Biden & Trump Agree To Face Off In Two Debates

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have reached an agreement to hold two highly anticipated presidential debates in June and September of 2024. 

This decision comes after the Biden campaign announced campaign’s that they would not participate in the debates organized by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has overseen the process for over thirty years. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his readiness and willingness to debate Biden at the proposed times.

Hours later, Biden said he accepted a CNN invitation to a debate and said, “Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, anytime, any place.” 

Trump told Fox News Digital he accepted the invitation: “I’ll be there.”

The first debate, hosted by CNN, will take place on June 27 and mark the first face-off between the two presumptive nominees.

The Biden campaign’s decision to bypass the traditional debate commission was a strategic move, which proposed that the debates be organized directly by media outlets with the two major party candidates. This approach addresses the Biden team’s concerns over the commission’s perceived impartiality and handling of the 2020 debates.

During the first debate in 2020, Trump repeatedly talked over Biden during his time, and the debate moderator, Chris Wallace, seemed to lose control, making it almost impossible to watch. 

CNN has agreed to cut the candidate’s microphones after their time expires.

However, the agreement between the camps is not without its complexities; significant differences remain over key organizational details, such as the selection of moderators and the debate rules – some of the very issues that led to the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in the first place.

The Biden campaign has also advocated excluding third-party candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from the debates. This proposal contrasts with the commission’s rules, which would allow for the participation of candidates who meet specific ballot access and polling thresholds.

CNN has confirmed that the June 27 debate will be held in its Atlanta studios, with no audience present. The network has left the door open to include other candidates should they meet the requirements.

Trump refused to debate his GOP primary opponents, leading form U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to say he was “afraid to debate” her.