- Trump signaled his enthusiasm for a debate rematch with President Joe Biden
- Both Biden and Trump shifted into general election mode after the Super Tuesday primary results.
- Trump has long criticized the Presidential Debate Commission for being biased.
Former President Donald Trump has officially challenged President Joe Biden to a general election debate, while the White House was hesitant to commit.
“It is important, for the good of our country, that Joe Biden and I debate issues that are so vital to America and the American people,” Trump wrote on his Truth social media platform. ‘Therefore, I call for debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE!’
The president pledged to work with the Commission on Presidential Debates despite a long history of criticism of liberal bias in the commission. He said he would work with the commission, even as he accused them Wednesday of being a “subsidiary” of the Democratic National Committee.
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, challenged President Joe Biden to a series of debates
President Joe Biden and his campaign have not yet committed to the presidential debates
Trump and the Republican National Committee have complained that Republicans on the committee are terribly biased against the former president.
In April 2022, the Republican National Committee voted unanimously leave the Commission on Presidential Debates, criticizing the organization for refusing to make “simple, common-sense reforms” to ensure a fair debate.
Despite his concerns about the committee, Trump seemed eager for a rematch with Biden.
He issued his debate challenge to Biden shortly after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to commit Biden to the debates during the White House press briefing.
Fox News journalist Peter Doocy repeatedly asked Jean-Pierre about the debates, but she repeatedly pressed the question about Biden’s presidential campaign.
“You asked me three, four, five different times and in different ways,” Jean-Pierre responded, refusing to give in to the question.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to commit to Biden attending the presidential debates.
Trump adviser Jason Miller said the debate could take place “during any of Joe’s waking hours.”
Biden’s campaign has not committed to discussing the president and refuses to respond to reporters seeking comment.
The commission announced the dates and locations for debates in November: Sept. 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Oct. 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg and Oct. 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The vice presidential debate will take place at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, on September 25.
Trump’s campaign staff embraced the challenge of the debate.
“President Trump is willing to debate corrupt Joe Biden during any of Joe’s waking hours, which usually means 12:00, 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., or even 4:00 p.m.” wrote Jason Miller, Trump’s senior adviser, on X. ‘If they give Crooked Joe a shot of B12, we can do it even in prime time!’
Trump also announced Wednesday that he would respond live to Biden’s State of the Union address scheduled for Thursday night.
‘I will correct, in rapid response, any and all inaccurate statements, especially those related to the border and its militarization by the Department of Justice, the FBI, attorneys general and district attorneys, to go after his political opponent, ME (something that had never been done before in this country!),’ he wrote.
