In a bold move, President Joe Biden has thrown down the gauntlet, challenging former President Donald Trump to a pair of televised debates before the 2024 election.
In a video released by his campaign, Biden taunted Trump, referencing their previous debates in 2020 and Trump’s absence from debates during the Republican primary. Biden proposed two debates, one in June and another in October, which Trump has accepted.
The Biden campaign bypassed the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates and instead opted for direct negotiations with Trump’s campaign to organize the debates.
Biden and Trump to Hold Debates Without Commission Oversight
In a letter to the commission, Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon argued that the traditional debate format, with a large audience and strict time limits, is not conducive to meaningful discussions.
She proposed a more intimate setting, with a moderator and no audience, similar to the historic 1960 debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
The debates would be broadcast on two major networks, with moderators chosen from the host networks’ regular personnel. While Trump has complained about debate moderators in the past, the timing of the debates may be amenable to him, as he has previously criticized the late scheduling of debates.
The Biden campaign has proposed debates in June and September before early voting begins. Trump’s campaign has accepted the proposal, and a spokesperson confirmed that the dates are “fully acceptable” to him.
The debates promise to be a pivotal moment in the 2024 election, offering voters a chance to see the two candidates go head-to-head on the issues.
