President Biden’s campaign proposed two debates with former President Trump on Wednesday, bucking the Commission on Presidential Debates and potentially setting the stage for a showdown as early as next month.
Biden’s campaign called for the first debate to take place at the end of June, after the president’s return from the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Europe and after the trial of Trump’s silence in New York has probably been concluded.
The campaign suggested a second debate in September, before early voting begins in many states, as well as a vice presidential debate in late July, after the Republican National Convention.
“As Donald Trump has said he will debate ‘anytime, anywhere,’ we hope both campaigns can quickly accept invitations for media debates on the above parameters,” wrote Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, in a letter to the commission Wednesday. “Americans need a debate about the issues – not a boring debate about debates.”
The Biden campaign said it would work directly with news organizations to organize the debates, encouraging the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has facilitated debates between presidential candidates since 1988. O’Malley Dillon, in his letter, suggested coordinating with the media media houses that hosted the Republican Party primaries. debates in 2016 and Democratic primary debates in 2020 to avoid any notion of bias.
Trump, who has repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental acuity and ability to do the job, said Wednesday that he would accept the terms proposed by the Biden campaign.
“I am ready and willing to debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September,” Trump said posted on Truth Social. “I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is reportedly afraid of crowds — that’s just because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to make some noise!!!'”
Direct negotiations between the two campaigns could also prevent independent and third-party candidates, particularly Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from joining Biden and Trump on the debate stage.
There was uncertainty over whether Biden and Trump would be able to reach an agreement on debates before November. Trump has previously criticized the commission and skipped all Republican Party primary debates, citing his lead in the polls. With a steady lead in state polls, Trump tried to increase the pressure on Biden, promising to debate the incumbent “anytime, anywhere, anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Biden has not firmly committed for months to debating Trump, only recently telling radio host Howard Stern that he would be happy to do so. On Wednesday, Biden posted a video on social media taking the fight more directly to Trump.
“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020 and hasn’t shown up for a debate since,” Biden said On video. “Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, friend. I’ll even do this twice.
“Then let’s pick the dates, Donald. I heard you’re free on Wednesdays,” he added, in reference to Trump’s weekly day off from court in his silent trial.
The Commission on Presidential Debate has announced dates for three presidential debates beginning in mid-September. The Trump campaign called on the commission to add more debates and hold them earlier, arguing that millions of Americans could have voted earlier, before the second debate was scheduled to take place in early October.
Updated at 8:57 a.m. ET
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
