponents last year and accused the debate commission of pro-Biden bias.
If no debate is held in 2024, it would break a streak dating back to the Jimmy Carter-Gerald Ford election in 1976. Presidential debates are considered America’s largest mass gathering outside of sports, with an average of 68 million people tuning in for the two Biden-Trump debates in 2020. The joint statement from the news outlets, including major networks and The Associated Press, emphasizes the importance of candidates publicly stating their support for, and intention to participate in, the commission’s planned debates for this fall.
The statement from the news organizations reinforces the tradition and significance of general election debates in American democracy. The debate commission has previously announced dates and eligibility requirements for this year’s matchups, although invitations to candidates have not yet been extended. The statement calls for candidates who expect to meet the eligibility criteria to publicly express their support for and intention to participate in the commission’s debates planned for this fall. News outlets endorsing the statement include ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, Fox News, The Associated Press, C-SPAN, NewsNation, NPR, PBS NewsHour, USA Today, and Noticias Univision.
The joint statement from the news organizations comes at a time of heightened focus on the importance of debates in the election process. The uncertainty surrounding Biden’s commitment to the scheduled debates and Trump’s history of withdrawing from debates raise concerns about the future of presidential debates in the United States. The call for candidates to publicly support and commit to participating in the debates underscores the media’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the election process. The tradition of televised debates remains a vital component of American democracy, providing voters with the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates on key issues facing the nation.
