President Biden has publicly signaled his willingness to debate former President Donald Trump, his expected Republican opponent, ahead of the upcoming general election. During an interview on Howard Stern’s show on SiriusXM, Biden stated that he is happy to debate Trump, but did not provide a specific timeframe for when the debate might take place. This marks the first time that Biden has publicly acknowledged his willingness to engage in a debate with Trump.
Following Biden’s comments, Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser for the Trump campaign, expressed enthusiasm for setting up a debate between the two candidates. News organizations have also called on Biden and Trump to publicly commit to a debate, with CBS News and 11 other outlets issuing a statement urging the candidates to face off in the fall. The relationship between Trump and the Commission on Presidential Debates has been contentious, with the RNC voting in 2022 to ban future GOP presidential nominees from participating in debates organized by the commission due to perceived bias.
In 2020, Biden and Trump participated in two debates, with one being canceled after Trump tested positive for COVID-19. The Commission on Presidential Debates has announced the dates for three presidential debates in 2024, scheduled for Sept. 16, Oct. 1, and Oct. 9, as well as a vice presidential debate on Sept. 25. Trump did not participate in any 2024 GOP primary debates, citing his lead in polling over his challengers. However, in April, his campaign’s senior advisers expressed willingness to engage in general election debates and called for them to begin earlier to accommodate early voting periods.
The Biden campaign has deferred further questions about a potential debate to Biden’s comments on Stern’s show. Trump and his campaign have been pressing Biden to commit to a debate, with the former president indicating his willingness to debate anytime and anywhere. The possibility of a debate between Biden and Trump has generated significant interest among voters and the media, with both candidates facing pressure to publicly commit to facing off in the fall. The outcome of a potential debate between Biden and Trump could have significant implications for the upcoming general election and how voters perceive the two candidates.
