The Trump campaign has requested that this year’s general election debates be held earlier and that more debates be added to the schedule. The campaign argued that with voting beginning sooner in recent elections, the debates need to be moved up to ensure voters have a chance to see the candidates before they start casting their ballots. The campaign emphasized that Trump is willing to debate anytime, anywhere, and that the time to start these debates is now.
The first general election presidential debate is currently scheduled for September 16, 50 days before Election Day on November 5. This would be earlier than the first debates in recent election cycles, with the 2020 debate between Trump and Biden taking place 35 days before the election and the 2016 debate between Trump and Clinton taking place 43 days before the election. The Trump campaign’s request for earlier debates comes after five major US television networks urged both Trump and Biden to commit to participating in televised debates ahead of the 2024 election.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) also weighed in on the debate schedule, criticizing the current timing of the debates and arguing that scheduling debates after millions of Americans have already voted is a disservice to voters who want to hear solutions to current crises. The RNC withdrew from its participation in the Commission on Presidential Debates in 2022, citing bias. The commission, formed in 1987, has sponsored debates in every presidential election since 1988. Trump has influenced the RNC, streamlining the organization with his campaign and appointing key officials.
In response to the Trump campaign’s letter, the Biden campaign pointed to the president’s previous remarks suggesting that Trump has nothing else to do but debate him. Biden has not publicly committed to debating his rival but has also not ruled it out, stating that it depends on Trump’s behavior. The 2024 election cycle has already seen early discussions and requests for debate commitments from both campaigns and major news networks.
Overall, the push for earlier debates and a more extensive debate schedule reflects the importance of allowing voters to see the candidates in action before casting their votes. Both the Trump and Biden campaigns are considering their approach to debates, with the Trump campaign emphasizing Trump’s willingness to debate and the Biden campaign taking a more cautious approach. The influence of major news networks and the RNC on the debate schedule highlights the complexities and negotiations involved in organizing these crucial events in the lead-up to the presidential election.
