WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and former president donald trump An agreement was reached on Wednesday to hold two election debates, with the first to be held on June 27. Sponsored by CNN And the second was hosted by ABC on September 10, setting the stage for the first presidential showdown in just over a month.
A quick agreement on the date came after Democrats announced they would not participate in the fall. presidential debate It is sponsored by a bipartisan committee that has organized the group for more than 30 years. The Biden campaign instead proposed that the media organize a debate between Biden and Biden directly. Presumptive Democratic and Republican candidates.
The debate comes so early in the political calendar that neither Biden nor Trump will formally accept their party's nomination.
Hours later, Biden said he had accepted CNN's invitation, adding: “Nice to meet you, Donald.” President Trump, who had claimed he would debate Biden anytime, anywhere, said on Truth Social that he would be there, adding, “Get ready for the Rumble!!!” Shortly after, they agreed to a second debate on ABC.
“Trump says he will arrange his own transportation,” Biden wrote on X, taking a jab at the perks of incumbency. “I'll take a plane with me. I plan on continuing for another four years.”
The quickness with which the matches came together reflects the state of each match. Two unpopular candidates He believes he can outperform his opponents in head-to-head combat. Mr. Trump and his team believe the debate will exacerbate voters' concerns about Mr. Biden's age and competency, while Mr. Biden's team believes that Mr. Trump's often inflammatory statements He believes it will remind voters why they voted to remove Trump from the White House earlier.
What you need to know about the 2024 election
Presidential debates are always important moments on the political calendar, but they are especially important in a year when voters are confused about their choices and have expressed concerns about the aging of the candidates, Biden at 81 and Trump at 77. There is a possibility that it will happen.
The rivals have been actively arguing on social media, with each claiming victory the last time they met in 2020.
“Donald Trump lost two debates with me in 2020 and hasn't appeared in a debate since,” Biden said in a post on X. He is acting as if he wants to have a debate.” So let's have fun today, friends. ”
President Trump said Biden was “the worst debater I've ever faced. He can't string two sentences together!”
The June debate will likely bring an end to a busy and volatile period with the following conclusions: President Trump's hush money criminal trial in New YorkBiden's trip to France and Italy, the expiration of his term as a Supreme Court justice, and the expected start of two criminal trials against the president's son Hunter Biden.
CNN announced that the debate will be held behind closed doors in an Atlanta studio at 9 p.m. ET, canceling recent precedent. According to CNN, the show will be hosted by anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. ABC did not provide details about where the event would be held, but the network announced that anchors David Muir and Lindsey Davis will host the event. Disagreements over moderators and rules were some of the issues that prompted the creation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987.
Both campaigns and television networks have been discussing for weeks how to circumvent the commission's control over presidential debates, following years of complaints and perceived disdain, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions. Informal consultations were held.
The Biden campaign had proposed eliminating third-party candidates, including: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., completely from the discussion. According to the debate commission's rules, Kennedy and other third-party candidates must secure enough voting access to win 270 electoral votes and receive support of more than 15 percent in some national polls. You can qualify if you qualify.
CNN and ABC both announced the same eligibility criteria, saying candidates must reach at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered voters or potential voters who meet the criteria.
In response, Kennedy accused Biden and Trump of “trying to exclude me from the debate because they're afraid I'll win.” “Keeping strong candidates away from the debate undermines democracy,” he said.
The debate will be the first television general election matchup hosted by an individual network. The 1960 debate helped demonstrate the power of the media to influence public opinion and was co-sponsored by the powerful networks of the time. Prior to the commission's creation in 1987, the 1976, 1980, and 1984 presidential debates were organized by the League of Women Voters.
Plans for the vice presidential debate have not yet been announced.
President Trump has pushed for earlier debates and more, arguing that voters should be able to see the two men face off well before early voting begins in September.he even has suggested a discussion outside the Manhattan courthouse where he is currently on trial. Some rallies have also used empty lecterns to mock Biden.
In a memo to Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon on Wednesday, Trump campaign senior advisers Chris Lacivita and Susie Wiles asked Biden to agree to at least two additional debates. He suggested that discussions be held once a month, in June, July, and August. A vice presidential debate will be held in September.
“The additional dates will allow voters to learn the most about each candidate's record and vision for the future,” they wrote.
Trump later posted on Truth Social that he had agreed to a third debate hosted by Fox.
“Please let this truth declare that I accept to debate Crooked Joe Biden on Fox News. The date will be Wednesday, October 2nd. Hosted by Bret Bayer and I'm Martha McCallum. Thank you, DJT!'' he wrote.
In response, O'Malley Dillon said in a statement that President Trump “has a long history of playing games in debates, including complaining about the rules, breaking the rules, withdrawing at the last minute, or not attending at all.” issued a statement condemning the incident.
“No more games. No more confusion, no more discussion about arguments. If Donald Trump shows up, we'll see you in Atlanta on June 27th,” she wrote.
In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday morning, Trump raised his own doubts about whether Biden would appear and offered his own suggestions. He said the debate “should last two hours” with both men standing, and also advocated for a larger venue.
“It’s even more exciting,” he said.
The Biden campaign has long harbored a grudge against the bipartisan commission, accusing it of failing to apply its rules evenly during the 2020 matchup between Biden and Trump. Failed to force President Trump to comply with coronavirus testing rules and his inner circle.
AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reported that President Biden and President Donald Trump appear to have agreed to hold two debates.
O'Malley Dillon sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates on Wednesday saying the Biden campaign opposes debate dates scheduled for the fall after some Americans begin voting, and the Trump campaign. also reiterated the complaints expressed. She also expressed her dissatisfaction with past rule violations and the committee's insistence on holding debates in front of a live audience.
“Debates should be conducted for the benefit of American voters watching on television or at home, not as entertainment for an in-person audience with noisy or destructive partisans and donors.” she wrote.
He also objected to technical issues during the first debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, and the 2020 debate with Biden was canceled after the Republican contracted the coronavirus. Mr. Trump was shaken by this, but he lost little love for the committee. The Republican National Committee had already pledged not to work with the committee on the 2024 contest.
The Trump campaign released a statement on May 1 calling the committee's proposed debate schedule “unacceptable.”
“The American people deserve a substantive debate between the leading candidates for president and vice president,” the committee said in a statement Wednesday. The organization said its mission is to “ensure that these discussions occur and reach the widest television, radio and streaming audiences.”
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