Former President Donald Trump has accepted President Joe Biden's challenge to two debates, agreeing to dates proposed by the Biden campaign.
Former President Donald Trump has enthusiastically accepted President Joe Biden's challenge to two debates, scheduling the first presidential debate for June 27 on CNN and the second for September 10 on ABC News. The Biden-Harris campaign had invited Trump to participate in the debates, requesting that the events be held inside a TV studio with strict rules to ensure fairness.
Trump, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital shortly after Biden's challenge, said: "Crooked Joe Biden is the worst debater I have ever faced – he can't put two sentences together." However, he added, "It is time for a debate to take place – even if it has to be held through the offices of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which are totally controlled by Democrats and who, as people remember, got caught cheating with me with debate sound levels."
"I'm ready to go," Trump declared. "The dates that they proposed are fine. Anywhere. Anytime. Any place. Let's see if Joe can make it to the stand-up podium."
The Biden campaign had proposed that the debates occur inside a TV studio, with microphones that automatically cut off when a speaker’s time limit elapses. The letter also asked that the debates involve just the two candidates and the moderator — without "an in-person audience with raucous or disruptive partisans and donors."
They also want the debates without the participation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. or other independent or third-party candidates.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
However, Trump later took to his Truth Social account, echoing his comments to Fox News Digital. "It’s time for a debate so that he can explain to the American People his highly destructive Open Border Policy, new and ridiculous EV Mandates, the allowance of Crushing Inflation, High Taxes, and his really WEAK Foreign Policy, which is allowing the World to ‘Catch on Fire.’ I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September," Trump posted. "I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds – That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!’"
Trump's acceptance of the debate challenge comes after Biden posted a video to social media, inviting Trump to "make my day, pal." Biden said he was willing to do two debates, and suggested that they could even be held on Wednesdays, when he said Trump was free.
The Biden-Harris campaign has also notified CBS News that they have accepted the invitation to participate in a studio debate for the vice presidential candidates on either July 23 or August 13. The Republican VP nominee has not yet been selected.
The scheduling of the debates has been a topic of debate, with the Biden campaign abandoning the decades-old tradition of three fall events organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Commission has been criticized for its perceived bias towards Democrats, and the Biden campaign has expressed concerns about fairness in the debates.
The first debate between Trump and Biden is scheduled to take place on June 27 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. The second debate is scheduled for September 10 at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Both debates will be moderated by journalists from the host networks.
The debates are expected to focus on a wide range of issues, including the economy, foreign policy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains to be seen how the candidates will perform in the debates, and how their performances will impact the upcoming elections.
