The much-awaited debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is set to take place this June, after both candidates announced they were willing to take part in a televised debate on CNN.
Biden himself confirmed his participation in a post on X, stating, “I’ve received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, any time, any place.” Shortly after, a Trump campaign official informed CNN of Trump’s acceptance of the invitation, marking the latest development in an escalating exchange of debate challenges between the two rivals.
The debate discourse began when Biden’s campaign urged Trump to join him for two presidential debates hosted by news organizations and formally notified the Commission on Presidential Debates of the president’s non-participation in its previously scheduled fall debates. In response, Trump expressed willingness to participate in earlier debates and emphasized his openness to any moderator.
Biden, who recently expressed his readiness to debate Trump, took a more direct approach in a social media video and subsequent letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, proposing potential debate dates in June and September. The video, released Wednesday morning, featured Biden directly addressing Trump, asserting, “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again.”
The Biden campaign’s letter outlined proposed terms for the debates, including the absence of a studio audience to ensure a more substantive exchange of ideas. While the campaign agreed to hold the June 27 debate in an Atlanta CNN studio without an audience, Trump expressed a preference for a larger venue to generate excitement, despite Biden’s alleged aversion to crowds.
Informal discussions between the Biden and Trump campaigns have focused on bypassing the Commission on Presidential Debates, reflecting mutual dissatisfaction with the organization’s practices. However, significant disparities persist regarding debate preferences, with the Biden campaign advocating for a more subdued setting, while Trump seeks to maximize audience engagement.
In light of the altered debate schedule proposed by the Biden campaign, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced a revised timeline, with a vice presidential debate slated for late July after the Republican Party selects its nominee for the position.
The decision to withdraw from debates hosted by the Commission aligns with a previous move by the Republican National Committee, underscoring ongoing tensions surrounding the debate process. The request for earlier debates aims to engage voters sooner in the electoral process and potentially mitigate challenges posed by third-party candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.